On the effects of solar flare on geomagnetic components across all latitudes during solar minimum and maximum

Abstract

The mutual dependence of solar flare and geomagnetic H and Z components during the period of least (2009) and maximum (2002) solar activity using archived and observed data were examined. Solar flares were identified by sudden ionosphric monitor (SIDMON) constructed by staff of Centre for Basic Space Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. However, SIDMON results were still confirmed by satellite data since it was still at the rudimentary stage. Results show that during solar minimum and solar maximum solar flare affects the geomagnetic H component but appears to have little or no effect on the Z component across all the latitudes. The effect is pronounced at the equatorial latitude more than at the high latitudes. Results from SIDMON is though not very reliable but encouraging, thus the instrument needs a lot of improvement.