The interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere actually occurs between the shocked solar wind plasma of the magnetosheath and the magnetosphere. Therefore it is important to understand the properties of the shocked solar wind in the magnetosheath. The proposal deals with two questions that are central for understanding the interaction between the shocked plasma and the magnetosphere. The first question is how the shocked solar wind fields and plasma vary throughout the magnetosheath and the second is how do these fields and plasma influence where magnetic reconnection can occur at the magnetopause? The empirical model will be compared with both gas dynamic and magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the magnetosheath. The Lockheed group is involved with high school teachers and students. The models will be made available to the wider community through the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC).
