Average observed properties of the Earth's quasi-perpendicular and quasi-parallel bow shock

We present a statistical analysis of 132 dayside (LT 0700-1700) bow shock crossings of the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft. We perform a superposed epoch analysis of plasma and magnetic field parameters as well as of low frequency magnetic power spectra some minutes upstream and downstream of the bow shock by dividing the events into categories depending on the angle between bow shock normal and interplanetary magnetic field and on the plasma-beta, i.e., the ratio of plasma to magnetic pressure. Downstream of the quasi-perpendicular low-beta (beta 1.0) crossings mirror waves are identified. However, there are also cases where the conditions for mirror modes are met downstream of the nearly perpendicular shock, but no mirror waves are observed.