Publication at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
2010
Abstract
We investigate the dependence of the magnetopause location on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) cone angle (the angle between the IMF and solar wind velocity vectors) in a statistical study based on ≈6500 magnetopause crossings observed by the five THEMIS spacecraft, both at the dayside and flanks. The results demonstrate a systematic increase of the magnetopause distance for radial IMF directions.
Moreover, a stronger dependence of the magnetopause location on the solar wind dynamic pressure than predicted by the current models was observed.