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Detailed Reference Information
Scurry et al. 1994
Scurry, L., Russell, C.T. and Gosling, J.T. (1994). Geomagnetic activity and the beta dependence of the dayside reconnection rate. Journal of Geophysical Research 99: doi: 10.1029/94JA00794. issn: 0148-0227.

In previous work we have used geomagnetic activity as a proxy measure of the reconnection rate to determine how the upstream solar wind parameters control reconnection. Herein we extend that work to show how the solar wind magnetosonic Mach number, upstream solar wind beta, and the cone angle of the interplanetary magnetic field are correlated with a proxy measure of the efficiency of the reconnection process. Each of these three parameters controls the plasma beta in the magnetosheath downstream of the Earth's bow shock. The dependence of the efficiency of reconnection on the above parameters is in agreement with the expectation that large magnetosheath betas reduce the rate of or hinder the onset of dayside reconnection.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Interplanetary Physics, Interplanetary magnetic fields, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosheath, Space Plasma Physics, Magnetic reconnection
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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