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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Keywords

  • magnetosheath
  • solar wind
  • interplanetary magnetic field

Index Terms

  • Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosheath
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions
  • Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary magnetic fields
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetic reconnection
Abstract
Cited By (0)
 

Abstract

Reliability of prediction of the magnetosheath BZ component from interplanetary magnetic field observations

J. Šafránková

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

M. Hayosh

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic

O. Gutynska

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Z. Němeček

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

L. Přech

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

In the present statistical study, we discuss a probability of simultaneous observations of the same sign of the magnetic field BZ component in the solar wind and magnetosheath. The analysis is based on 5 min data from four spacecraft (Interball-1, IMP 8, Cluster, and THEMIS) operating in different phases of the solar cycle in the magnetosheath. Their measurements are compared with Wind interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) observations, and other available upstream monitors (ACE, THEMIS B, and OMNI database) are tested for some sets. We can conclude that the probability of observations of the same BZ sign in the solar wind and in the magnetosheath is surprisingly very low from a general point of view. The probability changes through the solar cycle, being larger at the solar minimum. Regardless of the solar cycle phase, this probability is close to 0.5 (random coincidence) for IMF ∣BZ∣ < 1 nT, and it is a rising function of the BZ value. Distant solar wind monitors do not guarantee the same sign of the BZ component, even for values of IMF BZ exceeding ±9 nT, but such large values are observed about 3–5% of the time. A better probability profile is reached for a monitor located just upstream (less than 30 RE), as is demonstrated for the THEMIS project.

Received 10 June 2009; accepted 27 August 2009; published 18 December 2009.

Citation: Šafránková, J., M. Hayosh, O. Gutynska, Z. Němeček, and L. Přech (2009), Reliability of prediction of the magnetosheath BZ component from interplanetary magnetic field observations, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A12213, doi:10.1029/2009JA014552.

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