Propagation of a shock-related disturbance in the Earth's magnetosphere

Abstract

The Grand Unified Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling Simulation, version 4, magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the interplanetary shock event on 9 November 2002 is used to determine the shock-associated disturbance propagation characteristics inside the Earth's magnetosphere. Interaction of an interplanetary fast forward shock with the magnetopause caused a shock-related disturbance inside the magnetosphere that propagated at a speed significantly higher than that in the solar wind or magnetosheath. The propagation direction of the disturbance was calculated from the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions, velocity and magnetic coplanarity, and minimum variance analysis and is shown to vary in different regions of the magnetosphere. Furthermore, the impulse disturbance wave mode changes as the plasma and field conditions change inside the magnetosphere. These results bring important new information about the propagation processes that is not directly obtainable from point measurements made by (even several) spacecraft. On the other hand, comparison of ionospheric observations from the IMAGE magnetometer chain with geosynchronous data allow us to also interpret the double step structure observed at dayside geosynchronous orbit, which is below the simulation resolution. This combination provides us with quite a complete view on shock propagation inside the magnetosphere.