Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Challenging Solar Eruptive Event of 18 November 2003 and the Causes of the 20 November Geomagnetic Superstorm. IV. Unusual Magnetic Cloud and Overall Scenario

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The geomagnetic superstorm of 20 November 2003 with Dst=−422 nT, one of the most intense in history, is not well understood. The superstorm was caused by a moderate solar eruptive event on 18 November, comprehensively studied in our preceding Papers I – III. The analysis has shown a number of unusual and extremely complex features, which presumably led to the formation of an isolated right-handed magnetic-field configuration. Here we analyze the interplanetary disturbance responsible for the 20 November superstorm, compare some of its properties with the extreme 28 – 29 October event, and reveal a compact size of the magnetic cloud (MC) and its disconnection from the Sun. Most likely, the MC had a spheromak configuration and expanded in a narrow angle of ≤ 14∘. A very strong magnetic field in the MC up to 56 nT was due to the unusually weak expansion of the disconnected spheromak in an enhanced-density environment constituted by the tails of the preceding ICMEs. Additional circumstances favoring the superstorm were i) the exact impact of the spheromak on the Earth’s magnetosphere and ii) the almost exact southward orientation of the magnetic field, corresponding to the original orientation in its probable source region near the solar disk center.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. According to the final data of the Kyoto Dst index service, http://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_final/index.html .

  2. http://www.srl.caltech.edu/ACE/ASC/DATA/level3/swepam/index.html .

References

  • Belov, A.V.: 2009, In: Gopalswamy, N., Webb, D.F. (eds.) Universal Heliophysical Processes, IAU Symp. 257, 439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belov, A.V., Eroshenko, E.A., Oleneva, V.A., Struminsky, A.B., Yanke, V.G.: 2001, Adv. Space Res. 27, 625.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Belov, A., Baisultanova, L., Eroshenko, E., Mavromichalaki, H., Yanke, V., Pchelkin, V., Plainaki, C., Mariatos, G.: 2005, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A09S20.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Burton, R.K., McPherron, R.L., Russell, C.T.: 1975, J. Geophys. Res. 80, 4204.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Carrington, R.C.: 1859, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 20, 13.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cerrato, Y., Saiz, E., Cid, C., Gonzalez, W.D., Palacios, J.: 2012, J. Atmos. Solar-Terr. Phys. 80, 111.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, R., Pariat, E., Schmieder, B., Mandrini, C.H., Uddin, W.: 2010, Solar Phys. 261, 127.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chertok, I.M., Grechnev, V.V.: 2005, Astron. Rep. 49, 155.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chertok, I.M., Grechnev, V.V., Belov, A.V., Abunin, A.A.: 2013, Solar Phys. 282, 175.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cliver, E.W., Svalgaard, L.: 2004, Solar Phys. 224, 407.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dvornikov, V.M., Kravtsova, M.V., Sdobnov, V.E.: 2013, Geomagn. Aeron. 53, 430.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dvornikov, V.M., Sdobnov, V.E.: 1997, J. Geophys. Res. 1022, 24209.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dvornikov, V.M., Sdobnov, V.E.: 1998, Solar Phys. 178, 405.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Eyles, C.J., Simnett, G.M., Cooke, M.P., Jackson, B.V., Buffington, A., Hick, P.P., Waltham, N.R., King, J.M., Anderson, P.A., Holladay, P.E.: 2003, Solar Phys. 217, 319.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Farrugia, C.J., Osherovich, V.A., Burlaga, L.F.: 1995, J. Geophys. Res. 100, 12293.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Barbieri, L., Cliver, E.W., Lu, G., Plunkett, S.P., Skoug, R.M.: 2005a, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A09S00.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Yashiro, S., Liu, Y., Michalek, G., Vourlidas, A., Kaiser, M.L., Howard, R.A.: 2005b, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A09S15.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Yashiro, S., Michalek, G., Xie, H., Lepping, R.P., Howard, R.A.: 2005c, Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L12S09.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grechnev, V.V., Chertok, I.M., Slemzin, V.A., Kuzin, S.V., Ignat’ev, A.P., Pertsov, A.A., Zhitnik, I.A., Delaboudinière, J.-P., Auchère, F.: 2005, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A09S07.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Grechnev, V.V., Kuzmenko, I.V., Chertok, I.M., Uralov, A.M.: 2011, Astron. Rep. 55, 637.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Grechnev, V.V., Uralov, A.M., Slemzin, V.A., Chertok, I.M., Filippov, B.P., Rudenko, G.V., Temmer, M.: 2014a, Solar Phys. 289, 289 (Paper I).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Grechnev, V.V., Uralov, A.M., Chertok, I.M., Slemzin, V.A., Filippov, B.P., Egorov, Ya.I., Fainshtein, V.G., Afanasyev, A.N., Prestage, N., Temmer, M.: 2014b, Solar Phys. 289, 1279 (Paper II).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanov, K.G., Kharshiladze, A.F.: 1985, Solar Phys. 98, 379.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanov, K.G., Romashets, E.P., Kharshiladze, A.F.: 2006, Geomagn. Aeron. 46, 275.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, B.V., Buffington, A., Hick, P.P., Altrock, R.C., Figueroa, S., Holladay, P.E., et al.: 2004, Solar Phys. 225, 177.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, B.V., Buffington, A., Hick, P.P., Wang, X., Webb, D.: 2006, J. Geophys. Res. 111, A04S91.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, P., Manoharan, P.K., Uddin, W.: 2011, Solar Phys. 271, 149.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Low, B.C.: 1982, Astrophys. J. 254, 796.

