Parameters controlling the substorm onset location

Abstract

<p>Substorm onset location varies over a range of magnetic local time (MLT) and magnetic latitudes (MLat). It is well known that about 5% of the variation in onset MLT can be explained by variations in interplanetary magnetic field orientation and dipole tilt angle. Both parameters introduce an azimuthal component in the magnetic field in the magnetosphere such that the projection of the onset MLT in the ionosphere is shifted. The MLT of the onset near the magnetopsheric equatorial plane is even less predictable. Recent studies have suggested that gradients in the ionospheric Hall conductance lead to a duskward shift of tail dynamics, which could also influence the location of substorm onset. Our goal is to test these ideas by quantifying the dependence of the spatial variation of the onset location on external and internal conditions. We focus on the correlation between the substorm onset location with conditions prior to the onset, such as the interplanetary magnetic field By component, dipole tilt angle, and estimates of the Hall conductance. Linear regression analysis is used to determine the substorm onset location dependence on the proposed variables.</p>