Magnetic reconnection appears as impulsive energy conversion process in magnetoplasma associated with a reconfiguration of the magnetic field line topology and is known as an important process during magnetospheric storms and substorms. We present an analytical time-dependent Petschek-type reconnection model and show possible applications of this model to the Earth.s magnetosphere. Due to the temporal restricted appearance of the reconnection electric field, reconnection appears in nature commonly as time-dependent pulsative process, leading to the formation of enclosed plasma outflow regions, bounded by shocks over which magnetic field lines are connected. During their propagation the outflow regions disturb the surrounding field and plasma background. These disturbances give information about the reconnection process and the reconnection rate, the reconnected magnetic flux, transported energy and the location where reconnection was initiated can be found. Using Cluster and THEMIS observations, we compare the modelled disturbances with observations and apply methods based on the time-dependent reconnection model in order to obtain reconnection parameters.