Small-scale Structures in near-Earth Space Plasmas: Observational Analysis Across Boundaries
Abstract
Solar wind turbulence belongs to a complex group of phenomena. The intermittent processes within this turbulence are responsible for the formation of localized coherent structures in the solar wind. We observationally study magnetic flux ropes and other structures identified in the turbulent solar wind as they are convected across the bow shock at Earth. Using high time-resolution data from Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS), the Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS), and Wind missions, we identify small-scale flux ropes (SFRs) using wavelet analysis and compare to those identified by other methods. Wavelet transforms are performed across day long intervals, then the resulting spectrograms are searched to identify structures. In addition to duration, the average solar wind velocity, maximum magnetic field, and average temperature of the flux ropes identified are also recorded. These properties are then compared to the similar set of SFRs identified by other methods (e.g., see fluxrope.info). A simple comparison of SFRs identified well upstream (in the solar wind) and downstream (in the magnetosheath) of the bow shock will show how the properties of these structures change across this boundary.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMSM059..11H
- Keywords:
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- 2164 Solar wind plasma;
- INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS;
- 2723 Magnetic reconnection;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2728 Magnetosheath;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2784 Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS