Verification of the GUMICS-4 global MHD code using empirical relationships

Abstract

Global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling is a powerful tool in space physics research. There are several advanced and still developing global MHD codes that are widely used to simulate plasma processes in solar wind magnetosphere-ionosphere system. The verification of global simulation codes is an important but a difficult problem. We present an approach for systematic and quantitative testing of code performance based on statistical empirical dependencies of the key magnetospheric parameters obtained from observations. We demonstrate the applicability of the method by testing the Grand Unified Magnetosphere Ionosphere Coupling simulation (GUMICS-4) global MHD model. A large set of nearly stationary solutions (162 runs altogether) with different stationary interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind inputs were generated for different dipole tilts and levels of solar EUV radiation. As key parameters, we use the large-scale characteristics of the magnetosphere, including the magnetopause size and shape, geometry of the tail neutral sheet, magnetotail plasma pressure, tail lobe magnetic field, and cross-polar cap electric potential. We found that the GUMICS-4 stationary solutions generally fit the statistical relations, however, with some discrepancies. Particularly, position of the subsolar magnetopause, neutral sheet shape and position, and the plasma sheet pressure during northward IMF agree well with statistical models. At the same time, the size of the tail magnetopause and the lobe magnetic field magnitude appear to be systematically lower compared to their empirical values. Furthermore, the ionospheric potential is smaller in magnitude compared to empirical relations. These results provide an important starting point in the further development of the GUMICS simulation. Key Points New approach to verify GMHD code performance GUMICS-4 model verification based on comparison with empirical relations Magnetospheric large-scale structure in GUMICS-4 fits to empirical models ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.