Avalanching and self organised criticality, a paradigm for geomagnetic activity?

Chapman, Sandra; Watkins, Nicholas. 2001 Avalanching and self organised criticality, a paradigm for geomagnetic activity? Space Science Reviews, 95 (1-2). 293-307. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005236717469

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Abstract/Summary

The characterization of global energy storage and release in the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere system remains one of the fundamental problems of space physics. Recently, it has been realised that a new paradigm in physics, that of Self Organised Criticality (SOC) may encapsulate the mixing and merging of flux on many scales in the magnetotail prompting bursty energy release and reconfiguration. SOC is consistent with qualitative measures such as power-law power spectra and bursty bulk flows and with more quantitative tests such as power law burst distributions in auroral indices and auroral optical activity. Here, we present a careful classification of the broad range of systems that fall under the general description of `SOC'. We argue that some, but not all, of these are consistent with our current understanding of the magnetosphere. We discuss the observed low dimensionality of the dynamic magnetosphere in terms of both SOC model properties, and observables. Observations of burst statistics are highlighted; we show that these are currently suggestive but not sufficient to confirm SOC and in particular we find that auroral indices are not effective at distinguishing the internal dynamics of the magnetosphere from that of the intermittent solar wind driver. This may also elucidate the paradox of predictability and complexity of the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere system.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005236717469
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Magnetic Reconnection, Substorms and their Consequences
ISSN:	0038-6308
Date made live:	28 Jun 2012 07:54 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18508

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005236717469

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Magnetic Reconnection, Substorms and their Consequences

ISSN:

0038-6308

Date made live:

28 Jun 2012 07:54 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18508