Global MHD Simulation of a Prolonged Steady Weak Southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field Condition

Abstract

We performed high-resolution three-dimensional global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to study the interaction between the Earth’s magnetosphere and a prolonged steady southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) (Bz = –2nT) and slow solar wind. The simulation results show that dayside magnetic reconnection continuously occurs at the subsolar region where the magnetosheath magnetic field is antiparallel to the geomagnetic field. The plasmoid developed on closed plasma sheet field lines. We found that the vortex was generated at the magnetic equator such as (X, Y) = (7.6, 8.9) RE due to the viscous-like interaction, which was strengthened by dayside reconnection. The magnetic field and plasma properties clearly showed quasiperiodic variations with a period of 8–10 min across the vortex. Additionally, double twin parallel vorticity in the polar region was clearly seen. The peak value of the cross-polar cap potential fluctuated between 17 and 20 kV during the tail reconnection.