MHD flow past an obstacle: Large-scale flow in the magnetosheath

Journal Article · Thu Jan 23 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91GL03007· OSTI ID:5362331

Wu, C C ^[1]

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

As a step to the study of the large-scale flow in the magnetosheath, the MHD flow past an obstacle is investigated. A time asymptotic method is used to obtain 3D steady-state solutions. The results indicate the formation of a depletion layer near the obstacle due to the increase of the magnetic field. Along the earth-sun line the plasma density increases first and then decreases from the post bow shock to the magnetopause may correspond to what was recently observed. When the interplanetary magnetic field direction is tilted from the solar wind flow, the IMF influences the shape of the bow shock as well as the locations of the stagnation point at the magnetopause in a way consistent with observation. In addition, the results show the existence of a magnetosheath current in the post parallel-shock region.

• OSTI ID: 5362331
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 19:2; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMPTOTIC SOLUTIONS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
MECHANICS
PLASMA DENSITY
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS