Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Great geomagnetic storms in 1841–1870 according to the data from the network of Russian geomagnetic observatories

  • Published:
Geomagnetism and Aeronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Great magnetic storms (geomagnetic index C9 is ≥8 for St. Petersburg, which can correspond to Kp ≥ 8 or Dst < −200 nT), registered from 1841 to 1870 at the St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Barnaul, Nerchinsk, Sitka, and Beijing (at the Russian embassy) observatories are analyzed. A catalog of intensive magnetic storms during this period, which includes solar cycles 9–11, has been compiled. The statistical characteristics of great magnetic storms during this historical period have been obtained. These results indicate that high solar activity played a decisive role in the generation of very intense magnetic storms during the considered period. These storms are characterized by only one peak in a solar cycle, which was registered in the years of the cycle minimum (or slightly earlier): the number of great geomagnetic storms near the solar activity maximum was twice as large as the number of such storms during less active periods. A maximum in September–October and an additional maximum in February are observed in the annual distribution of storms. In addition, the storm intensity inversely depends on the storm duration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akasofu, S.-I., Chapman, S., and Venkatesan, D., The Main Phase of Great Magnetic Storms, J. Geophys. Res., 1963, vol. 68, no. 11, pp. 3345–3350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Annales de l’Observatoire Physique Central de Russie, Annee 1847, Kupffer, A.T., Ed., St. Petersburg: l’Imprimerie de A. Jacobson, 1850.

    Google Scholar 

  • Annuaire Magnetique et Meteorologique du Corps des Ingenierus des Mines de Russie, Annee 1841, Kupffer, A.T., Ed., St. Petersburg: l’Imprimerie de A. Jacobson, 1843.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkhatov, N.A., Kalinina, E.A., Levitin, A.E., et al., Dependence of Magnetic Storm Intensity and Duration on the Trajectory of Magnetic Cloud Passage through the Earth’s Magnetosphere, Soln.-Zemn. Fiz., 2008, vol. 1, no. 12, pp. 148–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartels, J., The Technique of Scaling Indices K and Q of Geomagnetic Activity, Ann. Int. Geophys., 1957, vol. 4, pp. 215–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, J.T., Gussenhoven, S., and Mullen, E.G., Super Storms, J. Geophys. Res., 1997, vol. 102, pp. 14 189–14 198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben’kova, N.P. and Kalinin, Yu.D., Slutsk Magnetic Observatory Catalog of Magnetic Storms, in Kosmicheskie dannye. Dekadnyi obzor (Space Data: A Decadal Review), Gidrometeoizdat, 1941, no. 126–128.

  • Burlaga, L.F., Sittler, E., Mariani, F., and Schwenn, R., Magnetic Loop behind an Interplanetary Shock: Voyager, Helios and IMP-8 Observations, J. Geophys. Res., 1981, vol. 86, pp. 6673–6692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cliver, E., Kamide, Y., and Ling, A., Mountains versus Valleys: Semiannual Variation of Geomagnetic Activity, J. Geophys. Res., 2000, vol. 106, p. 2413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clilverd, M.A., Clark, T.D.G., Clarke, E., Rishberth, H., and Ulich, T., The Causes of Long-Term Change in the Aa Index, J. Geophys. Res., 2002, vol. 107, p. XXXX; doi:10.1029/2001JA000501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clilverd, M.A., Clark, T.D., Clarke, E., and Rishberth, H., Increased Magnetic Storms Activity from 1868 to 1995, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 1998, vol. 60, pp. 1047–1056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clua de Gonzalez, A.L., Silbergleit, V.M., Gonzalez, W.D., and Tsurutani, B.T., Irregularities in the Semiannual Variation of the Geomagnetic Activity, Adv. Space Res., 2002, vol. 30, no. 10, pp. 2215–2218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortie, A.L., Sunspots and Terrestrial Magnetic Phenomena, 1898–1911, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 1912, vol. 73, pp. 52–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crooker, N.U., Cliver, E.W., and Tsurutani, B.T., The Semiannual Variation of Great Geomagnetic Storms and the Postshock Russell-McPherron Effect Preceding Coronal Mass Ejecta, Geophys. Res. Lett., 1992, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 429–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, W.D., Tsurutani, B.T., and Clua de Gonzalez, A.L., Interplanetary Origin of Geomagnetic Storms, Space Sci. Rev., 1999, vol. 88, pp. 529–539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, J.L. and Boardsen, S.A., Duration and Extent of the Great Auroral Storm of 1859, Adv. Space Res., 2006, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2005.08.054.

