Observations of solar-wind-magnetosphere coupling at the Earth’s magnetopause

Abstract
Significant observations have been made with the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers data-set on the signatures of reconnection, thought to be the major process responsible for the coupling of the solar wind to the terrestrial magnetosphere. We review results reached by some of these studies. Recent theoretical ideas on reconnection at the terrestrial magnetopause, both time-independent and timedependent, are also briefly discussed. Two data examples from the International Sun-Earth Explorer mission are revisited and interpreted in the light of these newer developments.