THEORY OF SUDDEN COMMENCEMENTS AND OF THE FIRST PHASE OF A MAGNETIC STORM

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960 · Revs. Modern Phys.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.32.934· OSTI ID:4092712

Ferraro, V C.A.

In previous theories concerning auroras and magnetic storms, interplanetary space was assumed to be void. Because of the recent accrual of evidence, which shows that there exists an interplanetary gas with densities of 100 to 1000 particles/cc, theories are proposed for the commencement and for the first phase of a magnetic storm. The only mcdification necessary for correcting a previous theory is that the geomagnetic impulse caused by the induced currents in the stream is propagated, not with the speed of light as was originally supposed, but with a finite speed which in the neighborhood of the earth approximates to the Alfven velocity. The original theories are outlined along with the modifications to the theory of the first phase of a magnetic storm. Consideration is given for the motion of the quasi-shock wave in the neighborhood of the earth caused by the rapid increase of the earth's magnetic field. Illustrations are given from which it is seen that the disturbance is propagated through the interplanetury gas with the local Alfven velocity. The time of propagation of the disturbance through the gas is derived. (B.O.G.)

• Research Organization: Queen Mary College, Univ. of London, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-010276
• OSTI ID: 4092712
• Journal Information: Revs. Modern Phys., Journal Name: Revs. Modern Phys. Vol. Vol: 32
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALFVEN SPEED
ALFVEN WAVES
ATMOSPHERE
AURORAE
COINCIDENCE METHODS
COSMIC RADIATION
CURRENTS
DENSITY
DISTURBANCES
EARTH
ERRORS
GASES
INDUCTION
LEVELS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MESONS
MOTION
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
PHYSICS
PLANETS
PLASMA WAVES
PRESSURE
SEA
SEA LEVEL
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
STATISTICS
TEMPERATURE
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY