Walter D. Gonzalez

What is a geomagnetic storm

After a brief review of magnetospheric and interplanetary phenomena for intervals with enhanced solar wind-magnetosphere interaction, an attempt is made to define a geomagnetic storm as an interval of time when a sufficiently intense and long-lasting interplanetary convection electric field leads, through a substantial energization in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, to an intensified ring current sufficiently strong to exceed some key threshold of the quantifying storm time Dst index. The associated storm/substorm relationship problem is also reviewed. Although the physics of this relationship does not seem to be fully understood at this time, basic and fairly well established mechanisms of this relationship are presented and discussed. Finally, toward the advancement of geomagnetic storm research, some recommendations are given concerning future improvements in monitoring existing geomagnetic indices as well as the solar wind near Earth.

Criteria of interplanetary parameters causing intense magnetic storms (Dst < −100 nT)

Abstract Ten intense magnetic storms (Dst 5 mV m−1, that last for intervals >3 h. Because we find a one-to-one relationship between these interplanetary events and intense storms, we suggest that these criteria can, in the future, be used as predictors of intense storms by an interplanetary monitor such as ISEE-3. These Bz events are found to occur in association with large amplitudes of the IMF (magnitude 13–30 nT) within 2 days after the onset of either high-speed solar wind streams or of solar wind density enhancement events, giving important clues to their interplanetary origin. Some obvious possibilities will be discussed. The close proximity of the Bz events and magnetic storms to the onset of high speed streams or density enhancement events is in sharp contrast to interplanetary Alfven waves and HILDCAA events previously reported by the authors (Tsurutani and Gonzalez, 1986, Planet. Space Sci.35, 405) and thus the two interplanetary features and corresponding geomagnetic responses can be thought of as being complementary in nature. An examination of opposite polarity (northward) Bz events with the same criteria (Bz > 10 nT, with dawn ward-electric fields >5 mV m−1, that last for intervals >3 h) shows that their occurrence is similar both in number as well as in their relationship to interplanetary disturbances, and that they lead to low levels of geomagnetic activity. Although 90% of the events were associated with high-speed streams and interplanetary shocks, the amplitude of the storms had little dependence on the strength of the shocks.

Interplanetary Origin of Geomagnetic Activity in the Declining Phase of the Solar Cycle

Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and plasma data are compared with ground-based geomagnetic Dst and AE indices to determine the causes of magnetic storms, substorms, and quiet during the descending phase of the solar cycle. In this paper we focus primarily on 1974 when the AE index is anomalously high . This year is characterized by the presence of two long-lasting corotating streams associated with coronal holes. The corotating streams interact with the upstream low-velocity (300–350 km s−1), high-density heliospheric current sheet (HCS) plasma sheet, which leads to field compression and ∼ 15- to 25-nT hourly average values. Although the Bz component in this corotating interaction region (CIR) is often −25 nT). Storms of major (Dst ≤ −100 nT) intensities were not associated with CIRs. Solar wind energy is transferred to the magnetosphere via magnetic reconnection during the weak and moderate storms. Because the Bz component in the interaction region is typically highly fluctuating, the corresponding storm main phase profile is highly irregular. Reverse shocks are sometimes present at the sunward edge of the CIR. Because these events cause sharp decreases in field magnitude, they can be responsible for storm recovery phase onsets. The initial phases of these corotating stream-related storms are caused by the increased ram pressure associated with the HCS plasma sheet and the further density enhancement from the stream-stream compression. Although the solar wind speed is generally low in this region of space, the densities can be well over an order of magnitude higher than the average value, leading to significant positive Dst values. Since there are typically no forward shocks at 1 AU associated with the stream-stream interactions, the initial phases have gradual onsets. The most dramatic geomagnetic response to the corotating streams are chains of consecutive substorms caused by the southward components of large-amplitude Alfven waves within the body of the corotating streams. This auroral activity has been previously named high-intensity long-duration continuous AE activity (HILDCAAs). The substorm activity is generally most intense near the peak speed of the stream where the Alfven wave amplitudes are greatest, and it decreases with decreasing wave amplitudes and stream speed. Each of the 27-day recurring HILDCAA events can last 10 days or more, and the presence of two events per solar rotation is the cause of the exceptionally high AE average for 1974 (higher than 1979). HILDCAAs often occur during the recovery phase of magnetic storms, and the fresh (and sporadic) injection of substorm energy leads to unusually long storm recovery phases as noted in Dst. In the far trailing edge of the corotating stream, the IMF amplitudes become low, <3 nT, and there is an absence of large-amplitude fluctuations (Alfven waves). This is related to and causes geomagnetic quiet. There were three major (Dst ≤ −100 nT) storms that occurred in 1974. Each was caused by a nonrecurring moderate speed stream led by a fast forward shock. The mechanisms for generating the intense interplanetary Bs which were responsible for the subsequent intense magnetic storms was shock compression of preexisting southwardly directed Bz (Bs) for the two largest events and a magnetic cloud for the third (weakest) event. Each of the three streams occurred near a HCS crossing with no obvious solar optical or X ray signatures. It is speculated that these events may be associated with flux openings associated with coronal hole expansions. In conclusion, we present a model of geomagnetic activity during the descending phase of the solar cycle. It incorporates storm initial phases, main phases, HILDCAAs, and geomagnetic quiet. It uses some of the recent Ulysses results. We feel that this model is sufficiently developed that it may be used for predictions, and we encourage testing during the current phase of the solar cycle.

