Description:
<jats:p>Abstract. We present the first comprehensive statistical survey of the
day-side terrestrial bow shock current system based on a large number of
Cluster spacecraft bow shock crossings. Calculating the 3-D current densities
using fluxgate magnetometer data and the curlometer technique enables the
investigation of current locations, directions, and magnitudes in dependence on arbitrary IMF
orientation. In case of quasi-perpendicular shock geometries we find that the
current properties are in good accordance with theory and existing simulation
results. However, currents at quasi-parallel shock geometries next to the
foreshock region underlie distinct variations regarding their directions.
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