Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations Research Articles

Investigation of low-latitude nighttime geomagnetic pulsation events occurred under variable IMF and solar conditions

Disturbances in the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) and solar conditions can affect the geomagnetic field measurements. In the current study, the influence of IMF and solar fluctuations on the nighttime Pc3-5 and Pi2 pulsations at low latitudes is investigated. Geomagnetic data recorded by the Egyptian geomagnetic observatories are used to examine the occurrence of nighttime pulsation events in Egypt. The corresponding daytime data from the Honolulu (HON) INTERMAGNET observatory were used for comparison between nighttime and daytime pulsation activity aiming for a better understanding of their sources. Two pulsation activities occurred on 7 and 27 February 2014 under different IMF and solar conditions were examined. Results of data analysis indicate that geomagnetic field fluctuations (Pc3-5 and Pi2 pulsations) are affected by changes in the IMF and solar conditions. The occurrence of space weather events such as geomagnetic storms and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can significantly affect the coherence and correlations between the pulsation wave-packets observed at nighttime and daytime suggesting different generation mechanisms for each pulsation event.

Monitoring of Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations with Luminescent Bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum

In recent years, one of the important goals is to develop information systems for continuously monitoring the biological impact of the variable geomagnetic field. This problem is of importance from the viewpoint of forecasting such global processes as climate changes as well. Objective. This study is focused on monitoring the intensity of the luminescence of Photobacterium phosphoreum depending on the geomagnetic field fluctuations in an automated registration mode. Pilot studies were performed using the proposed automated system for recording changes in the bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum. Methods. P. phosphoreum UCM B-7071 bacteria were cultured in a liquid nutrient medium. The study of the influence of the geomagnetic field requires simultaneous automated long-term calculations in real time. For this, a complex for continuous cultivation of P. phosphoreum B-7071 bacteria was created. A program for information processing of bacterial luminescence datasets was developed. The data on geomagnetic field fluctuations from the Subbotin Institute of Geophysics NAS of Ukraine (the Subbotin IGPH) were synchronized with the period of registration of bioluminescence changes. Then the two datasets of the variables selected for chosen time intervals were processed. To evaluate the dependence of changes in the bacteria’s luminescence intensity on geomagnetic field fluctuations, the correlation coefficients of the obtained arrays of experimental data were calculated. Results. The results obtained show the sensitivity of the Photobacterium phosphoreum luminescence to fluctuations in the geomagnetic field. The used data sampling method made it possible to average the luminescence intensity values not only with 1-min resolution, but also with 1-hour, 3-hour, and other chosen resolutions. Conclusions. The analysis of changes in the luminescence intensity of P. phosphoreum bacteria due to geomagnetic field fluctuations, with input data being synchronized in time, revealed a positive correlation. Additional analysis is needed to obtain more essential evidence for the bioresponse to the impact of illustrative indicators of geomagnetic field stormy fluctuations. Actually, further analysis of luminescence intensity changes during large natural geomagnetic disturbances or via modeling of their action in the laboratory conditions is needed.

Additional flight delays and magnetospheric–ionospheric disturbances during solar storms

Although the sun is really far away from us, some solar activities could still influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems on Earth. Those time-varying conditions in space caused by the sun are also called solar storm or space weather. It is known that aviation activities can be affected during solar storms, but the exact effects of space weather on aviation are still unclear. Especially how the flight delays, the top topic concerned by most people, will be affected by space weather has never been thoroughly researched. By analyzing huge amount of flight data (~ 4 × 106 records), for the first time, we quantitatively investigate the flight delays during space weather events. It is found that compared to the quiet periods, the average arrival delay time and 30-min delay rate during space weather events are significantly increased by 81.34% and 21.45% respectively. The evident negative correlation between the yearly flight regularity rate and the yearly mean total sunspot number during 22 years also confirms such correlation. Further studies show that the flight delay time and delay rate will monotonically increase with the geomagnetic field fluctuations and ionospheric disturbances. These results indicate that the interferences in communication and navigation during space weather events may be the most probable reason accounting for the increased flight delays. The above analyses expand the traditional field of space weather research and could also provide us with brand new views for improving the flight delay predications.

