SOLAR-WIND CONTROL OF THE MAGNETOPAUSE SHAPE AND LOCATION

We made statistical studies of a large data set of magnetopause crossi ngs, that were measured aboard many spacecraft. This data was matched with simultaneous solar wind parameters. We have quantified the magnet opause response to variations of solar wind dynamic pressures and inte rplanetary magnetic field intensities and orientation. We concluded th at location of the subsolar point is a function of solar wind pressure alone when the z component interplanetary magnetic field (IMF Bz) > - 2 nT but it is a complex function of solar wind dynamic pressure and IMF Bz when Bz < - 2 nT. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.