Geomagnetic storms deposit energy and momentum into the Earth’s magnetosphere which in turn energizes the terrestrial atmosphere through Joule heating and particle precipitation. This storm energy predominantly converges at altitudes of 100 to 150 km, corresponding to the lower thermospheric region, which is then globally redistributed throughout the thermosphere. It is essential that we understand the times and magnitudes of this energy to understand the terrestrial atmospheric response to geomagnetic storms. However, our current knowledge is mostly limited to the studies of orbital altitudes of the thermosphere. We aim to fill this gap by conducting a statistical study of lower thermospheric response to geomagnetic storms. We use neutral temperature data from SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere Using Broadband Emission Radiometry) instrument onboard the TIMED (Thermosphere, Ionosphere, and Mesosphere Energy Dynamics) satellite for this study. We devise a procedure to extract the storm response from SABER temperature measurements and deduce the magnitudes and times of the global storm energy redistribution in the 100 to 120 km altitude of the thermosphere. We use methods of inferential and descriptive statistics to investigate the lower thermospheric response for 145 storm intervals that occurred between 2002 and 2010. We also investigate the performance of the state-ofart physics and empirical models in replicating the lower thermosphere during geomagnetic storms.

No description available.

In this thesis we examine the generation mechanisms of Pc 5 ULF waves during geomagnetic storms. Also, we study the interaction between Pc 5 ULF waves and energetic particles in the radiation belts and the observed energetic particle flux modulation by Pc 5 ULF waves is verified using particle simulations. Firstly, we present case studies of Pc 5 pulsations using ground-based magnetometer and satellite data during geomagnetic storm times, specifically we selecting three storm time events which show a brief increase in Dst in the main phase of the storms. By studying these events, we attempt to identify the generation mechanisms responsible for the geomagnetic pulsations. The observed pulsations exhibit the characteristic features of a Field Line Resonance. Our results also show evidence for the penetration of ULF wave power in the Pc 5 band to much lower L-shells than normal, suggesting significant reduction of the local Alfven eigenfrequency continuum as compared to non-storm times. This may have considerable significance for the interaction between ULF waves and MeV electrons in the outer radiation belt during storms. Secondly, based on the hypothesis that Pc 5 ULF waves may play an important role in energetic particle dynamics in the radiation belt and ring current, we investigated the relationship between Pc 5 pulsations and energetic particle flux oscillations. We observed very strong Pc 5 oscillations during the great magnetic storm of March 24, 1991 [Lee et al., 2007] and electron flux simultaneously oscillating with the same frequencies in the time domain. We also characterize two more events and present an examination of the relationship between the electron flux modulation and Pc 5 ULF pulsations. Based on our observations, the modulation of energetic particles might be associated with a drift-resonance interaction, or the advection of an energetic particle density gradient. Finally, we numerically calculate the trajectories and energy change of charged particles under the influence of model ULF wave electric fields. This modeling work is used to help to explain the observations and provides evidence which supports the modulation mechanisms such as advection of a flux gradient and drift resonance.

Os diversos fenômenos solares mostram que a sua atividade não é constante, sendo as manchas solares observadas em sua fotosfera um indicador de atividade do Sol. Os números dessas manchas seguem um ciclo de 11 anos que alterna entre máximos e mínimos; quanto maior o número de manchas, maior o número de erupções no Sol. A literatura médica vem mostrando algumas evidências de que a atividade solar possui alguma relação com a predisposição das pessoas a algumas doenças. As tempestades geomagnéticas são associadas a doenças cardiovasculares, mudanças na pressão arterial sistólica, gravidade da crise de enxaqueca, distúrbios psiquiátricos. As condições da atividade geomagnética são classificadas segundo Batista (2003) em uma escala de Calma, Transição, Ativo, Tempestade fraca, Tempestade intensa ou Tempestade muito intensa. No presente projeto de pesquisa, objetiva-se investigar a associação entre atividade geomagnética e internações diárias por infarto nos hospitais de Ribeirão Preto e região, no período de 1998 a 2007. A hipótese em estudo é que em dias de condições de atividade geomagnética muito perturbada, o número médio de internações por doenças isquêmicas do coração é maior. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado o modelo de regressão de Poisson com função logarítmica com o auxílio do software SAS 9.2, utilizando o procedimento PROC GENMOD. Observa-se que há evidências de associação entre tempestades geomagnéticas e internações por IAM. / Numerous solar phenomena demonstrate that their activities are not continual, and sunspots noticed in their photosphere are considered an indicator by Suns activity. Numbers linked with these sunspots follow an eleven-year cycle, which alternates between high and low, it means, the greater the number of sunspots, the greater the number of Sun eruptions. Medical Literature has produced evidences that solar activity has some association with people predisposing to some diseases. Geomagnetic storms are related with cardiovascular disease, changes in systolic blood pressure, severity and psychiatric disorders. According to Batista (2003), geomagnetic activity conditions are categorized on a scale of Quiet, Transition, Acting, Weak Storm, Intense Storm or Very Intense Storm. This study intends to investigate the association between geomagnetic activity and daily hospitalization by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Ribeirão Preto and its region from 1998 to 2007. The hypothesis being studied is that: day which has unquiet geomagnetic condition, the average number of hospitalizations originated by ischemic heart disease is higher. In order to get on with data analysis, it was used Poissons regression model, with logarithmic function through SAS 9.2, using PROC GENMOD procedure. In consequence, it is observed that there are evidences between geomagnetic storms and hospitalizations by AMI.