  • Iucci, N., Levitin, A.E., Belov, A.V., Eroshenko, E.A., Ptitsyna, N.G., Villoresi, G., Chizhenkov, G.V., Dorman, L.I., Parisi, M., Tyasto, M.I., and Yanke, V.G., Space Weather Conditions and Spacecraft Anomalies in Different Orbits, Space Weather, 2005, vol. 3, p. S01001; doi:10.1029/2003SW000056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, L.W. and Burlaga, L.F., Magnetic Clouds at 1 AU, J. Geophys. Res., 1982, vol. 87, pp. 613–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanzerotti, L.J., Geomagnetic Influences on Man-Made Systems, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 1979, vol. 41, pp. 787–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loewe, C.A. and Prölss, G.W., Classification and Mean Behaviour of Magnetic Storms, J. Geophys. Res., 1997, vol. 102A, pp. 14209–14213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundstedt, H., Gleisner, H., and Wintoft, P., Operational Forecasts of the Geomagnetic Dst Index, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2002, vol. 29, no. 24, pp. 2181–2196; doi:10.1029/2002GL016151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murayama, T., Origin of the Semiannual Variation of Geomagnetic Kp Indices, J. Geophys. Res., 1974, vol. 79, pp. 297–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nevanlinna, H., New Geomagnetic Activity Index Series Published for 1844–1880, EOS. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 1995, vol. 76, pp. 233–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey, S.K. and Dubey, S.C., Characteristic Features of Large Geomagnetic Storms Observed during Solar Cycle 23, Indian J. Radio Space Phys., 2009, vol. 38, pp. 35–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrukovich, A.A. and Zakharov, M.Y., Ap-Index Solar Wind Driving Functions and Its Semiannual Variations, Ann. Geophys., 2007, vol. 25, no. 7, pp. 1465–1478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, I.G., Cliver, E.W., and Cane, H.V., Sources of Geomagnetic Storms for Solar Minimum and Maximum Conditions during 1972–2000, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2001, vol. 28, pp. 2569–2584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, C.T. and McPherron, R.L., Semiannual Variation of Geomagnetic Activity, J. Geophys. Res., 1973, vol. 78, pp. 92–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rykachev, M.A., Istoricheskii ocherk Glavnoi fizicheskoi observatorii za 50 let ee deyatel’nosti, ch. I (Historical Sketch of the Main Geophysical Observatory for 50 Years of Its Operation, part 1), St. Petersburg: Imper. Akad. Nauk, 1899.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber, H., On the Periodic Variations of Geomagnetic Activity Indices Ap and ap, Ann. Geophys., 1998, vol. 16, pp. 510–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svalgaard, L., Geomagnetic Activity: Dependence on Solar Wind Parameters, in Coronal Holes and High Speed Wind Streams, Zirker, J.B., Ed., Boulder: Colorado Ass. Univ. Press, 1977, vol. 371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svalgaard, L., Cliver, E.W., and Ling, A.G., The Semiannual Variation of Great Geomagnetic Storms, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2002, vol. 29, no. 16, p. 12; doi: 10.1029/2001GL014145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svod nablyudenii, proizvedenykh v Glavnoi Fizicheskoi i podchinennykh ei observatoriyakh, pod rukovodstvom akademika A. Kupfera za 1848 g (Code of Observations Performed at the Main Geophysical Observatory and Its Subordinate Observatories under the Guidance of Academician A. Kupffer for 1848), St. Petersburg: A. Jacobson Izd., 1851.

  • Tsurutani, B.T., Gonzales, W.D., Lakhina, G.S., and Alex, S., The Extreme Magnetic Storm of 1–2 September 1859, J. Geophys. Res., 2003, vol. 108; doi: 10.1029/2002JA009504.

  • Tsyganenko, N.A., Effects of the Solar Wind Conditions on Global Magnetospheric Configuration as Deduced from Data-Based Field Models, Eur. Space Agency Spec. Publ., ESA SP-389, 1996, pp. 181–198.

