The disturbance storm time (Dst, Kyoto Dst) index is a measure in the context of
space weather
Space weather is a branch of space physics and aeronomy, or heliophysics, concerned with the time varying conditions within the Solar System, including the solar wind, emphasizing the space surrounding the Earth, including conditions in the ...
. It gives information about the strength of the
ring current
A ring current is an electric current carried by charged particles trapped in a planet's magnetosphere. It is caused by the longitudinal drift of energetic (10–200 k eV) particles.
Earth's ring current
Earth's ring current is responsible f ...
around Earth caused by solar protons and electrons.
The ring current around Earth produces a magnetic field that is directly opposite Earth's magnetic field, i.e. if the difference between solar electrons and protons gets higher, then Earth's magnetic field becomes weaker.
A negative Dst value means that Earth's magnetic field is weakened. This is particularly the case during solar storms.
See also
*
K-index
The ''K''-index quantifies disturbances in the horizontal component of earth's magnetic field with an integer in the range 0–9 with 1 being calm and 5 or more indicating a geomagnetic storm. It is derived from the maximum fluctuations ...
References
External links
* Th
Dst index homepageprovided by Kyoto University
* Dst a
* Dst as part of SWENE
Latest Alerts(on
ESA
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, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
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, image = Views in the Main Control Room (120 ...
's Space Weather Portal)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Disturbance Storm Time Index
Planetary science
Radio frequency propagation
Electric and magnetic fields in matter
Solar System
Space weather
Electromagnetism