Solar Wind Coupling to the Magnetosphere: Analysis of IMP-8 Magnetosheath Observations

这项建议将通过以下方法研究地球磁鞘及其与磁层的相互作用：（1）分析IMP-8等离子体仪器在过去20年中收集的所有磁鞘数据，使用一种经过修订的、针对磁鞘数据进行优化的分析程序，以产生一套磁鞘等离子体密度、速度和温度的数据;（2）制作各种上游太阳条件下磁鞘中等离子体参数的天气图;（3）利用这些图试图描绘不同太阳风条件下等离子体地幔的边界;（4）将磁鞘数据与模式结果进行比较。 数据将进行分析，以寻找磁鞘配置的变化，由于不同的上游磁场和等离子体条件。 结果将与现有的最佳模型进行比较，并将测试对磁鞘过程的理论理解，并确定偏离模型预期的区域。

This proposal will study Earth's magnetosheath and its interaction with the magnetosphere by (1) analysis of all the magnetosheath data collected by the IMP-8 plasma instrument over the past 20 years, using a revised analysis routine optimized for magnetosheath data to produce a data set of the magnetosheath plasma density, velocity, and temperature; (2) production of synoptic maps of plasma parameters in the magnetosheath for various upstream solar conditions; (3) use of these maps to attempt to delineate the boundary of the plasma mantle for different solar wind conditions; and (4) comparison of the magnetosheath data with model results. Data will be analyzed to look for variations in the magnetosheath configuration due to differing upstream magnetic field and plasma conditions. The results will be compared with the best models available, and will test theoretical understanding of magnetosheath processes and identify regions which deviate from the model expectations.***