The earth's bow shock thickness related to the upstream plasma parameters

The magnetic structure and thickness of the earth bow shock waves, measured by satellites, are related to the upstream solar wind plasma parameters. From this study the following results have been obtained: The shock wave thickness increases for increasing proton number density and decreases for increasing proton flux energy. The thickness strongly depends on the ratio of thermal to magnetic energy density. The thickness of the bow shock waves becomes thinner with increasing Alfven Mach number. The role of several upstream plasma parameters contributing to the thickness of bow shocks developing around the planets Mercury, Venus and Jupiter is also discussed