The link of smoke and solar activity with human neoplasms

A review of the literature on the link of various types of smoke and solar activity with human neoplasms is presented. The significance of benign and malignant neoplasms in young children aged 04 years as an indicator of carcinogenic effects on the population is shown. Information about the oncogenic potential of all types of smoke, including exhaust gases, tobacco smoke and smoke from forest fires is provided. The special danger of vehicle exhaust gases is indicated in connection with the content of benzene, which is a proven human carcinogen. There is extensive evidence linking various types of smoke with the development of leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, multiple myeloma, retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, hemangiomas, and tumors of the central nervous system. Data on the connection between solar activity, in particular ultraviolet radiation, and the risk of leukemia, lymphomas as well as such neoplasms in young children aged 04 years as nephroblastoma, hemangioma, benign tumors and soft tissue sarcomas are highlighted. The possible role of geomagnetic field fluctuations in the genesis of hemoblastoses in children and adults is considered. The importance of ecologically determined oxidative stress in the realization of the oncogenic potential of environmental factors is shown. Possible measures for the prevention of neoplasms by reducing the intensity of human exposure to environmental factors, as well as methods for stopping oxidative stress, are considered. Recommendations on increasing the effectiveness of antioxidant protection by stimulating autophagy through the introducing various plant components, alkylcatechols into the diet, and correcting immunodeficiency with transfer factor are given.

Fluctuations of magnetic inclination and declination in Mexico during the last three millennia

Revealing the evolution of the past geomagnetic field is of dual interest. It is crucial to estimate the conditions of the Earth's deep interiors, while it offers a reliable absolute dating tool of burned archaeological artifacts. Although a substantial effort was paid during the last decade to construct a reference archaeomagnetic curve for Mesoamerica, mostly absolute intensity variations are revealed for the previous three millennia. Here, we report an updated directional (inclination and declination) reference secular variation curve based on volcanic lava flows and archaeological artifacts carrying full thermoremanent magnetization. A bootstrap method with penalized cubic b-splines was used to develop the directional curve. Relocation error exercise and strict selection criteria allowed to use 82 well-defined palaeodirections. Both data distribution density and the firm relationship between the ages and samples, ensure the reliability of the curve for the dating purposes. The combination of directional data with available intensity variation highlights some sudden geomagnetic field fluctuations.

Climatological Statistics of Extreme Geomagnetic Fluctuations With Periods From 1 s to 60 min

AbstractUsing a global database of 125 magnetometers covering several decades, we present occurrence statistics for fluctuations of the horizontal geomagnetic field (dBh/dt) exceeding the 99.97th percentile (P99.97) for both ramp changes (Rn) and the root‐mean‐square (Sn) of fluctuations over periods,τ, from 1 to 60 min and describe their variation with geomagnetic latitude and magnetic local time (MLT). Rates of exceedance are explained by reference to the magneto‐ionospheric processes dominant in different latitude and MLT sectors, including ULF waves, interplanetary shocks, auroral substorm currents, and traveling convection vortices. By fitting generalized Pareto tail distributions aboveP99.97, we predict return levels (RLs) forRnandSnover return periods of between 5 and 500 years. P99.97and RLs increase monotonically with frequency (1/τ) (with a few exceptions at auroral latitudes) and this is well modeled by quadratic functions whose coefficients vary smoothly with latitude. For UK magnetometers providing 1‐s cadence measurements, the analysis is extended to cover periods from 1 to 60 s and empirical Magnetotelluric Transfer functions are used to predict percentiles and return levels of the geoelectric field over a wide frequency range (2 × 10−4to 4 × 10−2 Hz) assuming a sinusoidal field fluctuation. These results help identify the principal causes of field fluctuations leading to extreme geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) in ground infrastructure over a range of timescales and they inform the choice of frequency dependence to use withdBh/dtas a GIC proxy.