Os diversos fenômenos solares mostram que a sua atividade não é constante, sendo as manchas solares observadas em sua fotosfera um indicador de atividade do Sol. Os números dessas manchas seguem um ciclo de 11 anos que alterna entre máximos e mínimos; quanto maior o número de manchas, maior o número de erupções no Sol. A literatura médica vem mostrando algumas evidências de que a atividade solar possui alguma relação com a predisposição das pessoas a algumas doenças. As tempestades geomagnéticas são associadas a doenças cardiovasculares, mudanças na pressão arterial sistólica, gravidade da crise de enxaqueca, distúrbios psiquiátricos. As condições da atividade geomagnética são classificadas segundo Batista (2003) em uma escala de Calma, Transição, Ativo, Tempestade fraca, Tempestade intensa ou Tempestade muito intensa. No presente projeto de pesquisa, objetiva-se investigar a associação entre atividade geomagnética e internações diárias por infarto nos hospitais de Ribeirão Preto e região, no período de 1998 a 2007. A hipótese em estudo é que em dias de condições de atividade geomagnética muito perturbada, o número médio de internações por doenças isquêmicas do coração é maior. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado o modelo de regressão de Poisson com função logarítmica com o auxílio do software SAS 9.2, utilizando o procedimento PROC GENMOD. Observa-se que há evidências de associação entre tempestades geomagnéticas e internações por IAM. / Numerous solar phenomena demonstrate that their activities are not continual, and sunspots noticed in their photosphere are considered an indicator by Suns activity. Numbers linked with these sunspots follow an eleven-year cycle, which alternates between high and low, it means, the greater the number of sunspots, the greater the number of Sun eruptions. Medical Literature has produced evidences that solar activity has some association with people predisposing to some diseases. Geomagnetic storms are related with cardiovascular disease, changes in systolic blood pressure, severity and psychiatric disorders. According to Batista (2003), geomagnetic activity conditions are categorized on a scale of Quiet, Transition, Acting, Weak Storm, Intense Storm or Very Intense Storm. This study intends to investigate the association between geomagnetic activity and daily hospitalization by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Ribeirão Preto and its region from 1998 to 2007. The hypothesis being studied is that: day which has unquiet geomagnetic condition, the average number of hospitalizations originated by ischemic heart disease is higher. In order to get on with data analysis, it was used Poissons regression model, with logarithmic function through SAS 9.2, using PROC GENMOD procedure. In consequence, it is observed that there are evidences between geomagnetic storms and hospitalizations by AMI.

