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Detailed Reference Information
Fear et al. 2005
Fear, R.C., Fazakerley, A.N., Owen, C.J. and Lucek, E.A. (2005). A survey of flux transfer events observed by Cluster during strongly northward IMF. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2005GL023811. issn: 0094-8276.

During Cluster's annual dayside seasons (November--June) the four spacecraft cross the magnetopause at high latitudes near local noon, and at lower latitudes further along the flanks. During these crossings, observations of flux transfer events (FTEs), a signature of transient or variable-rate magnetopause merging, are often made. We have compiled a survey of FTEs observed by Cluster in the 2002/3 dayside season. A significant number of FTEs, presented here, were observed under strongly northward IMF. Multi-spacecraft techniques enable more accurate velocities to be calculated than previously possible. The observed velocities are consistent with a long, component merging X-line emanating from the antiparallel merging site in the lobe, but require a relaxation of the antiparallel merging hypothesis to allow the X-line to extend to regions of lower shear on the flank. The velocities observed at lower latitudes are not consistent with a subsolar X-line.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetic reconnection (7526, 7835), Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetopause and boundary layers, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosheath, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosphere, outer, Magnetospheric Physics, Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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