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The solar origin of geomagnetic storms

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Abstract

A recent study of associations between geomagnetic storms and solar phenomena has found more associations with solar flares than with coronal holes (Garcia and Dryer, 1987). This disagrees with observations of earthbound transients obtained from IPS imaging which showed that nearly all geomagnetically effective disturbances originated from coronal holes at low latitudes. The discrepancy has arisen because the former study failed to take into account the large angular extent of transient eruptions from coronal holes. It is highly probable that the intense geomagnetic storm of February 1986, discussed by Garcia and Dryer, was caused by a low-latitude coronal hole which was present at that time. This answers their question concerning moderately strong flares that apparently cause major storms, while much larger flares often do not; flares may sometimes be associated with eruptions from coronal holes, but only as peripheral events.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, CB3 OHE, Cambridge, England

    A. Hewish

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  1. A. Hewish
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Hewish, A. The solar origin of geomagnetic storms. Sol Phys 116, 195–198 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00171723

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00171723

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