The subsolar magnetopause is the boundary between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere,where reduced solar wind dynamic pressure is equal to the magnetic pressure of the Earth's outer magnetosphere.We use a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)model to estimate the ratio f of the compressed magnetic field just inside the subsolar magnetopause to the purely dipolar magnetic field.We also compare our numerical results to a similar work by Shue,which used Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms(THEMIS)data.Our results show that the ratio f is linearly proportional to the subsolar magnetopause standoff distance(r0)for both the northward and southward interplanetary magnetic field,properties consistent with Shue but with a smaller proportionality constant.However,previous theoretical studies show that f is nearly independent of the subsolar standoff distance.The global model results also show that f is smaller for the southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field(IMF)under the same r0,and that the proportionality constant for the southward IMF is larger than that for the northward IMF.Both conclusions agree with statistical results from observations by Shue.
Dispersive Alfvén waves(DAWs)have been demonstrated to play a significant role in auroral generation of the magnetosphereionosphere coupling system.Starting from a two fluid reduced MHD model,we summarize the frequency,temporal and spatial characteristics of magnetospheric DAWs.Then,the nonlinear kinetic and inertial scale Alfveén waves are studied,and we review some theoretical aspects and simulation results of dispersive Alfve′n waves in Earth's magnetosphere.It is shown that dispersive standing Alfve′n waves can generate the field-aligned currents which transport energy into the auroral ionosphere,where it is dissipated by Joule heating and energy lost due to electron precipitation.The Joule dissipation can heat the ionospheric electron and produce changes in the ionospheric Pedersen conductivity.As a feedback,the conducting ionosphere can also strongly affect the magnetospheric currents. The ponderomotive force can cause the plasma to move along the field line,and generate ionospheric density cavity.The nonlinear structuring can lead to a dispersive scale to accelerate auroral particle,and the Alfvn waves can be trapped within the density cavity. Finally,we show the nonlinear decay of dispersive Alfvén waves related to two anti-propagating electron fluxes observed in the auroral zone.
