An empirical model of the plasma density distribution in the distant earth magnetosheath

Journal Article · Wed Dec 02 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL02490· OSTI ID:6891318

Steinberg, J L; Lacombe, C ^[1]

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1. URA 264 du CNRS, Meudon (France)

The authors use published data from several spacecraft and new data from the sounder on ISEE-1 to construct a model of the normalized magnetotail magnetosheath plasma density distribution. The model assumes symmetry of revolution of the magnetosheath around the tail axis. It is valid in the range of aberrated GSE X' from 0 to [minus]200 R[sub E] with a rms fractional deviation from the data of 30%, equal to the relative uncertainty of the data themselves. As in gasdynamic models, the magnetosheath density gradient, perpendicular to the tail axis, increases when the distance to the bow shock decreases. For 0 > X[prime] > [minus]12 R[sub E], the density at the magnetopause is found to decrease with [vert bar]X[prime][vert bar] less rapidly than predicted by gasdynamic models.

• OSTI ID: 6891318
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 19:23; 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
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
MAGNETOTAIL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA RADIAL PROFILES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND