Computer Simulation Overview No.3

Rotation of Interplanetary Magnetic Field

3D Magnetic Field Configuration of Magnetosphere


Interaction of the solar wind with the earth's magnetosphere has been studied by using a 3-dimensional global MHD model.

Rotation of IMF in the north-south and dawn-dusk plane with a period of 6 hours, where B=5nT.


Counterclockwise rotation of IMF starting from the quasi-steady magnetospheric configuration for northward IMF.
  1. t=390m, theta= 90degrees
  2. t=510m, theta=210degrees
  3. t=525m, theta=225degrees
  4. t=540m, theta=240degrees
  5. t=555m, theta=255degrees
  6. t=570m, theta=270degrees
  7. t=585m, theta=285degrees
  8. t=600m, theta=300degrees
  9. t=615m, theta=315degrees
  10. t=630m, theta=330degrees
  11. t=645m, theta=345degrees
  12. t=660m, theta= 0degrees
  13. t=675m, theta= 15degrees
  14. t=690m, theta= 30degrees
  15. t=705m, theta= 45degrees
  16. t=720m, theta= 60degrees
  17. t=735m, theta= 75degrees
  18. t=750m, theta= 90degrees
  19. t=765m, theta=105degrees

Counterclockwise rotation of IMF starting from the quasi-steady magnetospheric configuration for southward IMF.
  1. t=390m, theta=270degrees
  2. t=510m, theta= 30degrees
  3. t=525m, theta= 45degrees
  4. t=540m, theta= 60degrees
  5. t=555m, theta= 75degrees
  6. t=570m, theta= 90degrees
  7. t=585m, theta=105degrees
  8. t=600m, theta=120degrees
  9. t=615m, theta=135degrees
  10. t=630m, theta=150degrees
  11. t=645m, theta=165degrees
  12. t=660m, theta=180degrees
  13. t=675m, theta=195degrees
  14. t=690m, theta=210degrees
  15. t=705m, theta=225degrees
  16. t=720m, theta=240degrees
  17. t=735m, theta=255degrees
  18. t=750m, theta=270degrees
  19. t=765m, theta=285degrees

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