A mechanism for patchy reconnection at the dayside magnetopause

Abstract

In this paper, the Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) and tearing instabilities at the dayside magnetopause are examined. It is found from simulations that the development of the KH instability modulates the current sheet, creating separated pinched regions. The growth rate of the tearing instability is enhanced in these pinched regions and diminished in the regions separating them. Based on these findings, we propose that a possible mechanism for patchy reconnection at the dayside magnetopause is the development of the KH instability.