Solar wind control of the magnetopause shape, location, and motion

Journal Article · Sun Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90JA02464· OSTI ID:5315294

Sibeck, D G; Lopez, R E; Roelof, E C ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD (USA)

The authors have assembled a data set of 1,821 magnetopause crossings. Separate fits to subsets of this data set determine the magnetopause location as a function of solar wind dynamic pressure and interplanetary magnetic field operation. Solar wind dynamic pressure variations produce self-similar magnetopause motion on time scales of one hour or longer. They verify the pressure balance relationship between the solar wind dynamic pressure and the location of the subsolar magnetopause. They quantify the relationship between the IMF B{sub z}, region 1 Birkeland current strength, the position of the subsolar magnetopause, and the shape of the dayside magnetosphere. Cross sections of the dayside magnetopause in planes perpendicular to the Earth-Sun line are oblate.

• OSTI ID: 5315294
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:A4; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COORDINATES
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
INFORMATION
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MORPHOLOGY
MOTION
ORIENTATION
PRESSURE EFFECTS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VARIATIONS