The magnetopause shape and location: a comparison of the Interball and Geotail observations with models

Abstract. A number of magnetopause models have been developed in the course of last three decades. We have chosen seven of them and tested them using a fresh set of magnetopause crossings observed by Interball-1, Magion-4, and Geotail satellites. The crossings cover the magnetopause from the subsolar region up to near-Earth tail (XGSE ~ - 20 RE ) and all geomagnetic latitudes. Our study reveals that (1) the difference between investigated models is smaller than the error of prediction caused by the factors not included in models, (2) the dayside magnetopause is indented in the cusp region, (3) the deepness of the indentation can reach ~ 4 RE , and (4) the dimensions of the indentation do not depend on the dipole tilt, whereas its location does.

Key words. Magnetopause, magnetospheric physics, solar wind