Brief Description:
This analytic model considers contributions from the magnetopause and tail
currents. It was created by solving the pressure balance equation at the
magnetopause using the Earth's dipole and the magnetopause surface current as
sources for the total magnetic field. Tail currents are determined empirically
by comparing the model to actual spacecraft data. The effect of variable solar
wind pressure is incorporated by using the magnetopause standoff distance. The
field is determined by Legendre polynomial expansions, and magnetic field
values are given in solar magnetospheric coordinates. The model is recommended
for geocentric distances out to about seven Earth radii. The usefulness of
this older model is limited by the fact that it does not consider the magnetic
field contribution caused by the ring current.
Availability: On one magnetic tape as provided by the author (NSSDC ID #MG-22A)
References:
W. P. Olson, The Shape of the Tilted Magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res. 74, 5642,
1969.
Go to the Magnetospheric Models index Go to the Space Physics Models page
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