The inner magnetosphere modeling is an important component of the magnetosphere simulation frameworks with significant implications for space weather and a. principle methodology to understand the magnetospheric response to changes in the solar wind. The thesis shows our efforts in constructing and validating the contemporary Rice Convection Model (RCM) code and its interface as a next-generation code to predict electric fields, field-aligned currents, and energetic particle fluxes in the inner magnetosphere and subauroral ionosphere during geomagnetic disturbed times. The RCM was used to simulate the geomagnetic storms with fixed boundary conditions of time-dependent Tsyganenko-Mukai boundary conditions. This work shows the results of two extremely- strong storm events with significant interchange motion. The ring current injection predicted by the RCM is shown to be overestimated, consistent with the previous results of overestimating particle fluxes by the RCM. This effect is magnified here since the southward component of interplanetary magnetic field is very strong reaching about 50 nT. Time-dependent Borovsky's boundary condition is implemented and used to alleviate the huge pressure and get better tendency of ring current energy calculated by the Dessler-Parker-Sckopke relation. This work also describes a new module of generalized Knight's relation to compute the parallel potential drops from the calculated field-aligned currents through Vasyliunas equation. It gives different ionospheric conductance and plasma drift signatures particularly around the midnight. The inclusion of parallel electric fields will replace the treatments of energy flux in the substorm simulations since that the Hardy normalization cannot perform the desired function during the substorm expansion phase and the energy flux floor gives arbitrary enhanced the precipitating energy flux and ionospheric conductances at high latitude especially for the westward clectrojet around the midnight. Since the original Knight's relation gives too large field-aligned potential drop, the modified Knight's relation is applied and implemented successfully into the RCM. Therefore, the RCM is capable of real time event simulation including strong geomagnetic storms and magnetospheric substorms, although full validation of model predictions with typical observations remains to be done.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The development of regional ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) models has contributed to understanding the behavior of ionospheric parameters and the coupling of the ionosphere to space weather activities on both local and global scales. In the past several decades, the International Global Navigation Satellite Systems Service (GNSS) networks of dual frequency receiver data have been applied to develop global and regional models of ionospheric TEC. These models were mainly developed in the Northern Hemisphere where there are dense network of ground based GPS receivers for regional data coverage. Such efforts have been historically rare over the African region, and have only recently begun. This thesis reports the investigation of the effect of mid-latitude magnetic storms on TEC over South Africa for portions of Solar Cycles 23 and 24. The MAGIC package was used to estimate TEC over South Africa during Post Solar Maximum, Solar Minimum, and Post Solar Minimum periods. It is found that TEC is largely determined by the diurnal cycle of solar forcing and subsequent relaxation, but effects due to storms can be determined

WINDMI is a low dimensional plasma physics-based model of the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system. The nonlinear system of ordinary differential equations describes the energy balance between the basic nightside components of the system using the solar wind driving voltage as input. Of the eight dynamical variables determined by the model, the region 1 field aligned current and ring current energy is compared to the westward auroral electrojet AL index and equatorial geomagnetic disturbance storm time Dst index. The WINDMI model is used to analyze the magnetosphere-ionosphere system during major geomagnetic storms and substorms which are community campaign events. Numerical experiments using the WINDMI model are also used to assess the question of how much interplanetary shock events contribute to the geoeffectiveness of solar wind drivers. For two major geomagnetic storm intervals, it is found that the magnetic field compressional jump is important to producing the changes in the AL index. Further, the WINDMI model is implemented to compute model AL and Dst predictions every ten minutes using real-time solar wind data from the ACE satellite as input. Real-Time WINDMI has been capturing substorm and storm activity, as characterized by the AL and Dst indices, reliably since February 2006 and is validated by comparison with ground-based measurements of the indices. Model results are compared for three different candidate input solar wind driving voltage formulas. Modeling of the Dst index is further developed to include the additional physical processes of tail current increases and sudden commencement. A new model, based on WINDMI, is developed using the dayside magnetopause and magnetosphere current systems to model the magnetopause boundary motion and the dayside region 1 field aligned current which is comparable to the auroral upper AU index. / text

