ISEE 3 magnetopause crossings - Evidence for the Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilityThe role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in driving magnetopause motion is investigated on the basis of correlated ISEE-3 magnetometer measurements and IMP-8 solar-wind/magnetosheath velocities. The data are presented in graphs and briefly characterized, comparing the daily frequency of magnetopause crossings by ISEE-3 with the velocities. It is found that the instability criterion for longitudinal waves is only rarely satisfied in these measurements, while that for waves with an azimuthal component is satisfied in over 50 percent of the cases. It is inferred that the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is probably the cause of motions with magnetotail-boundary interarrival times of 20 min or less.
Document ID
19880059308
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Sibeck, D. G. (Johns Hopkins University Laurel, MD, United States)
Slavin, J. A. (Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Smith, E. J. (California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States)