[1] A global two-dimensional hybrid simulation is carried out to study the evolution of the near-Earth plasma sheet. It is shown that reconnection X lines and plasmoids can be generated by diverging flows in the plasma sheet. These diverging flows can be caused by variations in the Maxwell stress due to variations of B-x and B-z components of the magnetic field outside the current sheet. In addition, the flow acceleration/deceleration in the plasma sheet can...