Cluster Observations of Reconnection Due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability at the Dawnside Magnetospheric Flank

K. Nykyri; A. Otto; B. Lavraud; C. Mouikis; L. M. Kistler; A. Balogh; H. Rème

doi:10.5194/angeo-24-2416-2006

Cluster Observations of Reconnection Due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability at the Dawnside Magnetospheric Flank

K. Nykyri
, A. Otto
, B. Lavraud
, C. Mouikis
, L. M. Kistler
, A. Balogh
, H. Rème

Imperial College London
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Los Alamos National Laboratory
University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
Centre d'Etude Spatiale Rayonnements

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

On 3 July 2001, the four Cluster satellites traversed along the dawnside magnetospheric flank and observed large variations in all plasma parameters. The estimated magnetopause boundary normals were oscillating in the z-direction and the normal component of the magnetic field showed systematic ~2–3 min bipolar variations for 1 h when the IMF had a small positive bz-component and a Parker-spiral orientation in the x, y-plane. Brief ~33 s intervals with excellent deHoffman Teller frames were observed satisfying the Wal´en relation. Detailed comparisons with 2- D MHD simulations indicate that Cluster encountered rotational discontinuities generated by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. We estimate a wave length of ~6RE and a wave vector with a significant z-component.

Original language	American English
Journal	Annales Geophysicae
Volume	24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-24-2416-2006
State	Published - Oct 1 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

magnetospheric physics
space plasma physics

Disciplines

Astrophysics and Astronomy

Access to Document

10.5194/angeo-24-2416-2006License: CC BY

Cluster Observations of Reconnection Due to the Kelvin-HelmholtzFinal published version, 3.33 MBLicense: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Cluster Observations of Reconnection Due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability at the Dawnside Magnetospheric Flank",

abstract = " On 3 July 2001, the four Cluster satellites traversed along the dawnside magnetospheric flank and observed large variations in all plasma parameters. The estimated magnetopause boundary normals were oscillating in the z-direction and the normal component of the magnetic field showed systematic \textasciitilde{}2–3 min bipolar variations for 1 h when the IMF had a small positive bz-component and a Parker-spiral orientation in the x, y-plane. Brief \textasciitilde{}33 s intervals with excellent deHoffman Teller frames were observed satisfying the Wal´en relation. Detailed comparisons with 2- D MHD simulations indicate that Cluster encountered rotational discontinuities generated by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. We estimate a wave length of \textasciitilde{}6RE and a wave vector with a significant z-component.",

keywords = "magnetospheric physics, space plasma physics",

author = "K. Nykyri and A. Otto and B. Lavraud and C. Mouikis and Kistler, \{L. M.\} and A. Balogh and H. R{\`e}me",

year = "2006",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.5194/angeo-24-2416-2006",

language = "American English",

volume = "24",

journal = "Annales Geophysicae",

issn = "1432-0576",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Cluster Observations of Reconnection Due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability at the Dawnside Magnetospheric Flank

AU - Nykyri, K.

AU - Otto, A.

AU - Lavraud, B.

AU - Mouikis, C.

AU - Kistler, L. M.

AU - Balogh, A.

AU - Rème, H.

PY - 2006/10/1

Y1 - 2006/10/1

N2 - On 3 July 2001, the four Cluster satellites traversed along the dawnside magnetospheric flank and observed large variations in all plasma parameters. The estimated magnetopause boundary normals were oscillating in the z-direction and the normal component of the magnetic field showed systematic ~2–3 min bipolar variations for 1 h when the IMF had a small positive bz-component and a Parker-spiral orientation in the x, y-plane. Brief ~33 s intervals with excellent deHoffman Teller frames were observed satisfying the Wal´en relation. Detailed comparisons with 2- D MHD simulations indicate that Cluster encountered rotational discontinuities generated by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. We estimate a wave length of ~6RE and a wave vector with a significant z-component.

AB - On 3 July 2001, the four Cluster satellites traversed along the dawnside magnetospheric flank and observed large variations in all plasma parameters. The estimated magnetopause boundary normals were oscillating in the z-direction and the normal component of the magnetic field showed systematic ~2–3 min bipolar variations for 1 h when the IMF had a small positive bz-component and a Parker-spiral orientation in the x, y-plane. Brief ~33 s intervals with excellent deHoffman Teller frames were observed satisfying the Wal´en relation. Detailed comparisons with 2- D MHD simulations indicate that Cluster encountered rotational discontinuities generated by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. We estimate a wave length of ~6RE and a wave vector with a significant z-component.

KW - magnetospheric physics

KW - space plasma physics

UR - https://commons.erau.edu/publication/730

U2 - 10.5194/angeo-24-2416-2006

DO - 10.5194/angeo-24-2416-2006

M3 - Article

SN - 1432-0576

VL - 24

JO - Annales Geophysicae

JF - Annales Geophysicae

ER -

Cluster Observations of Reconnection Due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability at the Dawnside Magnetospheric Flank

Abstract

Keywords

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