Aspects of global coherence of magnetospheric behavior

► MHD simulations allow study of magnetospheric behavior on a global scale. ► Exchanges of magnetic flux between reservoirs give coherence to magnetospheric behavior. ► Transfer of flux between reservoirs induces anomalously strong winds in the upper atmosphere. ► Resulting thermospheric winds are pushed mainly by magnetic coupling to the solid earth. ► The magnetosphere is coherently coupled from the bow shock to the solid earth itself.