Complexity signatures in the geomagnetic H component recorded by the Tromsø magnetometer (70° N, 19° E) over the last ¼ century

Abstract

Abstract. Solar disturbances, depending on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field, typically result in perturbations of the geomagnetic field as observed by magnetometers on the ground. Here, the geomagnetic field's horizontal component, as measured by the ground-based observatory-standard magnetometer at Tromsø (70° N, 19° E) is examined for signatures of complexity. 25 year-long 10 s resolution datasets are analysed, but for fluctuations with timescales less than 1 day. Quantile-quantile (Q-Q) plots are employed first, revealing the fluctuations are better represented by Cauchy rather than Gaussian distributions. Thereafter, both spectral density and detrended fluctuation analysis methods are used to estimate values of the generalized Hurst exponent, α. The results are then compared with independent findings. Inspection and comparison of the spectral and detrended fluctuation analyses reveals that timescales between 1 h and 1 d are characterized by fractional Brownian motion with a generalized Hurst exponent of ~1.4 whereas including timescales as short as 1 min suggests fractional Brownian motion with a generalized Hurst exponent of ~1.6. This is consistent with changes in the position of the auroral electrojet that can be considered rapid during the course of an evening, whereas from minute-to-minute the electrojet moves more persistently in geomagnetic latitude.