Abstract
Extensive observations of magnetic field variations during auroral substorms have been used to construct phenomenological models of the substorm process. In one model, three substorm phases, growth, expansion and recovery correspond respectively to energy storage, energy release and return to equilibrium. New data and more detailed studies show the simple model requires modification. In this paper we review a number of recent studies of substorm magnetic field variations which illustrate the limitations of the simple model. These include the existence of several substorm expansions following a single growth phase; the frequent occurrence of multiple onsets of a single substorm; plasma sheet thinning prior to each onset; correlations between northward fluctuations of the IMF and expansion onset. We incorporate these observations into a revised phenomenological model.KeywordsSolar WindInterplanetary Magnetic FieldPlasma SheetAuroral ZoneSudden CommencementThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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