INTERPLANETARY ORIGIN OF GEOMAGNETIC STORMS

Around solar maximum, the dominant interplanetary phenomena causing intense magnetic storms (Dst<−100xa0nT) are the interplanetary manifestations of fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Two interplanetary structures are important for the development of storms, involving intense southward IMFs: the sheath region just behind the forward shock, and the CME ejecta itself. Whereas the initial phase of a storm is caused by the increase in plasma ram pressure associated with the increase in density and speed at and behind the shock (accompanied by a sudden impulse [SI] at Earth), the storm main phase is due to southward IMFs. If the fields are southward in both of the sheath and solar ejecta, two-step main phase storms can result and the storm intensity can be higher. The storm recovery phase begins when the IMF turns less southward, with delays of ≈1–2xa0hours, and has typically a decay time of 10xa0hours. For CMEs involving clouds the intensity of the core magnetic field and the amplitude of the speed of the cloud seems to be related, with a tendency that clouds which move at higher speeds also posses higher core magnetic field strengths, thus both contributing to the development of intense storms since those two parameters are important factors in genering the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling via the reconnection process.During solar minimum, high speed streams from coronal holes dominate the interplanetary medium activity. The high-density, low-speed streams associated with the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) plasma impinging upon the Earths magnetosphere cause positive Dst values (storm initial phases if followed by main phases). In the absence of shocks, SIs are infrequent during this phase of the solar cycle. High-field regions called Corotating Interaction Regions (CIRs) are mainly created by the fast stream (emanating from a coronal hole) interaction with the HCS plasma sheet. However, because the Bz component is typically highly fluctuating within the CIRs, the main phases of the resultant magnetic storms typically have highly irregular profiles and are weaker. Storm recovery phases during this phase of the solar cycle are also quite different in that they can last from many days to weeks. The southward magnetic field (Bs) component of Alfvén waves in the high speed stream proper cause intermittent reconnection, intermittent substorm activity, and sporadic injections of plasma sheet energy into the outer portion of the ring current, prolonging its final decay to quiet day values. This continuous auroral activity is called High Intensity Long Duration Continuous AE Activity (HILDCAAs).Possible interplanetary mechanisms for the creation of very intense magnetic storms are discussed. We examine the effects of a combination of a long-duration southward sheath magnetic field, followed by a magnetic cloud Bs event. We also consider the effects of interplanetary shock events on the sheath plasma. Examination of profiles of very intense storms from 1957 to the present indicate that double, and sometimes triple, IMF Bs events are important causes of such events. We also discuss evidence that magnetic clouds with very intense core magnetic fields tend to have large velocities, thus implying large amplitude interplanetary electric fields that can drive very intense storms. Finally, we argue that a combination of complex interplanetary structures, involving in rare occasions the interplanetary manifestations of subsequent CMEs, can lead to extremely intense storms.

