|
|
 |
|
|
Ann. Geophys., 22, 3707-3719, 2004
www.ann-geophys.net/22/3707/2004/
© European Geosciences Union 2004
Cluster observations of a complex high-altitude cusp passage during highly variable IMF
M. G. G. T. Taylor1,2, M. W. Dunlop3, B. Lavraud1,4, A. Vontrat-Reberac5, C. J. Owen2, P. Décréau6, P. Trávnícek7, R. C. Elphic1, R. H. W. Friedel1, J. P. Dewhurst2, Y. Wang1, A. Fazakerley2, A. Balogh8, H. Rème4, and P. W. Daly9
1Space and Atmospheric Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA
2Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, UK
3Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
4Centre d’Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, Toulouse, France
5Centre d’étude des Environnements Terrestre et Planétaires, Velizy, France
6LPCE/CNRS 45071 Orleans Cedex 2, France
7Institute of Atmospheric Physics, The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
8Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, UK
9Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, D-37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany Republic
Abstract. On 26 February 2001, the Cluster spacecraft were
outbound over the Northern Hemisphere, at approximately 12:00 MLT, approaching
the magnetosheath through the high-altitude (and exterior) cusp region. Due
to macroscopic motions of the cusp, the spacecraft made multiple entries
into the exterior cusp region before exiting into the magnetosheath,
presenting an excellent opportunity to utilize the four spacecraft
techniques available to the Cluster mission. We present and compare 2
methods of 4-spacecraft boundary analysis, one using PEACE data and one
using FGM data. The comparison shows reasonable agreement between the
techniques, as well as the expected "single spacecraft" plasma and magnetic
signatures when associated with propagated IMF conditions. However, during
periods of highly radial IMF (predominantly negative BX GSM), the 4-spacecraft
boundary analysis reveals a dynamic and deformed cusp morphology.
Full Article in PDF (3519 KB) |
|
|