  • Tsyganenko, N.A., A Model of the Near Magnetosphere with a Dawn-Dusk Asymmetry. 1. Mathematical Structure, J. Geophys. Res., 2002a, vol. 107A, doi: 10.1029/2001JA000219.

  • Tsyganenko, N.A., A Model of the Near Magnetosphere with a Dawn-Dusk Asymmetry. 2. Parametrization and Fitting to Observations, J. Geophys. Res., 2002b, vol. 107A, SMP10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyasto, M.I., Ptitsyna, N.G., Veselovsky, I.S., and Yakovchouk, O.S., Extremely Strong Geomagnetic Storm of September 2–3, 1859, according to the Archived Data of Observations at the Russian Network of Stations, Geomagn. Aeron., 2009, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 163–168 [Geomagn. Aeron. (Engl. transl.), 2009, vol. 49, pp. 153–162].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verma, P.L., Gupta, R.S., and Chamadi, P.K., Large Geomagnetic Storms in Relation to CME Related Shocks and Magnetic Clouds, J. Plasma Fusion Res. Series, 2009, vol. 8, pp. 226–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veselovsky, I.S., Panasyuk, M.I., Avdyushin, S.I., et al., Solar and Heliospheric Phenomena in October–November 2003: Causes and Consequences, Kosm. Issled., 2004, vol. 42, pp. 453–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, D.M., Stevens, P.R., and Crothers, S.R., Statistics of the Largest Geomagnetic Storms per Solar Cycle (1844–1993), Ann. Geophys., 1997, vol. 15, pp. 719–728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, R.W., On the Behaviour of the Dst Geomagnetic Index in the Vicinity of the Magnetic Cloud Passage at Earth, J. Geophys. Res., 1990, vol. 95, pp. 215–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C.-C. and Lepping, R.P., Solar Cycle Effect on Geomagnetic Storms Caused by Interplanetary Magnetic Clouds, Ann. Geophys., 2006, vol. 24, pp. 3383–3389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanovskii, B.M., Zemnoi magnetizm (Terrestrial Magnetism), Leningrad: Leningr. Gos. Univ., 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yermolaev, Yu.I. and Yermolaev, M.Yu., On Some Statistical Interrelations between Solar, Interplanetary, and Geomagnetospheric Disturbances in 1976–2000. 2, Kosm. Issled., 2003, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 574–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yermolaev, Y.I. and Yermolaev, M.Y., Comment on “Interplanetary Origin of Intense Geomagnetic Storms (Dst < −100 nT) during Solar Cycle 23” by Gonzalez, W.D. et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 2008, vol. 35, p. L01101; doi:10.1029/2007GL030281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yermolaev, Yu.K., Nikolaeva, N.S., Lodkina, I.G., and Yermolaev, M.Yu., Relative Occurrence Frequency and Geoeffectiveness of Large-Scale Solar Wind Types, Kosm. Issled., 2010, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 3–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zosimovich, I.D., Geomagnitnaya aktivnost’ i ustoichivost’ korpuskulyarnogo polya Solntsa (Geomagnetic Activity and Stability of the Solar Corpuscular Field), Moscow: Nauka, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zosimovich, I.D. and Andrienko, D.A., Certain Statistical Characteristics of Geomagnetic Activity, Problemy Kosm. Fiz., 1972, no. 7, pp. 61–72.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radiowave Propagation, St. Petersburg Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Muchnoi per. 2, St. Petersburg, 191023, Russia

    N. G. Ptitsyna, M. I. Tyasto & B. A. Khrapov

Authors
  1. N. G. Ptitsyna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. I. Tyasto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. A. Khrapov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. G. Ptitsyna.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © N.G. Ptitsyna, M.I. Tyasto, B.A. Khrapov, 2012, published in Geomagnetizm i Aeronomiya, 2012, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 649–659.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ptitsyna, N.G., Tyasto, M.I. & Khrapov, B.A. Great geomagnetic storms in 1841–1870 according to the data from the network of Russian geomagnetic observatories. Geomagn. Aeron. 52, 613–623 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793212040123

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793212040123

Keywords

Search

Navigation