Does generation of magnetic storm depend on type of solar wind?

TL;DR

This study investigates how different large-scale solar wind streams, such as CIR, Sheath, and ICME, influence the generation of magnetic storms, revealing that Sheaths often have the highest efficiency in storm induction.

Contribution

It compares the efficiency of magnetic storm generation by various solar wind streams using multiple coupling functions, expanding previous findings with broader interplanetary parameter analysis.

Findings

Sheaths generally show the highest storm generation efficiency.

MCs tend to have the lowest efficiency.

Efficiency varies depending on the coupling function used.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to draw attention of readers to a problem of possible differences in generation of magnetic storms induced by various large scale solar wind (SW) streams: CIR, Sheath and ICME (including MC and Ejecta). Recently we showed that when using a modification of formula by Burton et al. [1975] for connection of interplanetary conditions with Dst and Dst* indices the efficiency of storm generation by Sheath and CIR is about 50 percent higher than generation by ICME [Nikolaeva et al., 2013, 2015]. In the literature there are many various functions coupling (FC) various interplanetary parameters with magnetospheric state. In this work we study the efficiency of main phase storm generation by different SW streams when using 12 another FCs on the basis of OMNI data during 1976 ... 2000. Obtained results show that for most part of FCs Sheaths have the highest efficiency and MCs have the lowest efficiency in accordance with our previous results. The reliability of the obtained data and possible reasons of divergences for various FCs and various SW types require further researches.