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Geomagnetic storms are primarily driven by the rapid transfer of energy from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. The mechanism of energy transfer involves the merging of the interplanetary magnetic field to the geomagnetic field in a process known as magnetic reconnection. This leads to an influx of energetic, charged particles into the magnetosphere so that current systems are enhanced. Specifically, an increase in the equatorial ring current leads to a decrease in the surface field. Geomagnetic storms are thus characterized by a strong decline in the horizontal components of the geomagnetic field, lasting from several hours to days. The intensity of a storm is described by the disturbed storm-time index, which is essentially a measure of the deviation from the typical quiet day variation along the equator. Severe storms can lead to the disruption of high frequency (HF) communications as a consequence of a strongly perturbed ionosphere. By the same token, the global positioning system (GPS) can become highly unreliable during magnetically disturbed conditions, yielding distance errors as large as 50 meters. The impact of geomagnetic activity and other solar-driven processes on technology systems are collectively known as space weather. Magnetic field sensing thus forms an important part of space weather forecasting and is vital to space science research as a means of improving our understanding of solar wind-magnetosphere interactions. This study examines the use of magnetometers built as SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices) for monitoring the geomagnetic field for space weather forecasting purposes. A basic theory of superconductivity is presented and subsequently the key aspects governing the operation of SQUIDs are discussed. Space weather is also introduced with respect to the various processes on the sun that perturb the magnetosphere and hence the geomagnetic field. The method of analysis was basically to Fourier-transform the data using the Wiener-Khintchine theorem. A systematic approach to Fourier analysis is thus presented, demonstrating the superiority of the Wiener-Khintchine theorem in noise reduction. The suitability of SQUID magnetometers for space science research is demonstrated by a comparative study between SQUID and fluxgate datasets for magnetic storms during 2011. Strong correlation was observed between the frequency content of the SQUID and fluxgate signals. This result supports South Africa’s SQUID project, currently undertaken as a collaborative effort between SANSA Space Science and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. This thesis thus lays a foundation for future research involving advanced magnetometry using SQUIDs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geomagnetiese storms word hoofsaaklik gedryf deur die vinnige oordrag van energie van die sonwind na die magnetosfeer. Die meganisme van energie oordrag behels die samesmelting van die interplanetêre magneetveld met die geomagneetveld, in 'n proses wat bekend staan as magnetiese heraansluiting. Dit lei tot 'n instroming van energieke elektries-gelaaide deeltjies, tot in die magnetosfeer, met die gevolg dat magnetosferiese elektriese stroomstelsels versterk word. 'n Toename in die ekwatoriale ringstrome lei spesifiek tot 'n afname in die horisontale komponent van die geomagnetiese veld. Geomagnetiese storms word dus gekenmerk deur 'n sterk afname in die horisontale komponent van die geomagnetiese veld, ‘n afname wat etlike ure tot dae kan duur. Die intensiteit van 'n storm word beskryf deur die storm-tyd versteurings indeks , 'n maatstaf van die afwyking van die tipiese stil dag magnetiese variasie langs die ewenaar. Ernstige storms kan lei tot die ontwrigting van hoë frekwensie (HF) kommunikasie as 'n gevolg van 'n erg versteurde ionosfeer. Soortgelyk kan die Globale Posisionering Stelsel (GPS) hoogs onbetroubaar word tydens magneties versteurde toestande, en posisiefoute so groot as 50 meter veroorsaak. Die impak van geomagnetiese aktiwiteit en ander sonkrag gedrewe prosesse op tegnologie is gesamentlik bekend as ruimteweer. Magneetveldmetinge vorm dus 'n belangrike deel van ruimteweervoorspelling en is noodsaaklik vir ruimtewetenskaplike navorsing as 'n middel om die sonwind-magnetosfeer interaksies beter te verstaan. Hierdie studie ondersoek die gebruik van SQUID (Engels: Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) magnetometers vir die monitering van die geomagnetiese veld vir ruimteweervoorspellingsdoeleindes. ’n Basiese teorie van supergeleiding word aangebied, waarvolgens die sleutelaspekte van SQUIDs bespreek word. Ruimteweer word ook voorgestel in terme van die verskillende prosesse op die son wat die aarde se magnetosfeer en dus die geomagnetiese veld versteur. Die analisemetode wat hier gebruik word, is om die Fourier-transform van data met die Wiener-Khintchine theorema te bereken. A sistematiese metode vir Fourier-analise word aangebied, wat die superiorireit van die Wiener-Khintchine teorema vir ruisvermindering demonstreer. Die geskiktheid van SQUID magnetometers vir ruimtewetenskaplike navorsing word gedemonstreer deur ’n vergelykende studie tussen SQUID- en vloedhek-datastelle vir magnetiese storms gedurende 2011. Sterk korrelasie is waargeneem tussen die frekwensie-inhoud van die SQUID- en vloedhekseine. Hierdie resultate ondersteun Suid-Afrika se SQUID-projek, wat tans as ’n samewerkingspoging tussen SANSA Space Science en die Departement Elektriese en Elektroniese Ingenieurswese aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch bedryf word. Hierdie tesis lê ’n fondasie vir toekomstige navorsing oor gevorderde magnetometrie met SQUIDs.