Some tests of a new magnetosheath model via comparison with satellite measurement

We report on some comparisons of plasma measurements during satellite magnetosheath crossing with model predicted variations along the same trajectory. We utilize a new self-consistent model of the magnetosheath–magnetosphere system. The model includes a 3D gasdynamic magnetosheath solver and a data based magnetospheric model with numerically calculated magnetopause shielding field. The self-consistently obtained 3D magnetopause contains cusp indentations and their crossings by satellite trajectory that can be correctly explained by the model. Besides directly measured solar wind parameters, the model also requires as an input the value of its polytropic index. A new technique for estimating this parameter is utilized in order to demonstrate its influence on the magnetosheath geometry. The presented examples are based on an actual Cluster magnetosheath crossing.