Explicit IMF B(sub y)-Effect Maximizes at Subauroral Latitudes (Dedicated to the Memory of Eigil Friis-Christensen)

The most important parameter in the coupling between solar wind and geomagnetic activity is the B(sub z)‐component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). However, recent studies have shown that IMF B(sub y) is an additional, independent driver of geomagnetic activity. We use here local geomagnetic indices from a large network of magnetic stations to study how IMF B(sub y) affects geomagnetic activity at different latitudes for all solar wind and, separately, during coronal mass ejections. We show that geomagnetic activity, for all solar wind, is 20% stronger for B(sub y) > 0 than for B(sub y) < 0 at subauroral latitudes of about 60° corrected geomagnetic latitude. During coronal mass ejections, the B(sub y)‐effect is larger, about 40%, at slightly lower latitudes of about 57° (corrected geomagnetic) latitude. These results highlight the importance of the IMF B(sub y)‐component for space weather at different latitudes and must be taken into account in space weather modeling