Frequency distributions of magnetic storms and SI+SSC-derived records at Kakioka, Memambetsu, and Kanoya

Abstract

The Japan Meteorological Agency keeps records of geomagnetic phenomena observed at Kakioka (magnetic latitude, 27.47°), Memambetsu (magnetic latitude, 35.44°), and Kanoya (magnetic latitude, 22.00°). We used these records to examine the cumulative frequency distribution of magnetic storms, sudden impulses, and storm sudden commencements. The distributions of magnetic storms resemble the Gutenberg-Richter relation between earthquake frequency and magnitude used in seismology. The coefficients determined with the maximum likelihood method show that when the H-range of a magnetic storm at Kakioka is doubled, the frequency of the magnetic storm is about one seventh, for example. Intense magnetic storms occur less frequently than calculated by the functions. This statistical analysis proves that there are no significant differences between slopes of the frequency distribution functions of the magnetic phenomena at Kakioka, Memambetsu, and Kanoya.