Three Dimensional Finite Element Modeling of the Earth ' s Magnetosphere

We demonstrate the feasibility of using a nonconforming nite element method on an unstructured grid in solving a magnetospheric physics problem. We use this approach to construct a global discrete model of the magnetic eld of the magnetosphere that includes the eeects of shielding currents at the outer boundary (the magnetopause). As in the approach of 17] the internal magnetospheric eld model is that of Hilmer and Voigt 3] while the magnetopause shape is based on an empirically-determined approximation 12]. The result is a magnetic eld model whose eld lines are completely connned within the magnetosphere. The numerical results indicate that the nonconforming discrete model is robust and eecient.