ИСТИНА

Magnetic data from GOES geosynchronous satellites were applied to study the shape of low-latitude magnetopause during strong geomagnetic disturbances mainly related to coronal ejecta. From minimum variance analysis, we determined the magnetopause orientation and compared it with model predictions. A specific pattern of the magnetopause shape at low latitudes was found for strong southward interplanetary magnetic field, under which the IMF influence to the magnetopause is saturated. The shape of saturated magnetopause is substantially distorted by a duskward shifting and equatorial trench in the nose region. The origin of observed magnetopause distortions is discussed.