Abstract
Explorer 6 satellite data and surface magnetograms are used to study the gradual and sudden commencement geomagnetic storms of August 16–18, 1959. Analysis of these data provides the following conclusions: (1) The geomagnetic field was strongly perturbed but retained its essentially dipolar character out to geocentric distances of 8 earth radii. (2) A long-period variation in the distant field coincided with Dst at the surface. The magnitude of the main-phase decrease at ∼4RE was ∼2.5 times larger than at the surface. Variations in the field direction at ∼7RE correlate with half-day variations in (a) the horizontal component at the surface and (b) the 3-hour K index. (3) Large irregular field fluctuations with periods exceeding one minute were characteristic of the storm period. (4)The large-scale storm field was qualitatively similar to the disturbance field observed previously on nonstorm days. The disturbance field appeared to evolve from quiet to disturbed conditions and then to gradually recover.
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