Pc5 geomagnetic fluctuations in response to solar wind excitation and their relationship with relativistic electron fluxes in the outer radiation belt 3. Space science

Abstract

This study is focused to investigate the Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations in response to the solar wind forcing and their relationship with the relativistic electron flux at geostationary orbit. We analyzed the correlation of the Pc5 power in the magnetosphere and on the ground, at low and high latitude, with the solar wind speed and fluctuation power of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind dynamic pressure through the years 2006 to 2010, also examining the relative timing between pulsations and solar wind parameters. We found a very significant correlation of the Pc5 power with simultaneous solar wind pressure fluctuations and with the solar wind speed lagged by several hours; the relative amplitude of the two correlation peaks depending on the solar cycle phase and on the latitude. We also found a strong relationship between the Pc5 power and the >600 keV and >2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit. Clear evidence emerges that the electron flux follows the Pc5 power by about 2 days; the time delay is a bit longer for the higher energy electrons.