Multiple Reconnection X‐Lines at the Magnetopause and Overlapping Cusp Ion Injections

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  • S. A. Fuselier
    Space Science and Engineering Department Southwest Research Institute San Antonio TX USA
  • C. A. Kletzing
    Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa Iowa City IA USA
  • S. M. Petrinec
    Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center Palo Alto CA USA
  • K. J. Trattner
    Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder CO USA
  • D. George
    Space Science and Engineering Department Southwest Research Institute San Antonio TX USA
  • S. R. Bounds
    Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa Iowa City IA USA
  • R. P. Sawyer
    Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa Iowa City IA USA
  • J. W. Bonnell
    Space Sciences Laboratory University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
  • J. L. Burch
    Space Science and Engineering Department Southwest Research Institute San Antonio TX USA
  • B. L. Giles
    NASA Goddarsd Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA
  • R. J. Strangeway
    Earth and Space Sciences University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations during an extended crossing of the Earth's dayside magnetopause show evidence of multiple reconnections at the boundary. This crossing occurred when the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) was southward and had a significant B<jats:sub>Y</jats:sub> component. Approximately 2 hr after this crossing, the Twin Rocket Investigation of Cusp Electrodynamics‐2 rockets were launched into the northern hemisphere cusp and observed overlapping cusp ion injections. These overlapping injections are also evidence of multiple reconnections at the magnetopause. Observations more than 2 hr apart do not constitute conjunction between the spacecraft and the rockets. However, the IMF conditions during the magnetopause crossing and the cusp traversal were very similar. Therefore, had the magnetopause crossings and cusp traversals occurred at the same time, the observations would have been similar. Thus, these two events illustrate the link between multiple reconnections at the magnetopause and overlapping cusp ion injections.</jats:p>

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