A study of geomagnetic storms

The interplanetary energy flux is estimated on the basis of the Poynting flux and its variations with the rate of energy dissipation in terms of: (1) the ring-current particle injection, (2) Joule dissipation in the ionosphere, and (3) auroral particle injection for 15 major geomagnetic storms. A relationship, in terms of the angle between the interplanetary magnetic field vector and the magnetospheric field vector, is defined by which the growth of geomagnetic storms is closely associated with the Poynting flux. It is found that the energy flux that enters the magnetosphere is dissipated through intramagnetospheric substorm processes. Geomagnetic storm phenomena represent the combined influence of such effects.