Study of multiple X line reconnection at the dayside magnetopause

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL015i004p00295· OSTI ID:7251202

Shi, Y; Wu, C C; Lee, L C

Interaction between the interplanetary magnetic field and the earth's geomagnetic field at the dayside magnetopause is studied by a global two-dimensional incompressible MHD simulation. It is found that for a large magnetic Reynolds number (R/sub m/greater than or equal to400), the multiple X line reconnection (MXR) becomes the major dayside reconnection process, while for a small magnetic Reynolds number (R/sub m/less than or equal to100), the classical single X line reconnection takes place. Since the magnetic Reynolds number at the dayside magnetopause is probably very high (R/sub m/>10/sup 3/), it may be suggested that MXR will dominate the dayside reconnection pattern. As a result of the MXR process, magnetic islands are formed on the dayside magnetopause surface. The dependence of the dayside reconnection geometry of the solar wind Alfven Mach number is also examined. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: Geophysical Institute and Department of Physics, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• OSTI ID: 7251202
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 15:4; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
DAILY VARIATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETIC REYNOLDS NUMBER
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MECHANICS
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VARIATIONS