Statistical Analysis of Electric Currents within the Magnetosheath using Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Data
Presentation Type
Poster
Presenter Format
In Person Meeting Talk
Topic
Dayside Science
Start Date
10-5-2022 5:30 PM
Abstract
Earth’s magnetosheath is the region that mediates coupling between the solar wind and magnetosphere. Simulations by Lopez et al. [2010] predict current closure across the sheath from the bowshock to the magnetopause. These currents provide a JxB force which diverts plasma flow along the flanks of the magnetosphere. Observations by the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission show that there are large amplitude, localized currents during periods of intense sheath turbulence [Phan et al. 2018]. We perform a statistical analysis of magnetic field data from the first five years of the MMS mission when the satellites are on the dayside and generate maps of electric current density derived using the curlometer technique. Preliminary results suggests that under southward IMF dominated conditions, there are large-scale currents within the sheath that allow for closure between the bowshock and magnetopause Chapman-Ferraro currents with an approximate amplitude of 0.3��A/m2 coinciding with sporadic currents due to magnetosheath turbulence that can reach amplitudes of 4��A/m2.
Statistical Analysis of Electric Currents within the Magnetosheath using Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Data
Earth’s magnetosheath is the region that mediates coupling between the solar wind and magnetosphere. Simulations by Lopez et al. [2010] predict current closure across the sheath from the bowshock to the magnetopause. These currents provide a JxB force which diverts plasma flow along the flanks of the magnetosphere. Observations by the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission show that there are large amplitude, localized currents during periods of intense sheath turbulence [Phan et al. 2018]. We perform a statistical analysis of magnetic field data from the first five years of the MMS mission when the satellites are on the dayside and generate maps of electric current density derived using the curlometer technique. Preliminary results suggests that under southward IMF dominated conditions, there are large-scale currents within the sheath that allow for closure between the bowshock and magnetopause Chapman-Ferraro currents with an approximate amplitude of 0.3��A/m2 coinciding with sporadic currents due to magnetosheath turbulence that can reach amplitudes of 4��A/m2.
