The electric current approach in the solar–terrestrial relationship

Abstract

Abstract. The sequence of phenomena consisting of solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), auroral substorms, and geomagnetic storms is mostly a manifestation of electromagnetic energy dissipation. Thus, first of all, it is natural to consider each of them in terms of a sequence of power supply (dynamo), power transmission (electric currents/circuits), and dissipation (mostly observed phenomena), i.e., as an input-output process and the electric current line approach. Secondly, extending this concept, it is attempted in this paper to consider the whole solar-terrestrial relationship in terms of electric currents. This approach enables us to follow through not only the sequence in solar flares, auroral substorms, and geomagnetic storms but also to connect all phenomena naturally as a continuous flow of magnetic energy (V [B 2 /8π ]) from the sun across the magnetopause. This consideration gives some insight into all the processes involved equally well compared with the magnetic field line approach, which has been adopted almost exclusively in the past.

A Review of the Current Understanding in the Study of Geomagnetic Storms

“…This is partly because there has been no study to predict the power of flare-producing dynamo. Since solar flares must be powered by a photospheric dynamo [34], it is important to monitor the power or at least VB 2 and Hα emission together (where V is the plasma speed B is the magnetic field intensity where flares are expected to occur; note that the power equation is the same for auroral substorms and solar flares), enabling us to infer the accumulated energy for the explosive process-in predicting the intensity of flares (the minimum energy is about 10 30 ergs). So far, there has been no quantitative efforts (other than finding an anti-parallel magnetic field).…”