Solar Transients disturbing the Terrestrial Magnetic Environment at Higher Latitudes

Abstract

Geomagnetic field variations during five major Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events of solar cycle 23 have been investigated in the present study. The SEP events of 01 oct 2001, 04 Nov 2001, 21 Apr 2002 and 14 May 2005 have been selected to study the geomagnetic field variations at two high-latitude stations, Thule and Resolute Bay of the northern polar cap. We have used the GOES protn flux in seven different energy channels. All the proton events were associated with geoeffective or Earth directed CMEs that caused intense geomagnetic storms in response to geospace. We have taken high-latitude indices, AE and PC, under consideration and found fairly good correlation of thees with the ground magnetic field records during the five proton events. The departure of H component during the events were calculated from the quietest day of the month for each event. The correspondence of spectral index, inferred from event integrated spectra, with ground magnetic signatures along with Dst and PC indices have been brought out. From the correlation analysis we found very strong correlation to exist between the geomagnetic field variations and high latitude indices AE and PC. To find the association of geomagnetic storm intensity with proton and geomagnetic field variations along with the Dst and AE index. We found a strong correlation (0.88) to exist between the spectral indices and magnetic field deviations and also between spectral indices and AE and PC.