CAWSES November 7–8, 2004, superstorm: Complex solar and interplanetary features in the post-solar maximum phase

[1] The complex interplanetary structures during 7 to 8 Nov 2004 are analyzed to identify their properties as well as resultant geomagnetic effects and the solar origins. Three fast forward shocks, three directional discontinuities and two reverse waves were detected and analyzed in detail. The three fast forward shocks ‘‘pump’’ up the interplanetary magnetic field from a value of 4 nT to 44 nT. However, the fields after the shocks were northward, and magnetic storms did not result. The three ram pressure increases were associated with major sudden impulses (SI + s) at Earth. A magnetic cloud followed the third forward shock and the southward Bz associated with the latter was responsible for the superstorm. Two reverse waves were detected, one at the edge and one near the center of the magnetic cloud (MC). It is suspected that these ‘‘waves’’ were once reverse shocks which were becoming evanescent when they propagated into the low plasma beta MC. The second reverse wave caused a decrease in the southward component of the IMF and initiated the storm recovery phase. It is determined that flares located at large longitudinal distances from the subsolar point were the most likely causes of the first two shocks without associated magnetic clouds. It is thus unlikely that the shocks were ‘‘blast waves’’ or that magnetic reconnection eroded away the two associated MCs. This interplanetary/solar event is an example of the extremely complex magnetic storms which can occur in the post-solar maximum phase. Citation: Tsurutani, B. T., E. Echer, F. L. Guarnieri, and J. U. Kozyra (2008), CAWSES November 7 – 8, 2004, superstorm: Complex solar and interplanetary features in the post-solar maximum phase, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L06S05, doi:10.1029/2007GL031473.