The Impact of Sudden Commencements on Ground Magnetic Field Variability: Immediate and Delayed Consequences

AbstractWe examine how Sudden Commencements (SCs) and Storm Sudden Commencements (SSCs) influence the occurrence of high rates of change of the magnetic field (R) as a function of geomagnetic latitude. These rapid, high amplitude variations in the ground‐level geomagnetic field pose a significant risk to ground infrastructure, such as power networks, as the drivers of geomagnetically induced currents. We find that rates of change of ∼30 nT min−1 at near‐equatorial stations are up to 700 times more likely in an SC than in any random interval. This factor decreases with geomagnetic latitude such that rates of change around 30 nT min−1 are only up to 10 times more likely by 65°. At equatorial latitudes we find that 25% of all R in excess of 50 nT min−1 occurs during SCs. This percentage also decreases with geomagnetic latitude, reaching ≤1% by 55°. However, the time period from the SC to 3 days afterward accounts for ≥90% of geomagnetic field fluctuations over 50 nT min−1, up to ∼60° latitude. Above 60°, other phenomena such as isolated substorms account for the majority of large R. Furthermore, the elevated rates of change observed during and after SCs are solely due to those classified as SSCs. These results show that SSCs are the predominant risk events for large R at mid and low latitudes, but that the risk from the SC itself decreases with latitude.

Hints on the Multiscale Nature of Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations During Quiet and Disturbed Periods

AbstractWe analyze the geomagnetic data recorded at 78 stations from 13 to 31 March 2015. Using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method, we focus our attention on geomagnetic signal due to sources which are external to the Earth, that is, due to current systems flowing in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. We analyze the short timescale fluctuations (τ < 200 min) of this magnetic signal, their dependence on magnetic latitude, magnetic local time, and geomagnetic activity. At high geomagnetic latitudes (>|60°|), these short timescale fluctuations constitute more than 30% of the external magnetic field. Their maximum contribution occurs along the auroral oval suggesting that they are mainly triggered by the ionospheric electric current systems active in these regions. A discussion of the relevance of these short timescale magnetic fluctuations to result in a more significant modeling and prediction of geomagnetically induced currents in the auroral zones is also provided.

Multifractal Characteristics of Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at Swarm Altitude.

This paper explores the spatial variations of the statistical scaling features of low to high latitude geomagnetic field fluctuations at Swarm altitude. The data for this study comes from the vector field magnetometer onboard Swarm A satellite, measured at low resolution (1 Hz) for one year (from 9 March 2016, to 9 March 2017). We estimated the structure-function scaling exponents using the p-leaders discrete wavelet multifractal technique, from which we obtained the singularity spectrum related to the magnetic fluctuations in the North-East-Center (NEC) coordinate system. From this estimation, we retain just the maximal fractal subset, associated with the Hurst exponent H. Here we present thresholding for two levels of the Auroral Electrojet index and almost the whole northern and southern hemispheres, the Hurst exponent, the structure-function scaling exponent of order 2, and the multifractal p-exponent width for the geomagnetic fluctuations. The latter quantifies the relevance of the multifractal property. Sometimes, we found negative values of H, suggesting a behavior similar to wave breaking or shocklet-like propagating front. Furthermore, we found some asymmetries in the magnetic field turbulence between the northern and southern hemispheres. These estimations suggest that different turbulent regimes of the geomagnetic field fluctuations exist along the Swarm path.

Mayan limekilns as geomagnetic field recorders

We report new results from frontier research that relates the methodology and knowledge of geophysics (geomagnetism) with archeology and the data will represent a valuable contribution to both disciplines. A detailed magnetic survey was performed on limekilns from the northern Yucatan peninsula. We used Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy to determine the temperature of calcination in order to select limekiln samples that were heated above the Curie temperature for common magnetic minerals. Using rock-magnetism, we identified the main carrier of remanent magnetization to be multi-domain or large pseudo-single domain low titanium titanomagnetite. Alternating magnetic field demagnetizations delivered reliable archaeomagnetic directions. Our summary of 12 limekiln ages shows a large span from 707 to 1900 yr AD. Such a wide time range signifies that Maya used limekilns in the Yucatan peninsula area in the Late Classic period (600 AD), and that some of these limekilns were reused in the Colonial period. From a geophysical point of view, information can be used about the behavior of the Earth's magnetic field in the recent historical past in Mesoamerica. In this context, the hundreds of Mayan limekilns which are distributed in large areas, open great opportunities to contribute to both archeology and geomagnetic field fluctuations during the past two millennia.

Frequency distribution model for geomagnetic SYM-H fluctuations

A model describing the frequency distribution of geomagnetic field fluctuations has been developed, allowing a better understanding of the influence of the solar magnetic field on the geomagnetic variations. The constructed model is analogous to the one presented by same authors in 2018 to describe the frequency distribution of seismic magnitudes. A similarity between seismic and geomagnetic systems is exposed from this point of view. Applications to data corresponding to four different years where the most intense fluctuations have occurred are presented.

