Other
Scientific paper
Oct 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011epsc.conf..229m&link_type=abstract
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011, held 2-7 October 2011 in Nantes, France. http://meetings.copernicus.org/epsc-dps2011, p.229
Other
Scientific paper
Waves on the surface of a planetary magnetopause lead to the transport of energy into the magnetosphere, making them an important aspect of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling. In the case of Saturn's magnetosphere it has been proposed that the growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability produces greater wave activity on the dawn side of the magnetopause than on the dusk side. Here we test this hypothesis using data taken by the Cassini spacecraft during 520 magnetopause crossings. We determine the surface normal for 477 of the crossings and show that perturbations of the surface orientation are predominantly in the direction perpendicular to the local magnetospheric magnetic field, due to the stabilizing influence of magnetic tension forces. There are two most likely orientations with respect to the magnetospheric magnetic field, and 45% of the crossings were part of a clear oscillation of consecutive normals. The only local time asymmetry in the surface orientation is a greater level of normal perturbations at dusk than at dawn. These results suggest that surface waves on Saturn's magnetopause are ubiquitous, and the K-H instability is the most plausible driving mechanism. The waves generally propagate tailward, with a typical period, wavelength, speed, and amplitude of 4 hrs, 10 Saturn radii (RS), 50 km s-1, and 1 RS, respectively. The lack of the hypothesized dawn-dusk asymmetry in wave activity means that we need to revise our understanding of the growth of the K-H instability at Saturn's magnetopause, which will have implications for the study of other planetary magnetospheres.
Achilleos Nicholas
Coates Andrew J.
Cutler Curt J.
Dougherty K. M. K. M.
Masters Adam
No associations
LandOfFree
Surface waves on Saturn's magnetopause does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Surface waves on Saturn's magnetopause, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Surface waves on Saturn's magnetopause will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1475455