Transient flux enhancements in the magnetosheath

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 25; no. 8; pp. 1273 - 1276
• Main Authors: Němeček, Z., Šafránková, J., Přech, L., Sibeck, D. G., Kokubun, S., Mukai, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 15.04.1998; American Geophysical Union
• Subjects: Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Physics of the magnetosphere; Plasma motion, convection, circulation. Plasma instabilities; Ion flux; Upstream shock wave; Magnetosheath; Transient flow; Satellite observation; Magnetospheric shock wave; Solar wind
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/98GL50873

This study presents INTERBALL‐1, and MAGION‐4 observations of transient ion flux variations in the magnetosheath which cannot be related to similar changes in the solar wind observed by WIND and GEOTAIL. The duration of the transient events varies from tens of seconds to a few minutes and their amplitude can exceed background levels by a factor of 2 or more. We use the closely‐spaced INTERBALL‐1 and MAGION‐4 satellites to estimate that the spatial dimensions of the events are on the order of ∼ 1RE. The interaction of foreshock discontinuities with the bow shock is identified as a possible source of these events.