Features and energetics of the multi-step geomagnetic storm of March 21–26, 2024: A comparative analysis of global variations.
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| Title: | Features and energetics of the multi-step geomagnetic storm of March 21–26, 2024: A comparative analysis of global variations. |
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| Authors: | Chernogor, L.F.1 (AUTHOR) Leonid.F.Chernogor@gmail.com |
| Source: | Advances in Space Research. Oct2026, Vol. 78 Issue 8, p8257-8293. 37p. |
| Subjects: | Magnetic storms, Solar wind, Solar cycle |
| Abstract: | Using data from the Intermagnet network, for the first time, the features of the unique multi-step magnetic storm of March 21–26, 2024, were analyzed. The energetic characteristics of its components were assessed, and a comparative analysis with other unique storms was performed. The geomagnetic storm of March 21–26, 2024, had a rare five-step configuration, i.e., it was a multi-step storm, with the main storm occurring during March 24–25, 2024. A multi-step nature of this storm is unique to this event, and this storm is due to shock, dense ICME region, magnetic clouds and isolated sheaths that appeared in the solar wind. The power of the geospace storms caused by increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure was close to 29 TW, 33 TW, 50 TW, 174 TW, and 192 TW, and their energy did not exceed 0.73 EJ, 0.59 EJ, 0.36 EJ, 2.5 EJ, and 2.8 EJ. The power of the magnetospheric storms being due to increases in the interplanetary magnetic pressure were 13 GJ/s, 13 GJ/s, 130 GJ/s, 1000 GJ/s, and 190 GJ/s, and their energy attained 90 TJ, 90 TJ, 1360 TJ, 22,000 TJ, and 2000 TJ. The energetics of the magnetic and thermal pressures has been shown to be close to each other. The maximum power of the geomagnetic storms was close to 93 GW, 97 GW, 208 GW, 283 GW, and 89 GW, and their energy were smaller than 3 PJ, 1.4 PJ, 3 PJ, 5.1 PJ, and 4.5 PJ. The storms of March 21–22, 2024; March 23, 2024; March 23–24, 2024; March 24–25, 2024; and March 25–26, 2024, pertain to the storm classes G1 (minor), G1 (minor), G2 (moderate), G4 (severe), and G0 (very minor). In both the eastern and western hemispheres, the peak-to-peak amplitude of variations in a geomagnetic field strength exhibited a tendency to increase with increasing magnetic latitude. At high latitude stations, the peak-to-peak amplitude attained a maximum value of ∼1000–2000 nT, whereas at mid- and low latitude stations they were observed to be within ∼100–300 nT. The observed deviations from the tendency indicated above may be due to the different physical processes acting to cause variations in the geomagnetic field at high, middle, and low latitudes. The peak-to-peak amplitude of variations in a geomagnetic field strength was observed to be the greatest during sunlit hours. The peak-to-peak amplitude of variations in a geomagnetic field strength during the storms was a factor of up to 23–28, 19–23, and 15–19 greater than that during quiet time reference period, in the northward X -, eastward Y -, and vertical Z -component of the geomagnetic field, respectively. The storm of March 24–25, 2024, termed the main storm, was the most intense of all five storms of March 21–26, 2024. The main storm of March 24–25, 2024, is comparable to the storm of April of 23–24, 2023, with respect to all its parameters. At the same time, it is less intense than the storm of May 10–11, 2024, the strongest storm of solar cycle 25, and even less intense than the Carrington event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
| Abstract: | Using data from the Intermagnet network, for the first time, the features of the unique multi-step magnetic storm of March 21–26, 2024, were analyzed. The energetic characteristics of its components were assessed, and a comparative analysis with other unique storms was performed. The geomagnetic storm of March 21–26, 2024, had a rare five-step configuration, i.e., it was a multi-step storm, with the main storm occurring during March 24–25, 2024. A multi-step nature of this storm is unique to this event, and this storm is due to shock, dense ICME region, magnetic clouds and isolated sheaths that appeared in the solar wind. The power of the geospace storms caused by increases in the solar wind dynamic pressure was close to 29 TW, 33 TW, 50 TW, 174 TW, and 192 TW, and their energy did not exceed 0.73 EJ, 0.59 EJ, 0.36 EJ, 2.5 EJ, and 2.8 EJ. The power of the magnetospheric storms being due to increases in the interplanetary magnetic pressure were 13 GJ/s, 13 GJ/s, 130 GJ/s, 1000 GJ/s, and 190 GJ/s, and their energy attained 90 TJ, 90 TJ, 1360 TJ, 22,000 TJ, and 2000 TJ. The energetics of the magnetic and thermal pressures has been shown to be close to each other. The maximum power of the geomagnetic storms was close to 93 GW, 97 GW, 208 GW, 283 GW, and 89 GW, and their energy were smaller than 3 PJ, 1.4 PJ, 3 PJ, 5.1 PJ, and 4.5 PJ. The storms of March 21–22, 2024; March 23, 2024; March 23–24, 2024; March 24–25, 2024; and March 25–26, 2024, pertain to the storm classes G1 (minor), G1 (minor), G2 (moderate), G4 (severe), and G0 (very minor). In both the eastern and western hemispheres, the peak-to-peak amplitude of variations in a geomagnetic field strength exhibited a tendency to increase with increasing magnetic latitude. At high latitude stations, the peak-to-peak amplitude attained a maximum value of ∼1000–2000 nT, whereas at mid- and low latitude stations they were observed to be within ∼100–300 nT. The observed deviations from the tendency indicated above may be due to the different physical processes acting to cause variations in the geomagnetic field at high, middle, and low latitudes. The peak-to-peak amplitude of variations in a geomagnetic field strength was observed to be the greatest during sunlit hours. The peak-to-peak amplitude of variations in a geomagnetic field strength during the storms was a factor of up to 23–28, 19–23, and 15–19 greater than that during quiet time reference period, in the northward X -, eastward Y -, and vertical Z -component of the geomagnetic field, respectively. The storm of March 24–25, 2024, termed the main storm, was the most intense of all five storms of March 21–26, 2024. The main storm of March 24–25, 2024, is comparable to the storm of April of 23–24, 2023, with respect to all its parameters. At the same time, it is less intense than the storm of May 10–11, 2024, the strongest storm of solar cycle 25, and even less intense than the Carrington event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 02731177 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.asr.2026.08.022 |
