Incollection,
Global Magnetohydrodynamics — A Tutorial
Space Plasma Simulation, 615/2003, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, (2003)
Abstract
Global modeling and simulation of the complex Earth’s space environment requires thorough understanding of the physical processes,
the application of robust and sophisticated numerical techniques, an efficient implementation of the numerical algorithms,including parallelization, and comprehensive evaluation against data. This tutorial and review article introduces and discussesthe very foundation of global modeling: the choice of numerical grids, the governing equations, numerical algorithms, errorestimates, boundary conditions, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, and coupling with a thermosphere-ionosphere model. Twoexamples, simulations of a magnetospheric substorm and of a magnetic storm, show the utility as well as the limitations ofthe model and exemplify the current state-of-the-art and the lessons learned during the past decade. This article should helpnon-specialists to understand what goes into such models, what their main use is, and where global models have limitations.Those who are more familiar with global and large-scale models will find a review of latest results.
