High-altitude Boundary Layers near the Cusp:Cluster Observations

Details High-altitude Boundary Layers near the Cusp:Cluster Observations High-altitude Boundary Layers near the Cusp:Cluster Observations

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmsm33a1542s&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #SM33A-1542

Physics

[2706] Magnetospheric Physics / Cusp, [2723] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [2724] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetopause And Boundary Layers

Scientific paper

Various boundary crossings in the vicinity of the high altitude cusp region were experienced by the Cluster spacecraft when the IMF is northward. In contrast to the southward IMF cases, in which a turbulent and diffusive entry layer is present equatorward of the cusp, a transition layer (without significant turbulence and diffusive properties) which shows clear differences in plasma parameters (sometimes step-like profile) compared to the adjacent regions was observed. We suggest that this transition layer, which contains both magnetosheath and magnetospheric populations, is the entry layer during northward IMF conditions. This transition layer is possibly formed by dual lobe reconnection when the IMF is northward. The plasma property and the closed field line geometry of this layer indicate that it is possibly linked to the low latitude boundary layer (LLBL). The width of this layer varies from 480km to 2200 km. The results support that high latitude dual lobe reconnection is the potential mechanism of the transport of solar wind into the magnetosphere during northward IMF through the formation of high altitude entry layer. The observations of different sublayers with evident density and temperature differences are consistent with the fact that the reconnection process at the magnetopause is not steady. A preliminary survey has been made under similar conditions.

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