Magnetosheath, magnetopause and low latitude boundary layer research, 1987–1989

Abstract

Important developments over the past two years (1987–1989) in studies of the magnetosheath, the magnetopause and the magnetopause boundary layers are reviewed. The pace of research shows no sign of abating, but progress has become focused on certain topics. These include flux transfer event reconnection and the relevance of solar wind dynamic pressure variations for magnetopause and polar cusp dynamics. A promising development in both these areas is the use of ground observations under the polar cusp ionosphere for monitoring solar wind-magnetosphere coupling processes at the magnetopause. In contrast to these progress areas, the magnetosheath and the low latitude boundary layer remain topics which are being unjustifiably neglected. The controversies and the key remaining questions are highlighted and suggestions are made on how to proceed further.