Comment on observations of reconnection of interplanetary and lobe magnetic field lines at the high-latitude. Reply magnetopause by J. T. Gosling, M. F. Thomsen, S. J. Bame, R. C. Elphic, R. C. ; Russell, C. T

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JA02017· OSTI ID:6463781

Gosling, J T; Thomsen, M F; Bame, S J; Elphic, R C ^[1]; Russell, C T ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

The authors respond to a comment on their previous work, which reported observations made by a fast plasma experiment on the ISEE 2 spacecraft of ions in the northern high latitude magnetopause, close to the near tail lobe, when the magnetic fields due to the magnetosheath and tail lobe were oppositely oriented. They observed solar wind plasma from the magnetosheath entering the magnetopause, and moving at roughly twice the Alfven speed. They interpreted these observations in terms of a model involving magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause from work by Cowley, and Sonnerup et al. The authors argue that their observations are consistent with this interpretation and do not really fit the model offered by Belenkaya.

• OSTI ID: 6463781
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 98:A4; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
PLASMA
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND