Magnetospheric substorms.
Abstract
Magnetospheric substorms are generally thought to be the most important dynamical process resulting from the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction. The present review of magnetospheric substorms begins with a brief discussion of the steady-state magnetosphere and the nomenclature used. Then the processes by which energy is extracted from the solar wind and stored in the magnetosphere (substorm growth phase) are reviewed. This is followed by a description of the processes of energy release (substorm expansion phase and convection bay). Also summarized are recent modifications of the simple substorm model for substorms with more than one expansion phase onset (multiple onset substorms), along with a review of a variety of possible trigger mechanisms (substorm triggering). A summary of several outstanding research questions is presented.
- Publication:
-
Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1029/RG017i004p00657
- Bibcode:
- 1979RvGSP..17..657M
- Keywords:
-
- Magnetospheric Instability;
- Nocturnal Variations;
- Solar Wind;
- Bibliographies;
- Geomagnetism;
- Solar Radiation;
- Earth Magnetosphere:Substorms