Geomagnetic pulsations: solar wind-induced geomagnetic pulsations and fluctuations

Abstract

The solar wind generates geomagnetic pulsations by direct interaction with cold plasma of ionospheric origin in thc geomagnetic field. The solar wind also induces changes in the energetic particle populations of the magnetosphere which cause further pulsations. Commonly, the upper limit of the period of pulsations is taken as about 5 min. Flucluations with periods longer than 5 min are also induced by the action of the solar wind.