Solar wind control of magnetospheric reconnection processes in the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation

Details Solar wind control of magnetospheric reconnection processes in the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation Solar wind control of magnetospheric reconnection processes in the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufmsm53a1434l&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #SM53A-1434

Physics

2723 Magnetic Reconnection (7526, 7835), 2753 Numerical Modeling, 2784 Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions

Scientific paper

Magnetic reconnection is a key process in the magnetosphere, playing a major role in energy transfer and conversion both at the magnetopause and in the tail. In global MHD simulations magnetospheric reconnection processes are modelled under realistic boundary conditions and their global effects can be determined quantitatively. In this study we use the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation to investigate reconnection on the magnetopause under different solar wind conditions, focusing particularly on energy conversion measured by the divergence of the Poynting vector. We show how the IMF direction controls the orientation of the x-line and the total rate of energy conversion, which we call the reconnection power. In addition to IMF direction, the rate of energy conversion is strongly affected by the solar wind dynamic pressure. We analyze separately the role of solar wind velocity and density changes in controlling the magnetopause reconnection; both are found to have an effect on the reconnection power, but that of velocity changes is stronger. Finally we remark that similar energy conversion considerations can also be applied to analyze the tail reconnection, which is shown to be directly driven by the energy flow from the magnetopause.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Solar wind control of magnetospheric reconnection processes in the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation 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 Solar wind control of magnetospheric reconnection processes in the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solar wind control of magnetospheric reconnection processes in the Gumics-4 global MHD simulation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1238296