High time resolution study of interplanetary parameter correlations with AE

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL008i002p00179· OSTI ID:6214691

Baker, D N; Hones, Jr, E W; Payne, J B; Feldman, W C

Using the earth-orbiting spacecraft IMP-8, we have performed a high time-resolution (2.5-min) study of the linear cross-correlations of a quantitative indicator of magnetospheric substorm activity, the auroral electrojet (AE) index, with several interplanetary (IP) parameters. The present study includes all available satellite data (from an eight-month period) rather than selecting a small number of substorm events, or a relatively small number of chosen days. Prior published studies have suggested that geomagnetic activity is related to a variety of solar wind parameters: solar wind speed (V); north-south magnetic field component (B/sub z/); total interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength (B); and various combinations of these parameters. Very recently, a new parameter, epsilon( = VB/sup 2/ sin/sup 4/(theta/2)l/sub 0/ /sup 2/), has been suggested as a superior predictor of substorm activity. The other major preferred correlator with geomagnetic activity is VB/sub 8/, where B/sub 8/ is the southward (B/sub z/<0) component of the IMF. Substantial discussion has ensued as to which parameters is the ''best'' predictor of substorm activity. The present non-selective, high-resolution analysis reveals that VB/sub 8/ generally reaches a higher peak correlation than epsilon (0.6 vs 0.54). Both parameters reach a peak correlation at the same lag time (with AE lagging the IP parameters by approx.40 min.), but VB/sub 8/ also appears to have a preferable qualitative lag profile shape for AE prediction purposes.

• Research Organization: University of California, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Los Alamos New Mexico 87545
• OSTI ID: 6214691
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CURRENTS
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
INFORMATION
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
NUMERICAL DATA
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
TIME DEPENDENCE