GEM Dayside Kinetics Challenge

Introduction

The GEM Focus Group Dayside Kinetic Processes in Global Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Interaction, co-chaired by Heli Hietala, Xochitl Blanco-­Cano, Gabor Toth, Andrew Dimmock, is sponsoring a Dayside Kinetic Challenge

We start this focus group on "Dayside Kinetics" with a modeling challenge where we analyze the various dayside phenomena (magnetic reconnection, FTEs, magnetosheath waves, etc.) during a short interval of steady solar wind input conditions from the first MMS dayside season. We aim to conduct comparisons between (i) observations and (global) models with different levels of kinetic physics; (ii) different models; (iii) in situ and remote observations.

The southward IMF event on 2015-11-18 01:50-03:00 UT, featuring an MMS-Geotail magnetopause conjunction with SuperDARN radar observations is set as the first challenge event.
Naritoshi Kitamura presented the event at the 2016 Summer Workshop. See a summary of the observations.

Modeling input parameters and files:

Time interval, solar wind conditions (GSM) and dipole tilt. Pure proton-electron plasma is assumed (no alpha particles).

Time|B|BxByBzVxVyVzNTiTedipole tilt
(UT)(nT)(nT)(nT)(nT)(km/s)(km/s)(km/s)(/cm3)(eV)(eV)(deg.)
01:50-03:00 6 0 0 -6 -365 0 0 9.5 99-27*

*Dipole axis is tilted from the positive Z-axis towards the negative X-axis (pole in northern hemisphere is pointing away from the Sun).

Orbit information for Geotail and MMS (Re, GSM, ascii):

Target outputs and metrics:

  • Location of the magnetopause (based on MMS and Geotail crossings)
  • Location of the X-line
    (northward of the spacecraft, estimated to be at ZGSM~ 2 RE)
  • Thickness of the current sheet at MMS
  • Properties of the FTEs (including their periodicity)
    • MMS local observations
    • Ground-based observations (e.g., estimated speed)
  • magnetosheath magnetic field power spectrum
  • properties of the magnetosheath mirror mode waves

How to participate in the challenge:

Please write an email to Lutz Rastaetter and CC Heli Hietala and Gabor Toth, with your name, institution, the name of the code to be used, a brief description of the code or some reference, expected time line for producing results, which results/metrics are targeted, and whether you are interested to be a co-author in a future joint paper.

Observations:

Simulation Results:

CCMC Contact: Lutz Rastaetter
Last modified: Mar. 10, 2017