1. Global MHD Simulations of Dayside Magnetopause Dynamics.
THEMIS Event: May 20, 2008
20:30 – 22:30
M. M. Kuznetsova, D. G. Sibeck, M. Hesse, L. Rastaetter, T. Gombosi
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2. Global MHD Simulation Model
BATS-R-US (CSEM, University of Michigan) uses an adaptive grid composed of rectangular blocks arranged in varying degrees of spatial refinement levels.
Resolution at Dayside Magnetopause Including Flanks: 1/16 Re
15 – 20 mln grid cells

3. Runs with Modeled Conditions
Kuznetsova et al, 2004
Solar Wind Parameters:
N = 2 cm –3 , T = 20,000 Ko , Vx = 300 km/s, |B| = 5 nT
IMF Turning From Northward Orientation (θ = 0)
to IMF Clock angle θ < 120o:

4. Sub-Solar FTE Structure
Theta = 120o
BATSRUS
Cluster
Pressure
Masha_Kuznetsova_031704_4a
Pressure

5. Vortices Generation at the Flanks
Close to regions of large flow velocity shear
and almost anti-parallel magnetic field.
Theta = 120o

6. Vortices at the Flanks for Southward IMF
Theta = 180o
Joe_Borovsky_040207_1c

7. THEMIS Dayside Event: May 20, 2008, 20:30 – 22:30
Solar wind propagated
from ACE to 33 Re
Global Magnetosphere at 22:00
Resolution at Dayside
Magnetopause: 1/16 Re

9. Weak Magnetic Field Cavity Follows the FTE.
Time: 20:51:10 UT
Magnetic field (|B|)
Pressure (P)
Density (N)
Velocity (|V|)

10. Significant Deviations from 2D Tilted Flux Tube
Z = Re Slice
- 1 Re
- 2 Re
+ 1 Re

11. Start Points for Field Line Tracing at Z = -1.5 Re Slice

12. View from the South

13. View from the Sun Start points for field line tracing at
Z = Re slice

14. Component Reconnection Near Sub-Solar Region (Y ~ 0 – 2 Re)
And Anti-Parallel Reconnection at Flanks (Y ~ Re)

15. FTE at Flanks (Y = 12 Re) is Connected to FTE
at the Sub-Solar Region ( Y = 0 ).
X-slice
Y-slice
Z-slice

16. Slices Through FTE Magnetic Field Strength X = 1 Y = 0 |Y – 15| < 2
Z = - 1.5
|Y - 12| < 2
Time: 20:51:10 UT

17. Slice Through FTE: Y = 0 Magnetic Field Strength
Time interval: 20:40 – 21:00
Magnetic Field Strength

18. FTE Bulge with Strong Core Field
Time: 20:51:10 UT
Pressure (P)
Magnetic field (|B|)
The plasma pressure
exhibit a ring-shaped
structure surrounding
a central depression
Density (N)
Velocity (|V|)
The flow around the
flux rope is largest at
the magnetosphere side.

19. Signature of Bended Flux Rope (FTE) Near Sub-Solar Region
Y = - 2 Re
Y = 0
Y = 2 Re
+ 2 Re
+ 2 Re
Bended Flux Rope (FTE) Near Sub-Solar Region

20. Signature of Bended Flux Rope (FTE)

21. Signature of Bended Flux Rope

22. Slice Through FTE: X = 1 |Y - 15| < 2 Magnetic Field Strength
Time interval: 20:40 – 21:00
Magnetic Field Strength

23. Supplementary Slides

24. Click Here