Characteristics of the flank magnetopause: MMS results
File(s)2019JA027623.pdf (6.59 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We have used a large number of magnetopause crossings by the Magnetospheric Multi Spacecraft (MMS) mission to investigate macroscopic properties of this current sheet, with emphasis on the flanks of the magnetopause. Macroscopic features such as thickness, location and motion of the magnetopause were calculated as a function of local time sector. The results show that the flanks of the magnetopause are significantly thicker than the dayside magnetopause. Thicknesses vary from about 650 km near noon to over 1000 km near the terminator. Current densities varies in a similar manner, with average current densities around noon almost twice as high as near the terminator. We also find a dawn‐dusk asymmetry in many of the macroscopic parameters; The dawn magnetopause is thicker than at dusk, while the dusk flank is more dynamic, with a higher average normal velocity.
Date Issued
2020-03
Date Acceptance
2020-01-11
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 2020, 125 (3), pp.1-13
ISSN
2169-9380
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Start Page
1
End Page
13
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
125
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
©2020. The Authors.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2019JA027623
Grant Number
ST/S000364/1
Subjects
0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
0401 Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published online
Article Number
2019JA027623
Date Publish Online
2020-02-03