Determining the strength of the ring and the magnetopause currents during the initial phase of a geomagnetic storm using cosmic ray data

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA02p01113· OSTI ID:5027383

Flueckiger, E O ^[1]; Smart, D F; Shea, M A ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Bern (Switzerland)
2. Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)

During a geomagnetic storm the strength of the magnetospheric current systems is strongly increased. In the initial phase of most events, however, the magnetic field at the Earth's equator (as characterized by the Dst index) shows only a relatively small perturbation due to the opposite magnetic effects caused by the magnetopause currents compared to the ring current. Analysis of Dst and of the cosmic ray cutoff rigidity changes at about 55{degree} geomagnetic latitude offers the unique possibility to estimate the intensity of these two current systems separately. The procedure is illustrated for the geomagnetic storm on December 17, 1971.

• OSTI ID: 5027383
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 95:A2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
RING CURRENTS
MAGNETOPAUSE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
CALCULATION METHODS
COSMIC RADIATION
GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIC STORMS
SOLAR WIND
COORDINATES
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
RADIATIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena