Polar cap size during 14–16 July 2000 (Bastille Day) solar coronal mass ejection event: MHD modeling and satellite imager observations

This study investigates the development of the polar cap area as simulated by global magnetohydrodynamic models of the Earth's magnetosphere during the 14–16 July 2000 (Bastille Day) event. Around 1440 UT on 15 July, a magnetic cloud hit the magnetosphere and in the following hours high levels of activity in the magnetosphere and ionosphere were driven by the frequent changes in solar wind conditions. We compare the size of the polar cap (region...