Global dayside ionospheric uplift and enhancement associated with interplanetary electric fields

[1]xa0The interplanetary shock/electric field event of 5–6 November 2001 is analyzed using ACE interplanetary data. The consequential ionospheric effects are studied using GPS receiver data from the CHAMP and SAC-C satellites and altimeter data from the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. Data from ∼100 ground-based GPS receivers as well as Brazilian Digisonde and Pacific sector magnetometer data are also used. The dawn-to-dusk interplanetary electric field was initially ∼33 mV/m just after the forward shock (IMF BZ = −48 nT) and later reached a peak value of ∼54 mV/m 1 hour and 40 min later (BZ = −78 nT). The electric field was ∼45 mV/m (BZ = −65 nT) 2 hours after the shock. This electric field generated a magnetic storm of intensity DST = −275 nT. The dayside satellite GPS receiver data plus ground-based GPS data indicate that the entire equatorial and midlatitude (up to ±50° magnetic latitude (MLAT)) dayside ionosphere was uplifted, significantly increasing the electron content (and densities) at altitudes greater than 430 km (CHAMP orbital altitude). This uplift peaked ∼2 1/2 hours after the shock passage. The effect of the uplift on the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) lasted for 4 to 5 hours. Our hypothesis is that the interplanetary electric field “promptly penetrated” to the ionosphere, and the dayside plasma was convected (by E × B) to higher altitudes. Plasma upward transport/convergence led to a ∼55–60% increase in equatorial ionospheric TEC to values above ∼430 km (at 1930 LT). This transport/convergence plus photoionization of atmospheric neutrals at lower altitudes caused a 21% TEC increase in equatorial ionospheric TEC at ∼1400 LT (from ground-based measurements). During the intense electric field interval, there was a sharp plasma “shoulder” detected at midlatitudes by the GPS receiver and altimeter satellites. This shoulder moves equatorward from −54° to −37° MLAT during the development of the main phase of the magnetic storm. We presume this to be an ionospheric signature of the plasmapause and its motion. The total TEC increase of this shoulder is ∼80%. Part of this increase may be due to a “superfountain effect.” The dayside ionospheric TEC above ∼430 km decreased to values ∼45% lower than quiet day values 7 to 9 hours after the beginning of the electric field event. The total equatorial ionospheric TEC decrease was ∼16%. This decrease occurred both at midlatitudes and at the equator. We presume that thermospheric winds and neutral composition changes produced by the storm-time Joule heating, disturbance dynamo electric fields, and electric fields at auroral and subauroral latitudes are responsible for these decreases.

The cause of high-intensity long-duration continuous AE activity (HILDCAAs): Interplanetary Alfvén wave trains

Abstract It is shown that high intensity (AE > 1,000 nT), long duration (T > 2d) continuous auroral activity (HILDCAA) events are caused by outward (from the sun) propagating interplanetary Alfven wave trains. The Alfven waves are often (but not always) detected several days after major interplanetary events, such as shocks and solar wind density enhancements. Presumably magnetic reconnection between the southward components of the Alfven wave magnetic fields and magnetospheric fields is the mechanism for transfer of solar wind energy to the magnetosphere. If the stringent requirements for HILDCAA events are relaxed, there are many more AE events of this type. A brief inspection indicates that these are also related to interplanetary Alfvenic fluctuations. We therefore suggest that most auroral activity may be caused by reconnection associated with Alfven waves in the interplanetary medium.

