Preliminary investigation of the multivariate relations between program-selected forbush decreases, worldwide lightning frequency, sunspot number and other solar-terrestrial drivers

• Published in: European physical journal plus Vol. 137; no. 3; p. 317
• Main Authors: Okike, O., Alhassan, J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-03-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Applied and Technical Physics; Atomic; Automation; Complex Systems; Complex variables; Computers; Condensed Matter Physics; Coronal mass ejection; Cosmic rays; Data smoothing; Forbush decreases; Fourier transforms; Interplanetary magnetic field; Investigations; Lightning; Magnetic fields; Magnetic storms; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Methods; Molecular; Multiple regression models; Optical and Plasma Physics; Parameters; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Principal components analysis; Regular Article; Software; Solar corona; Solar magnetic field; Solar wind; Sun; Terrestrial environments; Theoretical
• ISSN: 2190-5444; 2190-5444
• DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02514-z

Solar wind disturbances such as coronal mass ejections and their interplanetary counterparts and corotating interaction regions are interconnected with solar-terrestrial parameters such as cosmic rays, solar wind, geomagnetic storm, lightning, interplanetary magnetic field, among others. Data selection remains a challenging problem in solar-terrestrial studies. While manual selection of Forbush decreases (FDs) is subjective, automated methods are not widely used within the field. We demonstrate that Forbush events algorithm selection technique is an improvement over the common but inefficient manual method. Additionally, a simple coincident computer program was used to select other solar-terrestrial variables using the FD date as the input data. We used models/tools capable of handling simultaneous multidimensional variables to study the complex interrelationships within the Sun–Earth space. Forbush effects (FEs) selected by the IZMIRAN group was used to validate our results. Fourier transform technique and an R-based algorithm were used to identify FDs from Sanae neutron monitor data. In order to select other solar/geophysical variables, the program-selected FD dates were used as input data for the coincident algorithm. The large number of variables selected were analyzed using principal component analysis and multiple regression models. Several analyses showed that variability in solar-terrestrial parameters happens simultaneously with FDs. We conclude that data fluctuations within the Sun–Earth region might be induced simultaneously by common solar events and should be investigated using multidimensional models.