Variability of the interplanetary medium at 1 a.u. over 24 years: 1963–1986

Abstract

Abstract A survey is presented of hourly averages of observations of the interplanetary medium, made by satellites close to the Earth (i.e. at 1 a.u.) in the years 1963–1986. This survey therefore covers two complete solar cycles (numbers 20 and 21). The distributions and solar-cycle variations of IMF field strength, B , and its northward component (in GSM coordinates), B z , and of the solar-wind density, n , speed, υ, and dynamic pressure, P , are discussed. Because of their importance to the terrestrial magnetosphere/ionosphere, particular attention is given to B z and P . The solar-cycle variation in the magnitude and variability of B z , previously reported for cycle 20, is also found for cycle 21. However, the solar-wind data show a number of differences between cycles 20 and 21. The average dynamic pressure is found to show a solar-cycle variation and a systematic increase over the period of the survey. The minimum of dynamic pressure at sunspot maximum is mainly due to reduced solar-wind densities in cycle 20, but lower solar-wind speed in cycle 21 is a more significant factor. The distribution of the duration of periods of stable polarity of the IMF B z component shows that the magnetosphere could achieve steady state for only a small fraction of the time and there is some evidence for a solar-cycle variation in this fraction. It is also found that the polarity changes in the IMF B z fall into two classes: one with an associated change in solar-wind dynamic pressure, the other without such a change. However, in only 20% of cases does the dynamic pressure change exceed 50%.