Rudolf Treumann Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Germany Reconnection and its relation to auroral processes Abstract: We review recent observational results on the reconnection process with emphasis on observations in the tail of the magnetosphere and the relation of the reconnection process to auroral processes. In the model of Hall reconnection which is reviewed more closely there seems to be a direct mapping of different zone at reconnection site and auroral observations of energetic electron and ion fluxes indicating that reconnection might be the dominant driver in this case that, however, it seems to obey a complicated three-dimensional structure. 2d- and 3d-simulations are discussed in this light of the reconnection process providing evidence for 3d-structure, localized inductive electric fields and particle acceleration.