Effect of northward IMF to the magnetic superstorms
(Minna Palmroth)

Objective

Recently, it has been noticed that a denser plasma sheet may be linked to a stronger ring current, leading to a stronger magnetic storm. On the other hand, the plasma sheet is filled during northward IMF. Here, the intention is to study whether the magnetically quiet periods (with northward IMF) are actually required in order to generate a magnetic superstorm.

Exercise outline

Identify magnetic storms from the Dst index, and characterise their strength according to the minimum of the Dst. From a solar wind monitor (Wind or ACE) identify for each storm the period of how long the IMF was northward before the storm occurred. Plot the minimum of the Dst as a function of the period that the IMF was northward before the storm. Is there a correlation? If not, is there another parameter (e.g., a pressure pulse) that is required in order to generate a large storm?

Data


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Contact course assistant:
Minna Palmroth_at_fmi.fi (replace _at_ with @)
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Space Research
Erik Palmenin aukio 1, (Dynamicum)
Room 1D11a, 09-1929 4696
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