Abstract
During Cluster's annual dayside seasons (November–June) the four spacecraft cross the magnetopause at high latitudes near local noon, and at lower latitudes further along the flanks. During these crossings, observations of flux transfer events (FTEs), a signature of transient or variable‐rate magnetopause merging, are often made. We have compiled a survey of FTEs observed by Cluster in the 2002/3 dayside season. A significant number of FTEs, presented here, were observed under strongly northward IMF. Multi‐spacecraft techniques enable more accurate velocities to be calculated than previously possible. The observed velocities are consistent with a long, component merging X‐line emanating from the antiparallel merging site in the lobe, but require a relaxation of the antiparallel merging hypothesis to allow the X‐line to extend to regions of lower shear on the flank. The velocities observed at lower latitudes are not consistent with a subsolar X‐line.
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