Which solar wind transfer process dominates during northward IMF?
One way to answer this question is to compare a global simulation of the magnetosphere with local spacecraft measurements in the magnetotail, during northward IMF periods. In case of good agreement between the global simulation and the data at the spacecraft location, by analysing the numerical simulation results, one can determine which process is dominant. However, in the case of cold-dense plasma sheet formation, model-data comparison is difficult. The formation could take several hours after northward IMF turning, during which the solar wind and IMF parameters typically vary substantially. In other words, to make the study of solar wind entry during northward IMF convincing, one needs: • a prolonged period of purely northward IMF under stable solar wind conditions • spacecraft in the magnetotail • global simulation and comparison with data at the spacecraft location Cluster observations quantitatively reproduced by numerical simulations of the magnetosphere During the 2003 Hallowee