Interpretation of space-time temperature variations in Antarctica in connection with changes in the geomagnetic field and low stratospheric ozone

In this work we review space-time temperature variations in Antarctica and possible ways the various geophysical factors caused by fluctuations of the main geomagnetic field could influence it. We analyzed data of direct ground observations of temperature and the geomagnetic field, and data of ERA-20CM and ERA Interim on air temperature variation, ozone concentration and specific humidity at the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere level. The values of module of total intensity of the magnetic field vector were calculated according to the IGRF model. Time series of galactic cosmic rays (annual data since 1700) were provided by the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology. Solar proton fluxes with energies ≥10 MeV were taken from several sources: (1) historical reconstructions of large solar proton events before 1950, (2) published data on solar proton fluxes and (3) satellite data on solar proton events. Time series were analyzed using Statistica and Microsoft Excel software. The fastest decrease in geomagnetic field’s intensity occurs in West Antarctica where there is also seen the largest increase in surface temperature in the region during the XXth century. Besides that, in Central and East Antarctica there are trends towards decreasing of air temperature and strengthening of geomagnetic field. The concomitance might indicate a link between the geomagnetic field and regional climatic change. We explain it thusly: (i) the geomagnetic field controls the charged particles flux entering the Earth’s atmosphere; (ii) the charged particles influence the ozone concentration near tropopause and through this, the temperature and humidity in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere, (iii) the induced changes in humidity near tropopause have an effect on surface temperature by strengthening or weakening the greenhouse effect. Changes in the geomagnetic field intensity can be one of the factors which shape the temporal and regional variability of surface temperature. Low intensity of the geomagnetic field and the highest speed of its changes in the West Antarctica correspond to the systematically low ozone concentration and increased air humidity near tropopause. The factors cause retention of Earth’s longwave radiation in the troposphere due to the greenhouse effect which results in regional warming in the region.

A global climatological model of extreme geomagnetic field fluctuations

This paper presents a multi-parameter global statistical model of extreme horizontal geomagnetic field fluctuations (dBH/dt), which are a useful input to models assessing the risk of geomagnetically induced currents in ground infrastructure. Generalised Pareto (GP) distributions were fitted to 1-min measurements of |dBH/dt| from 125 magnetometers (with an average of 28 years of data per site) and return levels (RL) predicted for return periods (RP) between 5 and 500 years. Analytical functions characterise the profiles of maximum-likelihood GP model parameters and the derived RLs as a function of corrected geomagnetic latitude,λ. A sharp peak in both the GP shape parameter and the RLs is observed at |λ| = 53° in both hemispheres, indicating a sharp equatorward limit of the auroral electrojet region. RLs also increase strongly in the dayside region poleward of the polar cusp (|λ| > 75°) for RPs > 100 years. We describe how the GP model may be further refined by modelling the probability of occurrences of |dBH/dt| exceeding the 99.97th percentile as a function of month, magnetic local time, and the direction of the field fluctuation,dBH, and demonstrate that these patterns of occurrence align closely to known patterns of auroral substorm onsets, ULF Pc5 wave activity, and (storm) sudden commencement impacts. Changes in the occurrence probability profiles with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation reveal further details of the nature of the ionospheric currents driving extreme |dBH/dt| fluctuations, such as the changing location of the polar cusp and seasonal variations explained by the Russell-McPherron effect.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ТАЙФУНА VONGFONG 2014 г. НА ИОНОСФЕРУ И ГЕОМАГНИТНОЕ ПОЛЕ ПО ДАННЫМ СПУТНИКОВ SWARM: 2. ГЕОМАГНИТНЫЕ ВОЗМУЩЕНИЯ

Strong meteorological disturbances in the atmosphere, accompanied by the generation of waves and turbulence, can affect ionospheric plasma and geomagnetic field. To search for these effects, we have analyzed electromagnetic measurement data from low-orbit Swarm satellites during flights over the typhoon Vongfong 2014. We have found that there are “magnetic ripples” in the upper ionosphere that are transverse to the main geomagnetic field fluctuations of small amplitude (0.5–1.5 nT) with a predominant period of about 10 s caused by small-scale longitudinal currents. Presumably, these quasiperiodic fluctuations are produced by the satellite’s passage through the quasiperiodic ionospheric structure with a characteristic scale of ~70 km induced by the interaction of acoustic waves excited by the typhoon with the E-layer of the ionosphere. In one of the flights over the typhoon, a burst of high-frequency noise (~0.3 Hz) was observed, which can be associated with the excitation of the ionospheric Alfven resonator by atmospheric turbulence.

