Peculiarities of the Solar-Wind/Magnetosphere Coupling in the Era of Solar Grand Minimum

TL;DR

This study analyzes solar wind and magnetosphere interactions during the Solar Grand Minimum era, revealing increased magnetic storms from CIR and changes in solar wind properties affecting magnetospheric coupling.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how solar wind-magnetosphere coupling behaviors change during the Solar Grand Minimum period based on 1976-2019 data.

Findings

Increase in CIR-initiated magnetic storms during Solar Grand Minimum.

Decrease in solar wind density, temperature, and IMF during the era.

Altered nature of solar wind interaction with the magnetosphere.

Abstract

Based on the data of the solar wind (SW) measurements of the OMNI base for the period 1976-2019, the behavior of SW types as well as plasma and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) parameters for 21-24 solar cycles (SCs) is studied. It is shown that with the beginning of the Era of Solar Grand Minimum (SC 23), the proportion of magnetic storms initiated by CIR increased. In addition, a change in the nature of SW interaction with the magnetosphere could occur due to a decrease in the density, temperature, and IMF of the solar wind.