Periodic magnetopause oscillations observed with the GOES satellites on March 24, 1991

The GOES 6 and 7 satellites were in the dayside magnetosphere late on March 24, 1991, when the magnetopause moved in to geosynchronous orbit. Observations on GOES 6 near 1030 local time (LT) indicated six inward and outward periodic movements of the magnetopause past the satellite over a 30-min interval. Later the magnetopause moved farther in, placing GOES 6 (1100 LT) in the magnetosheath and then moving in past GOES 7, near 1245 LT. The periodic oscillations of the magnetopause at GOES 6 suggest surface waves propagating toward the dawn flank of the magnetopause.