Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Precursor Studies of the Magnetopause Current Layer

Cong Zhao, University of California Los Angeles, Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, Los Angeles, United States, Christopher T Russell, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States and Robert J Strangeway, University of California Los Angeles, Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Abstract:
The magnetopause is a current layer that separates shocked solar wind plasma and the magnetospheric magnetic field proper. In preparation for studies with the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission we examine the magnetic profiles of closely space crossings of the magnetopause by the Cluster spacecraft. While the crossings may appear to be quite different at the four neighboring locations, much of the difference is due to the varying velocity of the magnetopause at the four spacecraft. We find a coherent current system across the area covered by the four spacecraft in the regions studied to date.
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