SIMULATION OF MAGNETOSPHERIC SUBSTORM ONSET USING GLOBAL MHD MODELS: INSIGHTS FROM COMPUTATIONAL GEOSPACE PHYSICS

Abstract

Magnetospheric substorms are explosive energy release events driven by solar wind-magnetosphere interactions. This study simulates substorm onset using global Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models, focusing on magnetic reconnection, plasma flows, and field-aligned current systems. Using the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) coupled with real-time OMNI data, we simulate key substorm events from 2015–2022 and validate results with SuperMAG observations. Findings show that MHD models accurately capture substorm growth and onset phases, reproducing dipolarization fronts and cross-tail current disruption. The study emphasizes the importance of high-resolution modeling for understanding magnetotail dynamics and enhancing substorm forecasting capabilities.