4 research outputs found
MMS observations of stormâtime magnetopause boundary layers in the vicinity of the Southern cusp
80MSFC20C0019 - NASAPublished versio
Massâloading the Earth's dayside magnetopause boundary layer and its effect on magnetic reconnection
When the interplanetary magnetic field is northward for a period of time, O+ from the highâlatitude ionosphere escapes along reconnected magnetic field lines into the dayside magnetopause boundary layer. Dualâlobe reconnection closes these field lines, which traps O+ and mass loads the boundary layer. This O+ is an additional source of magnetospheric plasma that interacts with magnetosheath plasma through magnetic reconnection. This mass loading and interaction is illustrated through analysis of a magnetopause crossing by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft. While in the O+ârich boundary layer, the interplanetary magnetic field turns southward. As the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft cross the highâshear magnetopause, reconnection signatures are observed. While the reconnection rate is likely reduced by the mass loading, reconnection is not suppressed at the magnetopause. The highâlatitude dayside ionosphere is therefore a source of magnetospheric ions that contributes often to transient reduction in the reconnection rate at the dayside magnetopause.publishedVersio