On the Occurrence of Magnetic Reconnection Along the Terrestrial Magnetopause, Using Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Observations in Proximity to the Reconnection Site

Observations at the reconnection site from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are used to examine the occurrence of magnetic reconnection along the magnetopause in relation to both the upstream interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation and local magnetosheath variations. While there is a statistically larger number of reconnection intervals observed downstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock than is accounted for based on the histogram of overall IMF orientations, it is surmised that increased fluctuations downstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock cause greater large-scale motion of the magnetopause surface; but do not preferentially enhance the occurrence of steady magnetic reconnection. An examination of the locations of observed reconnection sites relative to model predictions also suggest that enhanced magnetosheath fluctuations do not result in steady reconnection occurring at random locations at the magnetopause.