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A three dimensional MHD model of the Earth’s magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Wu C. C.,
Walker R. J.,
Dawson J. M.
Publication year - 1981
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/gl008i005p00523
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , magnetopause , physics , magnetohydrodynamics , bow shock (aerodynamics) , solar wind , mercury's magnetic field , interplanetary magnetic field , geophysics , computational physics , plasma , magnetic field , dipole , magnetic dipole , mechanics , shock wave , quantum mechanics
We have simulated the steady state magnetospheric configuration which results when solar wind plasma impinges on a magnetic dipole. In our calculation, the MHD equations were solved self‐consistently by a large scale code which employs Rusanov’s method to produce a three‐dimensional model of the magnetospheric fields and plasma. This simulation, in which the interplanetary magnetic field was assumed to be zero, reproduced many of the observed magnetospheric features including the bow shock, magnetopause and plasma sheet. In particular, the calculated magnetic field is consistent with quiet time observations. The currents in the simulated magnetosphere are remarkably similar to those from semi‐empirical magnetic field models.