INFLUENCE OF THE VONGFONG 2014 HURRICANE ON THE IONOSPHERE AND GEOMAGNETIC FIELD AS DETECTED BY SWARM SATELLITES: 2. GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCES

Strong meteorological disturbances in the atmosphere, accompanied by the generation of waves and turbulence, can affect ionospheric plasma and geomagnetic field. To search for these effects, we have analyzed electromagnetic measurement data from low-orbit Swarm satellites during flights over the typhoon Vongfong 2014. We have found that there are “magnetic ripples” in the upper ionosphere that are transverse to the main geomagnetic field fluctuations of small amplitude (0.5–1.5 nT) with a predominant period of about 10 s caused by small-scale longitudinal currents. Presumably, these quasiperiodic fluctuations are produced by the satellite’s passage through the quasiperiodic ionospheric structure with a characteristic scale of ~70 km induced by the interaction of acoustic waves excited by the typhoon with the E-layer of the ionosphere. In one of the flights over the typhoon, a burst of high-frequency noise (~0.3 Hz) was observed, which can be associated with the excitation of the ionospheric Alfven resonator by atmospheric turbulence.

Local geomagnetic field fluctuations relationship with mental and physical health among adults in Lithuania

The study examined the relationship between local geomagnetic field fluctuations and physical and mental health among young adults in Lithuania. 264 participants were recruited for a two-week period study, during which they had to fill-in paper questionnaires, consisting of a 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), assessing physical and mental health, 4 questions about physical vitality, emotional vitality, social wellbeing and overall wellbeing, and questions regarding sociodemographic data. The results of the study revealed that possible influence of geomagnetic field fluctuations appear not simultaneously with the changes in human health status, but with a 12-hour lag. This relationship was found to be weak but significant, however, only with mental health.

Geomagnetic field fluctuations during Chuysk earthquakes on September – October, 2003

Urgency. There is an urgent need to study the interactions in the Earth – atmosphere – ionosphere – magnetosphere system. To identify direct and reverse, positive and negative links among the subsystems, sources producing massive releases of energy are commonly used. In this paper, the Chuysk earthquakes whose Richter magnitudes vary from 4.5 to 7.3 are considered as such a source. The aim of this paper is to present the findings of studying a possible response of the geomagnetic field in the 1 – 1000-s period variations to the preparation and occurrence of the Chuysk earthquakes of September – October 2003. Techniques and Methodology. The measurements were carried out using the fluxgate magnetometer located at the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Geomagnetic Observatory. The sensitivity of the magnetometer is 0.5 – 500 pT in the 1 – 1000-s period range. The data processing was performed in three stages. First, the signals from the magnetometer, recorded in relative magnetometer units, were converted into absolute units, taking into account the magnetometer frequency response. Second, band-pass filtering was performed in the 1 – 10-s, 10 – 100-s, and 100 – 1000-s period ranges. Third, a system spectral analysis of time variations in the H- and D-components of the geomagnetic field was undertaken. Results: Forty three minutes and one-hundred-sixty-three minutes prior to the earthquake of Richter magnitude 7.3, quasi-periodic variations of the geomagnetic field were observed. These variations may be an earthquake magnetic precursor, and the mechanism of such a precursor has been described. After the earthquakes of Richter magnitudes 7.3, 6.7, and 7.0, quasi-periodic variations of the geomagnetic field were detected. Such variations may be caused by the perturbation transfer due to seismic waves with speeds in the 1.9 – 5.3-km/s range and owing to atmospheric gravity waves traveling with speeds in the 320- to 670-m/s range. On October 1, 2003, the changes in the character of the variations occurred with time delays of 0 to 5 min. If these variations were associated with earthquakes, the magnetohydrodynamic waves could act as an agent that transferred the disturbances. Conclusions: The moderate earthquakes are determined to be able to cause geomagnetic field disturbances recordable at distances of about 3,500 km from the epicenter.

