The normalised amplitude of the y-component of the electric field (Ey) in the inner magnetosphere as a function of Magnetic Local Time (MLT) and time about the onset time of the sudden commencement is observed on the ground at the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory (KAK) in Japan (dashed vertical line). Negative Ey (blue colour) is seen approximately 30 seconds before detection on the ground indicating a fast mode wave. Credit: Takahashi et al., 2017, Figure 10
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

A Sudden Commencement of a geomagnetic storm is the result of the impact on the geomagnetic field of an abrupt solar-plasma front impacting the magnetosphere. The characteristics of the Sudden Commencement have been described for a long time. Using a combination of data from many satellites and ground-based instruments, Takahashi et al. [2017] demonstrate for the first time that the relative importance of two wave modes, the fast and shear Alfvén modes, changes as the disturbance moves earthwards. The latter is relatively more important closer to the Earth. This gives new insight into solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions.

Citation: Takahashi, N., Y. Kasaba, Y. Nishimura, A. Shinbori, T. Kikuchi, T. Hori, Y. Ebihara, and N. Nishitani [2017], Propagation and evolution of electric fields associated with solar wind pressure pulses based on spacecraft and ground-based observations, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122, 8446–8461,  https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA023990.

—Alan Rodger, Editor, JGR: Space Physics

Text © 2017. The authors. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
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