Magnetopause Boundary Location Analysis: Models vs. Observations

Abstract:

The Earth's magnetopause location has been studied and estimated via simulation models, observational data and empirical models. This research aims to study the changes of the magnetopause standoff location due to different solar wind conditions using a combination of all the different methods. We use the Run-On-Request capabilities at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) at NASA GSFC within 4 magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models. The magnetopause standoff position prediction and response time to the solar wind changes is then compared to results from available empirical models, to extreme solar wind conditions where magnetopause crossing of geosynchronous orbit have been observed by the GOES satellites, and to magnetopause crossings observed by the THEMIS mission. Rigorous analysis/comparison of observations and empirical models is critical in determining magnetosphere dynamics for model validation. Results show that there are discrepancies between the MHD models standoff positions of the dayside magnetopause for the same solar wind conditions. Root mean square errors/deviations (RMSE) were calculated using the GOES satellite observations of magnetopause crossings and with the THEMIS satellite observations. Understanding the differences and limitations of these models is imperative for improving and validating such models.