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Magnetotail Configuration under Northward IMF Conditions
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  • Wenhui Li,
  • leyuan wu,
  • Yasong S Ge,
  • Lianzhong Lü
Wenhui Li
Zhejiang University of Technology

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leyuan wu
Zhejiang University of Technology
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Yasong S Ge
Institute of Geology and Geophysics
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Lianzhong Lü
Guangxi University
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Abstract

Due to the sparsity of space probes, it is still not clear on how the magnetic structure of the magnetotail looks like and how it evolves when the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) directs northward. This simulation study uses two different global magnetosphere MHD models to simulate two northward IMF events and study the evolution of the magnetotail. Both models show that the magnetotail may form a structure that is composed of a dawnside tail lobe and a duskside tail lobe instead of a northern tail lobe and a southern tail lobe under southward IMF conditions. In this magnetic configuration, a tail lobe extends a domain from northern (southern) cusp to southern (northern) IMF. The bigger the magnitude of IMF clock angle, the longer and wider the magnetotail. Such magnetic configuration suggests that magnetotail reconnection is possible to occur when the dawnside tail lobe contacts with the duskside tail lobe and thus a substorm is also possible to occur under northward IMF conditions with significant By.
Feb 2021Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics volume 126 issue 2. 10.1029/2020JA028634