Articles | Volume 35, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-645-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-645-2017
Regular paper
 | 
17 May 2017
Regular paper |  | 17 May 2017

Statistical survey of day-side magnetospheric current flow using Cluster observations: magnetopause

Evelyn Liebert, Christian Nabert, Christopher Perschke, Karl-Heinz Fornaçon, and Karl-Heinz Glassmeier

Data sets

FGM fluxgate magnetometer - Magnetic field, spin resultion; CIS ion spectronometer - Ion Moments (High and Low Sensitivity) ESA Cluster Science Archive http://caa.estec.esa.int/caa/

OMNI HRO 5MIN - Alfvenic mach number Coordinated Data Analysis Web https://cdaweb.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html/

Short summary
We present a statistical survey of current magnitudes, directions and locations at the high-latitude day-side magnetopause using Cluster's multi-spacecraft data. Our results show that the magnetopause current flow directions match expectations based on existing models and simulations. Current magnitudes are in correspondence with former studies. In addition, we observe a varying location of the currents with respect to changes in the ambient plasma properties.