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The effects of northward IMF on the structure of the magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Wu C. C.
Publication year - 1985
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/gl012i012p00839
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , geophysics , convection , physics , cusp (singularity) , polar cap , polar , interplanetary magnetic field , magnetohydrodynamics , latitude , vortex , field line , geology , magnetic field , ionosphere , solar wind , mechanics , geometry , astronomy , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Effects of northward IMF on the structure of the magnetosphere were studied by using a global MHD model. The model suggests a mechanism for creating high latitude sunward convection. The mechanism is not due to magnetic merging over the cusp region. Instead, the model indicates that the northward IMF field lines, which move around the magnetosphere, tend to squeeze the magnetotail at the boundary. This leads to formation of vortex flows in the tail and the observed sunward convection in the polar cap.