Polar Observations of the Temporal/Spatial Evolution of Merging at the Dayside Magnetopause and Comparison to MHD Simulation Results

Details Polar Observations of the Temporal/Spatial Evolution of Merging at the Dayside Magnetopause and Comparison to MHD Simulation Results Polar Observations of the Temporal/Spatial Evolution of Merging at the Dayside Magnetopause and Comparison to MHD Simulation Results

Dec 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufmsm31b0783m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #SM31B-0783

Physics

2724 Magnetopause, Cusp, And Boundary Layers, 2728 Magnetosheath, 2740 Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, 2784 Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions

Scientific paper

The equatorward precession of Polar's apogee allowed the satellite to execute south-to-north skimming orbits along the dayside magnetopause during the equinoctial months of 2000 and 2001. Particle and field measurements, acquired during long periods when Polar was either in/near the magnetopause current layer, or in the subsolar magnetosheath, give new perspectives on the temporal evolution of merging locations. Four events exemplify temporal responses of the magnetopause and magnetosheath to IMF forcing. After considering variable lag times due to tilted phase fronts in the solar wind, we established correlations between magnetic field variations observed at an upstream monitor and in the magnetosheath. Relative locations of Polar to the magnetopause were estimated via comparisons with predictions of empirical magnetopause models. The temporal responses of the magnetopause and adjacent regions could then be followed. Beyond the magnetopause the magnetic field clock angle closely followed that of the incident IMF. During periods of active dayside merging depressed field regions developed on the magnetosheath side of the magnetopause current layer. In periods of northward IMF, the magnetosheath field strength increased at subsolar latitudes and expected plasma depletion layers were detected. Transitions between particle distributions characterizing depletion layers and magnetopause boundary layers were sharp. In association with IMF directional discontinuities, Polar also provided evidence for plasma acceleration within the magnetosheath, separated from the magnetopause. Mesoscale dynamics will be discussed and compared with the predictions of time-varying MHD simulations.

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