Assessing the Solar Activity and Geomagnetic Disturbance during Minimum Phase of Solar Cycle 24 across the Globe.

Abstract

Understanding solar activity and its implications on the Earth’s environment has become necessary. Most importantly, events that characterized the minimum phase of solar cycle 24 (2019) and geomagnetic disturbance experienced during this period calls for an assessment. To assess this, the study has therefore used INTERMAGNET data from geomagnetic stations across the globe during the solar minimum year of solar cycle 24. A total of nine geomagnetic stations data of five disturbed days in a month were used, and were averaged in a minute interval for year 2019. The stations were selected with reference to their geomagnetic locations (latitudes and longitudes) as well as analyzing their horizontal magnetic field (H-Component) from the X and Y component of the geomagnetic field to reveal the variance in the global pattern of solar variations. The seasonal variations were studied across various latitudes and longitudes to understand the impact of solar activities on the earth surface as a result of geomagnetic field disturbance on Earth’s magnetosphere at the end of cycle 24 (2019). The results of stations revealed ABK and DRV with 350nT and 150nT of H component respectively which are the highest while other stations have 60nT below. This study shows that low geomagnetic disturbance was witnessed during the end of the cycle due to the minimum solar activity which was as a result of low number of sunspot during this period.