Comparison of magnetospheric magnetic field models with CRRES observations during the August 26, 1990, storm
- Radex, Inc., Bedford, MA (United States)
- Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States); and others
Four magnetospheric field models are compared on the basis of the current systems they represent, their agreement with observations, and their computational performance. These models are the Olson-Pfitzer dynamic, Tsyganenko, Hilmer-Voigt, and Olson-Pfitzer tilt-dependent. The models are summarized in terms of their components: the main field, the ring currents, the tail currents, and the magnetopause. Differences among the models must be considered when determining which is best for a specific application. The models are evaluated using data from CRRES during both quiet and storm time conditions on August 26, 1990. CRRES is in a geosynchronous transfer orbit with perigee at 360 km and apogee at 33,000 km. Thus, the focus of the comparisons is on the inner magnetosphere out to about 6.3 R{sub E} (distant tail properties will not be discussed). Tsyganenko is a good average model of the magnetospheric magnetic field due to the compression of the magnetopause as determined from the standoff distance. Hilmer-Voigt is the most flexible model as it has a parameter to specify the position of the inner edge of the plasma sheet, but it is also the slowest to execute. Olson-Pfitzer dynamic showed the best agreement with the data presented here. 39 refs., 11 figs., 3 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 166715
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A11 Vol. 97; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Models of the external-source contribution to magnetospheric magnetic fields for CRRES data analysis. Report for June 1989-January 1990
Comparison of Echo 7 field line length measurements to magnetospheric model predictions