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Low, B.C.: 1984, Astrophys. J. 281, 381.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lui, A.T.Y.: 2011, Space Sci. Rev. 158, 43.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Manchester, W.B. IV, van der Holst, B., Lavraud, B.: 2014, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 56, 064006.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marubashi, K., Lepping, R.P.: 2007, Ann. Geophys. 25, 2453.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marubashi, K., Cho, K.-S., Kim, Y.-H., Park, Y.-D., Park, S.-H.: 2012, J. Geophys. Res. 117, A01101.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • McComas, D.J., Bame, S.J., Barker, P., Feldman, W.C., Phillips, J.L., Riley, P., Griffee, J.W.: 1998, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 563.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Möstl, C., Miklenic, C., Farrugia, C.J., Temmer, M., Veronig, A., Galvin, A.B., Vršnak, B., Biernat, H.K.: 2008, Ann. Geophys. 26, 3139.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu, J., Hu, Q., Howard, T.A., Yurchyshyn, V.B.: 2007, Astrophys. J. 659, 758.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, I.G., Dvornikov, V.M., Sdobnov, V.E., Cane, H.V.: 2000, J. Geophys. Res. 105, 12579.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Romashets, E.P., Vandas, M.: 2003, Geophys. Res. Lett. 30, 2065.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, C.T., Mulligan, T.: 2002, Planet. Space Sci. 50, 527.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Dèmoulin, P., Pariat, E., Török, T., Molodij, G., Mandrini, C.H., et al.: 2011, Adv. Space Res. 47, 2081.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Shiota, D., Kusano, K., Miyoshi, T., Shibata, K.: 2010, Astrophys. J. 718, 1305.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Siscoe, G., Crooker, N.U., Clauer, C.R.: 2006, Adv. Space Res. 38, 173.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C.W., L’Heureux, J., Ness, N.F., Acuña, M.H., Burlaga, L.F., Scheifele, J.: 1998, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 613.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, N.: 2005, Ann. Geophys. 23, 2989.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsurutani, B.T., Gonzalez, W.D.: 1997, In: Tsurutani, B.T., Gonzalez, W.D., Kamide, Y., Arballo, J.K. (eds.) Magnetic Storms, AGU Geophys. Monogr. 98, 77.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tsurutani, B.T., Gonzalez, W.D., Lakhina, G.S., Alex, S.: 2003, J. Geophys. Res. 108, 1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uralov, A.M., Grechnev, V.V., Hudson, H.S.: 2005, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A05104.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Uralov, A.M., Grechnev, V.V., Rudenko, G.V., Myshyakov, I.I., Chertok, I.M., Filippov, B.P., Slemzin, V.A.: 2014, Solar Phys. 289, 3747. (Paper III).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vandas, M., Fischer, S., Pelant, P., Dryer, M., Smith, Z., Detman, T.: 1997, J. Geophys. Res. 102, 24183.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Veselovsky, I.S., Panasyuk, M.I., Avdyushin, S.I., Bazilevskaya, G.A., Belov, A.V., Bogachev, S.A., et al.: 2004, Cosmic Res. 42, 435.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C.-C., Lepping, R.P.: 2005, J. Atmos. Solar-Terr. Phys. 67, 283.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C.-C., Wu, S.T., Dryer, M., Fry, C.D., Berdichevsky, D., Smith, Z., et al.: 2005, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A09S17.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yermolaev, Yu.I., Zelenyi, L.M., Zastenker, G.N., Petrukovich, A.A., Mitrofanov, I.G., Litvak, M.L., et al.: 2005, Geomagn. Aeron. 45, 20.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yurchyshyn, V., Hu, Q., Abramenko, V.: 2005, Space Weather 3, S08C02.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Y.F., Feng, X.S., Wu, S.T., Du, D., Shen, F., Xiang, C.Q.: 2012, J. Geophys. Res. 117, A01102.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank V. Sdobnov, K. Marubashi, and P. K. Manoharan for useful discussions and the materials, which they kindly made available to us. We thank the ACE/MAG and SWEPAM teams and the ACE Science Center for providing the solar wind data. We are grateful to anonymous reviewers for useful remarks. We thank the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences in USD for heliospheric 3D reconstruction made from the SMEI mission, which is a joint project of the University of California at San Diego, Boston College, the University of Birmingham (UK), and the Air Force Research Laboratory. This study was supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research under grants 11-02-00757, 11-02-01079, 12-02-00008, 12-02-92692, and 12-02-00037, the Program of basic research of the RAS Presidium No. 22, and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science under projects 8407 and 14.518.11.7047.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics SB RAS, Lermontov St. 126A, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    V. V. Grechnev & A. M. Uralov

  2. Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation (IZMIRAN), Troitsk, Moscow, 142190, Russia

    I. M. Chertok, A. V. Belov & B. P. Filippov

  3. P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Leninsky Pr., 53, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    V. A. Slemzin

  4. Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    B. V. Jackson

Authors
  1. V. V. Grechnev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. M. Uralov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. M. Chertok
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. V. Belov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. P. Filippov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. V. A. Slemzin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. B. V. Jackson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. V. Grechnev.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

(MPG 1.3 MB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Grechnev, V.V., Uralov, A.M., Chertok, I.M. et al. A Challenging Solar Eruptive Event of 18 November 2003 and the Causes of the 20 November Geomagnetic Superstorm. IV. Unusual Magnetic Cloud and Overall Scenario. Sol Phys 289, 4653–4673 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-014-0596-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-014-0596-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation