JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 72, MAY 1, 1967, P. 2323-2342. 21 REFS.
Evidence that the earth's bow shock is traversed is found in magnetometer data taken on three orbits. On each of these orbits the magnetospheric boundary is crossed between 7.8 and 8.9 RE (earth radii) near the earth-sun line, and several shock traversals are seen between here and apogee of over 13 RE. Several shock thicknesses could be defined from the data. The time interval between the point the magnetic field is first observed to deviate from its interplanetary level, and the point its quiescent level first reaches the shocked value varies between 30 seconds and the minimum resolving time of the measurements (less than 2 seconds). Most of the data are consistent with the interpretation that this region consists of a much thinner shock plus several waves. A third characteristic time interval of several tens of seconds is often associated with one or more large oscillations near the shock front. These time intervals could be converted into characteristic lengths if the relative velocity during any one traversal can be obtained. The available magnetometer measurements are consistent with several theories, and means of distinguishing between these theories are discussed.
Major Subject Terms: BOW SHOCK, GEOMAGNETIC FIELD, MAGNETOPAUSE, MAGNETOSPHERE, SATELLITE OBSERVATION
Minor Subject Terms: BOUNDARY, BOW, FIELD, FRONT, GEOMAGNETIC, OBSERVATION, OSCILLATION, PLASMA, SATELLITE, SHOCK, THICKNESS
CASI Accession Number: A6728047 ISSN