Magnetopause Dynamics

• Increase solar wind pressure or reconnection can change the position of the magnetopause by several Re

  • Large scale magnetosphere reconfiguration occurs
  • First indication of a geomagnetic storm or substorm will occur

• Reconnected magnetic field lines allow solar wind plasma to enter into the magnetosphere

• A boundary layer of plasma is found Earthward of the magnetopause

• Questions that remain to be answered:

  • What is the mapping of magnetopause field lines back to the Earth?
  • What is the origin and dynamics of the boundary layer?
  • Where does solar wind plasma that enters in the magnetosphere go?
  • Does reconnection occur as small scale or large scale phenomena?
  • Do large scale surface waves form on the magnetopause and how do they propagate?

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