Using Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data, we find, classify and analyze transient dynamic pressure enhancements in the magnetosheath (jets) from May 2015 until May 2019. A classification algorithm is presented, using in-situ MMS data to classify jets (n = 8499) into different categories according to their associated angle between IMF and the bow shock normal vector ( θ ). Jets appearing for θ < 45° are referred to as quasi-parallel, while jets appearing for θ > 45° as quasi-perpendicular jets. Furthermore, we define those jets that occur at the boundaries between quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath as boundary jets. Finally, encapsulated jets are jet-like structures with similar characteristics to quasi-parallel jets while the surrounding plasma is of quasi-perpendicular nature. We present the first statistical results of such a classification and provide comparative statistics for each class. Furthermore, we investigate correlations between jet quantities. Quasi-parallel jets have the highest dynamic pressure while occurring more often than quasi-perpendicular jets. The infrequent quasi-perpendicular jets, have a much smaller duration, velocity, and density and are therefore relatively weaker. We conclude that quasi-parallel and boundary jets have similar properties and are unlikely to originate from different generation mechanisms. Regarding the encapsulated jets, we suggest that they are a special subset of quasi-parallel jets originating from the flanks of the bow shock, for large IMF cone angles although a relation to FTEs and magnetospheric plasma is also possible. Our results support existing generation theories, such as the bow shock ripple and SLAMS-associated mechanisms while indicating that other factors may contribute as well.

Solar wind magnetic holes are localized depressions of the magnetic field strength, on time scales of seconds to minutes. We use Cluster multipoint measurements to identify 26 magnetic holes which are observed just upstream of the bow shock and, a short time later, downstream in the magnetosheath, thus showing that they can penetrate the bow shock and enter the magnetosheath. For two magnetic holes we show that the relation between upstream and downstream properties of the magnetic holes are well described by the MHD Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions. We also present a small statistic investigation of the correlation between upstream and downstream observations of some properties of the magnetic holes. The temporal scale size, and magnetic field rotation across the magnetic holes are very similar for the upstream and downstream observations, while the depth of the magnetic holes varies more. The results are consistent with the interpretation that magnetic holes in Earth's and Mercury's magnetosheath are of solar wind origin, as has earlierly been suggested. Since the solar wind magnetic holes can enter the magnetosheath, they may also interact with the magnetopause, representing a new type of localised solar wind-magnetosphere interaction.

Key Points: 8 • The change in electron kinetic entropy per particle is calculated for 22 shock cross-9 ings having wide range of shock conditions 10 • The entropy change displays a strong dependence on the electron beta parame-11 ter 12 • The entropy change corresponds to an adiabatic index γ e = 1.595 ± 0.036 13 Corresponding author: Martin Lindberg, [email protected] 14 We use Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data to study electron kinetic entropy across 15 Earth’s quasi-perpendicular bow shock. We have selected 22 shock crossings covering a 16 wide range of shock conditions. Measured distribution functions are calibrated and cor-17 rected for spacecraft potential, secondary electron contamination, lack of measurements 18 at the lowest energies and electron density measurements based on the plasma frequency 19 measurements. The change in electron kinetic entropy per particle is calculated for 22 20 shock crossings. 20 out of 22 crossings display an increase in the electron kinetic entropy 21 per particle ranging between 0.1-1.4 k B while two crossings display a slight decrease of 22-0.06 k B. We observe that the change in electron kinetic entropy, ∆S e , displays a strong 23 dependence on the change in electron temperature, ∆T e , and the upstream electron plasma 24 beta, β e. Shocks with high ∆T e are found to have high ∆S e. Shocks with low upstream 25 electron plasma betas are associated to higher ∆S e than shocks with large electron plasma 26 beta. We show that the calculated entropy per particle is strictly less than the maximum 27 state of entropy obtained using a Maxwellian distribution function. The resulting change 28 in electron kinetic entropy per particle ∆S e , density ∆n e and temperature ∆T e is used 29 to determine a value for the adiabatic index of electrons. We find that an adiabatic in-30 dex of γ e = 1.595 ± 0.036 describes the observations best.

We report observations of a magnetosheath jet followed by a period of decelerated background plasma. During this period, THEMIS-A magnetometer showed abrupt disturbances which, in the wavelet spectrum, appeared as prominent and irregular pulsations in two frequency bands (7.6–9.2 and 12–17 mHz) within the Pi2 range. The observations suggest–for the first time to our knowledge–that these pulsations were locally generated by the abrupt magnetic field changes driven by the jet’s interaction with the ambient magnetosheath plasma. Furthermore, similar pulsations, detected by THEMIS-D inside the magnetosphere with a 140 seconds time-lag (which corresponds to the propagation time of a disturbance travelling with Alfvenic speed), are shown to be directly associated with the ones in the magnetosheath, which raises the question of how exactly these pulsations are propagated through the magnetopause.