The extreme magnetic storm of 1–2 September 1859

[1]xa0The 1–2 September 1859 magnetic storm was the most intense in recorded history on the basis of previously reported ground observations and on newly reduced ground-based magnetic field data. Using empirical results on the interplanetary magnetic field strengths of magnetic clouds versus velocities, we show that the 1 September 1859 Carrington solar flare most likely had an associated intense magnetic cloud ejection which led to a storm on Earth of DST ∼ −1760 nT. This is consistent with the Colaba, India local noon magnetic response of ΔH = 1600 ± 10 nT. It is found that both the 1–2 September 1859 solar flare energy and the associated coronal mass ejection speed were extremely high but not unique. Other events with more intense properties have been detected; thus a storm of this or even greater intensity may occur again. Because the data for the high-energy tails of solar flares and magnetic storms are extremely sparse, the tail distributions and therefore the probabilities of occurrence cannot be assigned with any reasonable accuracy. A further complication is a lack of knowledge of the saturation mechanisms of flares and magnetic storms. These topics are discussed in some detail.

Great magnetic storms

The five largest magnetic storms that occurred between 1971 to 1986 are studied to determine their solar and interplanetary causes. All of the events are found to be associated with high speed solar wind streams led by collisionless shocks. The high speed streams are clearly related to identifiable solar flares. It is found that: 1) it is the extreme values of the southward interplanetary magnetic fields rather than solar wind speeds that are the primary causes of great magnetic storms, 2) shocked and draped sheath fields preceding the driver gas (magnetic cloud) are at least as effective in causing the onset of great magnetic storms (3 of 5 events) as the strong fields within the driver gas itself, and 3) precursor southward fields ahead of the high speed streams allow the shock compression mechanism (item 2) to be particularly geoeffective.

Periodic variation in the geomagnetic activity: A study based on the Ap index

The monthly and daily samples of the Ap geomagnetic index for 51 years, 1932-1982, were investigated by means of the power spectrum technique. In general, the results confirm previous findings about possible periodicities in the geomagnetic activity. However, in our opinion the following aspects are either new or they are being interpreted somewhat differently than other authors have done. The period around 4 years in the monthly Ap power spectrum is associated to the double peak structure observed in the geomagnetic activity variation [Gonzalez et al., 1990]. Several of the peaks shown by the daily Ap spectrum are interpreted as harmonics of the 6-month period and other peaks as caused by the solar rotation periodicity, in such a way that the two series of Fourier sequences are consider to be juxtaposed. A strong solar cycle modulation is observed in these series, particularly in that related to the solar rotation period, which almost disappears for the solar maximum phase. The study of the seasonal variation was complemented by a superposed epoch analysis. The profiles resulting from this analysis seem to show a multiple origin of the 6-month periodicity, so that it does not seem realistic to search for a unique cause for this well-known seasonal variation. This conclusion is also supported by the histograms of the occurrence of storms above a given intensity level, taken over short duration intervals (i.e., 8 days). According to these histograms, for large data samples the dates with largest number of storms are spread out around those predicted by the different theoretical models, while for short intervals the semiannual periodicity may sometimes not even be present. Therefore these known mechanisms would combine to give a resulting modulation of the geomagnetic response to the randomly generated source of storms. It was also found that an additional seasonal peak seems to exist in July, with an amplitude comparable to those of the equinoctial peaks, for the range of the most intense storms (Ap ≥ 150 nT). A weak periodicity around 158 days, well correlated to that of about 155 days observed in the solar activity, has also been detected for some years during solar cycle 21.

Interplanetary phenomena associated with very intense geomagnetic storms

Abstract The dominant interplanetary phenomena that are frequently associated with intense magnetic storms are the interplanetary manifestations of fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Two such interplanetary structures, involving an intense and long duration Bs component of the IMF are: the sheath region behind a fast forward interplanetary shock, and the CME ejecta itself. Frequently, these structures lead to the development of intense storms with two-step growth in their main phases. These structures, when combined, lead sometimes to the development of very intense storms, especially when an additional interplanetary shock is found in the sheath plasma of the primary structure accompanying another stream. The second stream can also compress the primary cloud, intensifying the Bs field, and bringing with it an additional Bs structure. Thus, at times very intense storms are associated with three or more Bs structures. Another aspect that can contribute to the development of very intense storms refers to the recent finding that magnetic clouds with very intense core magnetic fields tend to have large velocities, thus implying large amplitude interplanetary electric fields that can drive very intense magnetospheric energization.