Numerical modelling of the Earth’s magnetosheath for different IMF orientations Original Research Article

A new magnetosheath numerical MHD model has been developed which calculates solar wind flow around a paraboloidal obstacle. Steady-state solutions have been obtained for different interplanetary magnetic field orientations, namely for the strictly northward and southward interplanetary magnetic fields, and for the case of a large Bx component. It has been found that the magnetic field magnitude and values of other MHD parameters in the magnetosheath depend on the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. Particularly, the magnetic field near the magnetopause is weaker for the southward interplanetary magnetic field than for the northward interplanetary magnetic field due to the magnetopause reconnection, and the magnetic barrier may almost disappear for a special interplanetary magnetic field orientation nearly aligned with the solar wind velocity. Three electric current systems are simulated in this work: the currents at the bow shock, in the magnetosheath, and on the magnetopause.