Characteristics of untriggered substorms

POSTER

Abstract

It is generally believed that most substorms have some kind of trigger such as a northward turn in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We have identified over 200 isolated substorms in the North American sector from 1998-2002 based on the auroral electrojet index (AE). From this set of events, we have identified several that do not seem to have a solar wind trigger. In this presentation, we will discuss the characteristics of these events and contrast them to several events that seem to have a trigger.

Authors

  • Ian Swanson

    • Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Physics and Space Sciences

  • Ami M. DuBois

    • Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Physics and Space Sciences

  • Christine Gabrielse

    • Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Physics and Space Sciences

  • Patricia Gavin

    • Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Physics and Space Sciences

  • Sandra Brogl

    • Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Physics and Space Sciences

  • Ramon Lopez

    • Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Physics and Space Sciences