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ISEE observations of flux transfer events at the dayside magnetopause
Author(s) -
Russell C. T.,
Elphic R. C.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl006i001p00033
Subject(s) - magnetopause , magnetosheath , substorm , magnetosphere , geophysics , flux (metallurgy) , physics , noon , interplanetary magnetic field , solar wind , magnetic field , atmospheric sciences , astrophysics , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
Magnetic field measurements from the ISEE 1 and 2 spacecraft are examined in the vicinity of the magnetopause near local noon on a typical pass when the magnetosheath field is southward. The data clearly show evidence for patchy impulsive reconnection. The flux transfer rate for these events is at least of the order of 1 to 2 × 10 12 Maxwells per second, and possibly greater. This rate is similar to rates deduced for magnetopause erosion events. Not only are these observations relevant to the substorm process, but the impulsive nature of the flux transfer events leads to boundary oscillations that could also be the source of long period magnetic pulsations in the outer magnetosphere.