An empirical model of the high-latitude magnetopause

Citation
Sa. Boardsen et al., An empirical model of the high-latitude magnetopause, J GEO R-S P, 105(A10), 2000, pp. 23193-23219
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS
ISSN journal
21699380 → ACNP
Volume
105
Issue
A10
Year of publication
2000
Pages
23193 - 23219
Database
ISI
SICI code
0148-0227(20001001)105:A10<23193:AEMOTH>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
A quantitative, static, empirical model of the high-latitude magnetopause i s developed for GSM coordinates and parameterized by dipole tilt angle (psi ), solar wind pressure, and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B-z. We fit 691 high-latitude magnetopause crossings by the Hawkeye 1 spacecraft to a generalized second-order surface using only crossings for which both solar wind pressure and IMF data are available. These Northern Hemisphere crossin gs are shown to lie within the spatial coverage of Hawkeye for different bi ns of psi spanning the range of -35 degrees to 35 degrees, demonstrating th at the psi dependence of the crossings is not due to a bias in coverage. At high latitudes, solar wind pressure and psi are found to be of major and e qual importance in modeling magnetopause position. In the Northern Hemisphe re the high-latitude magnetopause is displaced outward for positive psi and inward for negative psi. Additional inward displacement of the magnetopaus e surface is reduced for extreme negative psi values. IMF B-z dependence is separable only after the effects of psi and pressure are removed. The radi al dependence on IMF B-z weakens near the cusp and becomes stronger antisun ward of the cusp, where the magnetopause is displaced outward for negative IMF B-z, and inward for positive IMF B-z. This is consistent with findings along the low-latitude flanks. Both AE and Dsr dependencies are found in th e high-latitude magnetopause crossings after removing Wand pressure depende ncies from the crossings. This model is only valid at high latitudes, antis unward of the cusp, out to a x(GSM) value of about -5 R-E. The psi dependen ce of the nose is also modeled using a subset of magnetopause crossings fro m Roelof and Sibeck [1993] along with Hawkeye crossings below the cusp regi on. For positive psi the most Sunward point of the nose is displaced below the x(GSM)-y(GSM) plane. Both the nose model and the high-latitude model ar e in reasonable agreement with the theoretical model of Sotirelis and Meng [1999].