Abstract
The recent finding of the solar wind-magnetosphere energy coupling function ε has advanced significantly our understanding of magnetospheric disturbances. It is shown that the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling system responds somewhat differently to three different input energy flux levels of ε. As ε increases from < 10 17 erg s −1 to > 0 19 erg s −1, typical responses of the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling system are: ε < 10 17 erg s −1: an enhancement of the S q p, etc, ε ≈ 10 18 erg s −1: substorm onset, 10 18 erg s −1 < ε < 10 19 erg s −1f: a typical substorm, ε >10 19 erg s −1: an abnormal growth of the ring current belt, resulting in a magnetospheric storm. It is stressed that the magnetospheric substorm results as a direct response of the magnetosphere to a rise and fall of ε above ≈ 10 18 erg s −1, so that it is not caused by a sudden conversion of magnetic energy accumulated prior to substorm onset. The variety of the development of the main phase of geomagnetic storms is also primarily controlled by ε.
Published Version
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