Time-Varying Magnetopause Reconnection during Sudden Commencement: Global MHD Simulations

TL;DR

This study uses global MHD simulations to show that sudden solar wind pressure increases cause enhanced and dynamic dayside magnetopause reconnection, affecting space weather predictions.

Contribution

It reveals the time-dependent nature of dayside reconnection during sudden commencements using detailed simulations, highlighting the importance of dynamic models.

Findings

Enhanced dayside reconnection rates during shocks

Prompt expansion of the polar cap prior to tail reconnection

Reconnection intensity varies with shock parameters and IMF orientation

Abstract

In response to a solar wind dynamic pressure enhancement, the compression of the magnetosphere generates strong ionospheric signatures and a sharp variation in the ground magnetic field, termed sudden commencement (SC). Whilst such compressions have also been associated with a contraction of the ionospheric polar cap due to the triggering of reconnection in the magnetotail, the effect of any changes in dayside reconnection is less clear and is a key component in fully understanding the system response. In this study we explore the time-dependent nature of dayside coupling during SC by performing global simulations using the Gorgon MHD code, and impact the magnetosphere with a series of interplanetary shocks with different parameters. We identify the location and evolution of the reconnection region in each case as the shock propagates through the magnetosphere, finding strong enhancement in the dayside reconnection rate and prompt expansion of the dayside polar cap prior to the eventual triggering of tail reconnection. This effect pervades for a variety of IMF orientations, and the reconnection rate is most enhanced for events with higher dynamic pressure. We explain this by repeating the simulations with a large explicit resistivity, showing that compression of the magnetosheath plasma near the propagating shock front allows for reconnection of much greater intensity and at different locations on the dayside magnetopause than during typical solar wind conditions. The results indicate that the dynamic behaviour of dayside coupling may render steady models of reconnection inaccurate during the onset of a severe space weather event.