Long-period geomagnetic pulsations caused by the solar wind negative pressure impulse on 22 March 1979 (CDAW-6)

Abstract. An analysis is made of the long-period geomagnetic pulsations as recorded at seven Norilsk meridian stations (λ=162°, latitudinal range: 61°–71°N) following abrupt magnetospheric expansion during the storm of 22 March 1979 caused by a rapid decrease in solar wind density. As with the time interval following an abrupt contraction at the time of sudden storm commencement, there exist two types of pulsations in the pulsation spectra: latitude-independent 
(T>400 s) and latitude-dependent (T<200 s) pulsations. The first pulsation type is interpreted in terms of forced pulsations associated with magnetopause oscillations. The oscillation period is determined by plasma density in the boundary layer and by the radius of the magnetosphere (T ~ ρ^1/2R⁴). The latitudinal dependence of the period, amplitude and polarization of the second-type pulsations is in agreement with the resonance mechanism of their origin.

Keywords. Geomagnetic pulsations · Solar wind · Magnetopause oscillations