The dayside magnetopause moves inward during periods of southward interplanetary magnetic field in response to decreases in the outer magnetospheric magnetic field strength. We consider possible causes for the magnetic field strength decreases and demonstrate thay they are consistent with increases in the region 1 Birkeland and cross-tail currents. We reexamine the well-known series of magnetopause crossings by OGO 5 on March 27, 1968, to demonstrate that they provide evidence for two intervals of gradual inward magnetopause motion associated with magnetic flux erosion and also for two intervals of inward magnetopause motion associated with sharp increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994