J P McFadden; T D Phan; D E Larson; R P Lin; K A Anderson;
S Ashford; C Carlson; R Ergun
The magnetic cloud observed on October 18-19 displayed a number of features similar to the Earth's magnetosphere. The cloud was moving about 100 km/s faster than the downstream solar wind, producing a shock and sheath plasma ahead of the cloud. This sheath plasma is similar to the Earth's magnetosheath, with a heated solar wind core and outer shell of hot ions. The plasma velocity is the same on both sides of the cloud's leading edge, or "magnetopause", thus the sheath plasma is at rest with respect to cloud. Within the cloud a number of variations in the plasma are observed, the most prominent being an increase in He++ density up to 30% of the total density. This paper will present the overall structure of the plasma prior to and within the magnetic cloud.
Return to abstracts page
Last Modified:
(G.C.G.)