Features of Magnetic Field Fluctuations in the Ionosphere at Swarm altitude

The magnetosphere-ionosphere system is recognized as a complex and active element affected by space weather and as a region where important scientific questions related to space weather impacts need to be answered. In this framework, there is a high priority on the understanding of how local, regional, and global-scale phenomena couple to produce observed responses across various scales. Turbulence provides one pathway by which energy cascades across scales from large to small ones where energy can be dissipated in the form of heating. The Swarm mission, that is a true multi-point and multi-purpose constellation, represents a unique opportunity to address some of these scientific questions. In detail, it gives us a chance of investigating the nature and the scaling features of magnetic field fluctuations for different geomagnetic activity levels, and unveiling the role played by turbulence of ionospheric plasma medium on the magnetic field fluctuations . Recently, using Swarm magnetic field data at high-latitude in the Northern Hemisphere, the local scaling indices of the 1st and 2nd order structure functions of the magnetic field fluctuations have been evaluated, showing their capability both to give new insights about the ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling and to provide information on the ionospheric turbulence. Here, we improve and extend the analysis by investigating the scaling features of the geomagnetic field fluctuations of external origin, recorded by Swarm A satellite during a period of 2 years (April 2014–March 2016). Maps of the local Hurst exponent values, which allow us to study scaling properties of the geomagnetic field’s spatial fluctuations are shown, both at high-latitudes (in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere) and at low- and mid-latitudes (  60°) according to two different geomagnetic activity conditions. The aim is to capture the essential features of the spatial fluctuations of the geomagnetic field and understand their origin s .

Scaling Features of High‐Latitude Geomagnetic Field Fluctuations at Swarm Altitude: Impact of IMF Orientation

AbstractThis paper attempts to explore the statistical scaling features of high‐latitude geomagnetic field fluctuations at Swarm altitude. Data for this study are low‐resolution (1 Hz) magnetic data recorded by the vector field magnetometer on board Swarm A satellite over 1 year (from 15 April 2014 to 15 April 2015). The first‐ and second‐order structure function scaling exponents and the degree of intermittency of the fluctuations of the intensity of the horizontal component of the magnetic field at high northern latitudes have been evaluated for different interplanetary magnetic field orientations in the GSM Y‐Z plane and seasons. In the case of the first‐order structure function scaling exponent, a comparison between the average spatial distributions of the obtained values and the statistical convection patterns obtained using a Super Dual Auroral Radar Network dynamic model (CS10 model) has been also considered. The obtained results support the idea that the knowledge of the scaling features of the geomagnetic field fluctuations can help in the characterization of the different ionospheric turbulence regimes of the medium crossed by Swarm A satellite. This study shows that different turbulent regimes of the geomagnetic field fluctuations exist in the regions characterized by a double‐cell convection pattern and in those regions near the border of the convective structures.

Observations of high-latitude geomagnetic field fluctuations during St. Patrick’s Day storm: Swarm and SuperDARN measurements

The aim of this work is to study the properties of the magnetic field’s fluctuations produced by ionospheric and magnetospheric electric currents during the St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm (17 March 2015). We analyse the scaling features of the external contribution to the horizontal geomagnetic field recorded simultaneously by the three satellites of the Swarm constellation during a period of 13 days (13–25 March 2015). We examine the different latitudinal structure of the geomagnetic field fluctuations and analyse the dynamical changes in the magnetic field scaling features during the development of the geomagnetic storm. Analysis reveals consistent patterns in the scaling properties of magnetic fluctuations and striking changes between the situation before the storm, during the main phase and recovery phase. We discuss these dynamical changes in relation to those of the overall ionospheric polar convection and potential structures as reconstructed using SuperDARN data. Our findings suggest that distinct turbulent regimes characterised the mesoscale magnetic field’s fluctuations and that some factors, which are known to influence large-scale fluctuations, have also an influence on mesoscale fluctuations. The obtained results are an example of the capability of geomagnetic field fluctuations data to provide new insights about ionospheric dynamics and ionosphere–magnetosphere coupling. At the same time, these results could open doors for development of new applications where the dynamical changes in the scaling features of the magnetic fluctuations are used as local indicators of magnetospheric conditions.