|
Detailed Reference Information |
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 |
|
Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
|
|
|