An empirical model of the size and shape of the near-earth magnetotail

Journal Article · Tue Dec 14 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL02847· OSTI ID:5094822

Petrinec, S M; Russell, C T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

The model of the size and shape of the near-earth magnetotail which depends upon distance downtail, [rho]v[sup 2][sub sw], and IMF B[sub z] has been developed. This empirical model was developed by first using observations of the magnetic field in the lobe by ISEE-1 and simultaneous observations of the magnetic field and plasma properties of the solar wind by IMP-8 to determine the flaring angle of the near-earth magnetotail in the region [minus]22.5 R[sub e] [le] x [le] [minus]10 R[sub e]. These studies show that the flaring angle depends on x, [rho]v[sup 2][sub sw] and IMF B[sub z]. In particular, the median flare angle increases linearly with decreasing B[sub z] when the IMF is southward, while the flare angle is constant when the IMF is northward. The empirical function derived for the flaring angle of the magnetotail is used to determine a relation for the radius of the tail. 18 refs., 5 figs.

• OSTI ID: 5094822
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 20:23; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL
SIMULATION
SIZE
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION