Abstract:
This paper provides a set of curves for the variation of various geomagnetic indices,
Ap,
AE,
Dst and
Kp initiated by solar flares grouped by their optical importance,duration,and the distance from the central meridian.Fig.1 and 2 show that both the duration and optical importance are good criteria for the geomagnetically-effective flares.Statistically,only the major flares of importance 3 or that of importance 2 but with duration ≥1.5 hours can significantly disturb the geomagnetic field onto the levels of
Kp≥4.For these major flares,brightness plays an important role in determing both the intensity and the character of the resulted disturbance.In general,the bright major flares affect the
Ap,
AE,and
Dst indices,onto
Kp≥4,while the normal or faint ones result in significant disturbance of the
AEindex limited to
Kp-4 or 5 only.It can be shown from Fig.3 that there are two kinds of the east-west asymmetry in the distribution of flare's position in response to the geomagnetic disturbance.Statistically,the disturbance in
Ap and
Dst indices intensified onto
Kp≥6 are related mainly to the flares situated between
30°Eand 60°W,whereas the occurrence frequency of the disturbance with intermediate intensity of
Kp=4 or 5 increases when the flare goes from the east to the west of the central meridian,peaking at 60°-90°W.The disturbance of
AE index has bath the above asymmetries.Also,there are some indications of the dependence of the intensity of geomagnetic disturbance upon the sun-earth propagation velocity of the flare ejecta,which may be sped up when the flare goes from the east to the west of the central meridian.These results reflect the complex nature of the interplanetary disturbance produced by solar flares,which are under study and will be published elsewhere.