Polar Cap (PC) Magnetic Activity indices

Indices

PCN, PCS

time resolution: 1 minute (UT) interval
unit: mV/m

Available

PCN: from 1975 onwards
PCS: from 1995 onwards

Type of index

Polar Cap index horizontal component disturbances

Purpose

To monitor the geomagnetic activity over the polar caps caused by changes in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind, driven by the geoeffective interplanetary electric field irrespective of time, season and solar cycle.

Network

Made of 2 polar cap stations.
(see list of actual and previous PC magnetic observatories)

Derivation

The PC index is deduced from the deviations in the horizontal H and D magnetic field components from the quiet level at two polar cap stations (Thule and Vostok for respectively the PCN and PCS).

ISGI Collaborating Institutes

PCN index from the National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU, Denmark) and
PCS index from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI, Russian Federation)

IAGA endorsed

IAGA 12th Scientific Assembly (Mérida, Yucatán, México) Resolution No. 3 (2013)

Citation

PCN: World Data Center For Geomagnetism, Copenhagen. (2019). The Polar Cap North (PCN) index (definitive) [Data set]. DTU Space, Geomagnetism doi:10.11581/DTU:00000057

Historical references

• Description of IAGA endorsed PC index. Get PDF (98.8KB)
• Janzhura, A., and O. Troshichev (2008) - Determination of the running quiet daily geomagnetic variation, J. Atmos. Solar-Terr. Phys., 70, 962-972, doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2007.11.004.
• Janzhura, A., and O. Troshichev (2011) - Identification of the IMF sector structure in near-real time by ground magnetic data, Ann. Geophys., 29, 1491-1500, doi:10.5194/angeo-29-1491-2011.
• Stauning, P., O.A. Troshichev, and A. Janzhura (2006) - Polar Cap (PC) index. Unified PC-N (North) index procedures and quality, Scientific Report 06-04, Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Troshichev, O.A., N.P. Dmitrieva, and B.M. Kuznetsov (1979) - Polar cap magnetic activity as a signature of substorm development, Planet. Space Sci., 27, 217-221, doi:10.1016/0032-0633(79)90063-1.
• Troshichev, O., A. Janzhura, and P. Stauning (2006) - Unified PCN and PCS indices: Method of calculation, physical sense, and dependence on the IMF azimuthal and northward components, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A05208, doi:10.1029/2005JA011402.
• Troshichev, O., and A. Janzhura (2012) - Space Weather Monitoring by ground-Based Means: PC index, Springer Praxis Books, Berlin, 287 p, doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16803-1.
• Vennerstrøm, S., E. Friis-Christensen, O.A. Troshichev, and V.G. Andrezen (1991) - Comparison between the polar cap index, PC, and the auroral electrojet indices AE, AL, and AU, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 101, doi:10.1029/90JA01975.

License

PCN index: