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Svalgaard, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Svalgaard, L..

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

The spiral interplanetary magnetic field - A polarity and sunspot cycle variation

Spacecraft observations near the earth of the average direction of the interplanetary magnetic field during the sunspot maximum year 1968 showed a deviation from the spiral field of Parker's classical description. The included angle between the average field direction when the field polarity was away from the sun and the average direction when the field polarity was toward the sun was 168 deg, rather than 180 deg as predicted by Parker. This effect appears to have a sunspot cycle variation.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

On the use of Godhavn H-component as an indicator of the interplanetary sector polarity

An objective method of inferring the polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field using the H-component at Godhavn is presented. The objectively inferred polarities are compared with a subjective index inferred earlier. It is concluded that no significant difference exists between the two methods. The inferred polarities derived from Godhavn H is biased by the (slp) sub q signature in the sense that during summer prolonged intervals of geomagnetic calm will result in inferred Away polarity regardless of the actual sector polarity. This bias does not significantly alter the large scale structure of the inferred sector structure.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The spiral interplanetary magnetic field: A polarity and sunspot cycle variation

Spacecraft observations near the earth of the yearly average direction of the interplanetary magnetic field during the sunspot maximum year 1968 showed a deviation from the spiral field. The angle between the average field direction when the field polarity was away from the sun and the average direction for toward polarity was 168 deg, rather than 180 deg. This effect appears to have a sunspot cycle variation.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The role of solar local time in polar cap magnetic variations

The role of the earth's main field in controlling the morphology of magnetic disturbance is usually accounted for by use of invariant latitude and MLT (magnetic local time) as a coordinate system. Magnetic disturbance from ionospheric currents is also controlled by ionospheric conductivity. At high latitudes, where SLT (solar local time) can be very different from MLT, the use of only MLT can give misleading results. In particular, those diurnal magnetic variations in the polar cap that change characteristics between interplanetary magnetic sectors have a tendency to peak near noon SLT rather than noon MLT at Alert, where noon MLT and noon SLT differ by more than 10 hours. Because of the sparsity of magnetic observatories it is not possible to completely separate SLT and MLT effects.

Langel, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Green corona and solar sector structure

Analysis of the green-line corona for the interval 1947-1970 suggests the existence of large-scale organization of the emission. The green-line emission at high northern latitudes (approximately 40 to 60 deg) is correlated with the emission at high southern latitudes 6, 15, and 24 days later, while the low-latitude green corona seems to be correlated on both sides of the equator with no time lag. These coronal features are recurrent with a 27-day period at all latitudes between plus or minus 60 deg, and these large-scale structures are believed to be associated with the solar magnetic sector structure. The high correlation between northern and southern high-latitude emission at 15 days time lag is explained as a signature of a two-sector structure, while four sectors are associated with the 6- and 24-day peaks.

Antonucci, E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Influence of solar magnetic sector structure on terrestrial atmospheric vorticity

The solar magnetic sector structure has a sizable and reproducible influence on tropospheric and lower stratospheric vorticity. The average vorticity during winter in the Northern Hemisphere north of 20N latitude reaches a minimum approximately one day after the passing of a sector boundary, and then increases during the following two or three days. The effect is found at all heights within the troposphere, but is not prominent in the stratosphere, except at the lower levels. No single longitudinal interval appears to dominate the effect.

Wilcox, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Geomagnetic responses to the solar wind and to solar activity

A unified overview of present knowledge of the geomagnetic response to the dynamic solar wind is reported. The formation of the magnetosphere and the magnetospheric tail is discussed the importance of electric fields is stressed, and the magnetospheric convection of plasma and frozen-in magnetic field lines under the influence of large scale magnetospheric electric fields is outlined. Ionospheric electric fields and currents are intimately related to electric fields and currents in the magnetosphere and the strong coupling between the two regions is discussed. The energy input of the solar wind to the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere is discussed in terms of the reconnection model where interplanetary magnetic field lines merge or connect with the terrestrial field on the sunward side of the magnetosphere. The merging model emphasizes the importance of the interplanetary magnetic field and especially the north-south component. The solar sector structure with its organized magnetic field and embeeded high speed plasma streams is identified as the source of recurrent geomagnetic disturbances while flare associated interplanetary shock waves are the source of most violet and sporadic geomagnetic storms.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Coronal magnetic structure at a solar sector boundary

A persistent large-scale coronal magnetic structure associated with a sector boundary is shown to consist probably of a magnetic arcade loop structure extending from one solar polar region to the other in approximately the north-south direction. This structure was inferred from computed coronal magnetic field maps for days on which a stable magnetic sector boundary was near the central meridian, based on an interplanetary sector boundary observed to recur during much of 1968 and 1969.

Wilcox, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Rigid and differential rotation of the solar corona

The rotation of the solar corona has been studied using recurrence properties of the green coronal line (5303 A) for the interval from 1947 to 1970. Short-lived coronal activity is found to show the same differential rotation as short-lived photospheric magnetic field features. Long-lived recurrences show rigid rotation in the latitude interval of plus or minus 57.5 deg. It is proposed that at least part of the variability of rotational properties of the solar atmosphere may be understood as a consequence of coexistence of differential and rigid solar rotation.

Antonucci, E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Solar activity and the weather

Some new evidence that the weather is influenced by solar activity is reviewed. It appears that the solar magnetic sector structure is related to the circulation of the earth's atmosphere during local winter. About 3 1/2 days after the passage of a sector boundary the maximum effect is seen; apparently the height of all pressure surfaces increases in high latitudes leading to anticyclogenesis, whereas at midlatitudes the height of the pressure surfaces decreases leading to low pressure systems or to deepening of existing systems. This later effect is clearly seen as an increase in the area of the base of air with absolute vorticity exceeding a given threshold. Since the increase of geomagnetic activity generally is small at a sector boundary it is speculated that geomagnetic activity as such is not the cause of the response to the sector structure but that both weather and geomagnetic activity are influenced by the same (unknown) mechanism.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Coronal magnetic structure at a solar sector boundary

The persistent large-scale coronal magnetic structure associated with a sector boundary appears to consist of a magnetic arcade loop structure extending from one solar polar region to the other in approximately the North-South direction. This structure was inferred from computer coronal magnetic field maps for days on which a stable magnetic sector boundary was near central meridian, based on an interplanetary sector boundary observed to recur during much of 1968 and 1969.

Wilcox, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Influence of solar magnetic sector structure on terrestrial atmosphere vorticity

The solar magnetic sector structure has a sizable and reproducible influence on tropospheric and lower stratospheric vorticity. The average vorticity during winter in the Northhern Hemisphere north of 20 deg N latitude reaches a minimum approximately one day after the passing of a sector boundary, and then increases during the following two or three days. The effect is found at all heights within the troposphere, but is not prominent in the stratosphere, except at the lower levels. No single longitudinal interval appears to dominate the effect.

Wilcox, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Solar activity and the weather

Some evidence that the weather is influenced by solar activity is reviewed. It appears that the solar magnetic sector structure is related to the circulation of the earth's atmosphere during local winter. About 31/2 days after the passage of a sector boundary the maximum effect is seen: apparently the height of all pressure surfaces increases in high latitudes leading to anticyclogenesis, whereas at midlatitudes the height of the pressure surfaces decreases leading to low pressure systems or to deepening of existing systems. This later effect is clearly seen as an increase in the area of the base of air with absolute vorticity exceeding a given threshold. Since the increase of geomagnetic activity generally is small at a sector boundary, it is speculated that geomagnetic activity as such is not the cause of the response to the sector structure, but that both weather and geomagnetic activity are influenced by the same (unknown) mechanism.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The relation between the azimuthal component of the interplanetary magnetic field and the geomagnetic field in the polar caps

The recently discovered relation between the azimuthal component of the interplanetary magnetic field and magnetic variations in the earth's polar caps is reviewed. When the IMF azimuthal component is positive (typical of an interplanetary sector with magnetic field directed away from the sun) geomagnetic perturbations directed away from the earth are observed within 8 deg from the corrected geomagnetic pole. When the IMF azimuthal component is negative (typically within toward sectors) the geomagnetic perturbations are directed towards the earth at both poles. These perturbations can also be described by an equivalent current flowing at a constant magnetic latitude of 80 - 82 deg clockwise around the magnetic poles during toward sectors and counterclockwise during away sectors. This current fluctuates in magnitude and direction with the azimuthal component of the IMF, with a delay time of the order of 20 minutes. The importance of this effect for understanding of both solar magnetism and magnetospheric physics is stressed in view of the possibility for investigating the solar sector structure during the last five sunspot cycles.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Polar cap magnetic variations and their relationship with the interplanetary magnetic sector structure.

The relationship between polar geomagnetic variations and the polarity of the interplanetary magnetic sectors has been studied for the quiet year 1965. It is found that during the day hours a system of ionospheric currents encircles the magnetic poles on every day. The current system may extend up to 15 deg from the pole but is strongest at 8 to 10 deg invariant colatitude. The current direction as seen from near the magnetic poles is counterclockwise during interplanetary sectors with field pointing away from the sun and clockwise during toward sectors. The current strength is dependent on season, being strongest during local summer. When the magnetic pole is on the nightside of the earth, this polar cap current is absent or very weak.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Solar magnetic sector structure - Relation to circulation of the earth's atmosphere.

The solar magnetic sector structure appears to be related to the average area of high positive vorticity centers (low-pressure troughs) observed during winter in the Northern Hemisphere at the 300-millibar level. The average area of high vorticity decreases (low-pressure troughs become less intense) during a few days near the times at which sector boundaries are carried past the earth by the solar wind. The amplitude of the effect is about 10 per cent.

Wilcox, J. M.↗