ESA Science & Technology - Movement of the Magnetopause on 4 January 2005

Top panel: z-component (B_z) of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), displayed in blue, and the dynamic pressure (ρv²), displayed in orange, measured by the ACE spacecraft in the solar wind on 4 January 2005.

Bottom panel: magnetopause position (dark blue line) and bow shock position (bright red line) as estimated from the solar wind data displayed in the top panel. The pink area between these two borders depicts the magnetosheath, while the purple area symbolises the magnetosphere. The dashed green circle, located at 6.6 R_E, depicts where many communication and weather satellites orbit the Earth.