STRONG SUN - EARTH ELECTRO & MAGNETIC LINK FOUND IN THE ANTARCTIC
The most recent reconstruction of TSI by Wang, Lean, and Sheeley (The Astrophysical Journal, 625:522-538, 2005 May 20) is based on a flux transport model to simulate the long-term evolution of the closed solar magnetic flux that generates bright faculae. Here I show that changes in the Antarctic's magnetic field (on bi-decadal scale) are closely synchronized and correlated with the TSI, i.e. the solar closed magnetic flux.
Strength of the sun-Earth link is demonstrated by the fact that changes in the Antarctic's MF intensity in the percentage terms are ~ 40 times greater than those in the corresponding TSI.
L. Svalgaard (Stanford) offers an alternative TSI reconstruction with a near zero up-trend since 1700. Comparing the Svalgaard's TSI data with the Antarctic's MF (after re-trending to match the trend of the Svalgaard's reconstruction of y = 0.0007x) for period 1900 to date, shows stronger correlation than the Wang et al (2005) method, while prior to 1900 the correlation is about equal.
Note: As the solar wind approaches the Earth, the wind will press up against the magnetic field of the Earth. Where the pressure of the solar wind balances the pressure of the magnetic field is the boundary between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere. Electric currents flow along the boundary. Because the density and velocity of the solar wind varies continuously, the currents are constantly changing. Furthermore, whatever configurations of magnetic fields, plasma regimes, and electric currents that were established to maintain the pressure balance are constantly 'buffeted' and changing, often explosively. All of these processes involve electric currents having magnetic effects felt on the ground as geomagnetic 'activity'. (L. Svalgaard, Stanford University).
Similar changes are found in the bi-decadal variability of the Arctic's magnetic field intensity, but with somewhat lower correlation, possibly due to the bifurcation of the Earth's magnetic field in the Northern hemisphere (Arctic graphs to follow).
More charts can be found here: Graphs and Formulae