Solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling

Abstract

During the past 4 years the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been firmly established as a major influence in interactions between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. Evidence of its control over magnetospheric processes provides the thread of continuity in the following sections of this report: merging, polar cap disturbances and sector polarity, geomagnetic activity and solar wind structure, periodicities in geomagnetic activity, access of solar wind particles to the magnetosphere, the magnetopause, and the bow shock. A brief listing of references on aerodynamics is also included as a final section. The topic of tracing of magnetic field lines by solar particles has not been covered. The reader is referred to recent reviews by Morfill and Scholer [1973] and Paulikas [1974].The references listed in each section are meant to be examples. More exhaustive listings covering the period fromlate 1970 through late 1974 are included in the bibliography.