Magnetic storms constitute the most remarkable large-scale phenomena of nonlinear magnetospheric dynamics. Studying the dynamical organization of macroscopic variability in terms of geomagnetic activity index data by means of complexity measures provides a promising approach for identifying the underlying processes and associated time scales. Here, we apply a suite of characteristics from recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) and recurrence network analysis (RNA) in order to unveil some key nonlinear features of the hourly Disturbance storm-time (Dst) index during periods with magnetic storms and such of normal variability. Our results demonstrate that recurrence-based measures can serve as excellent tracers for changes in the dynamical complexity along non-stationary records of geomagnetic activity. In particular, trapping time (characterizing the typical length of “laminar phases” in the observed dynamics) and recurrence network transitivity (associated with the number of the system’s effective dynamical degrees of freedom) allow for a very good discrimination between magnetic storm and quiescence phases. In general, some RQA and RNA characteristics distinguish between storm and non-storm times equally well or even better than other previously considered nonlinear characteristics like Hurst exponent or symbolic dynamics based entropy concepts. Our results point to future potentials of recurrence characteristics for unveiling temporal changes in the dynamical complexity of the magnetosphere.
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August 2018
Research Article|
August 28 2018
Temporal organization of magnetospheric fluctuations unveiled by recurrence patterns in the Dst index
Special Collection:
Recurrence Quantification Analysis for Understanding Complex Systems
Reik V. Donner
;
Reik V. Donner
1
Research Domain IV—Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
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Veronika Stolbova;
Veronika Stolbova
1
Research Domain IV—Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
2
Department of Physics, Humboldt University
, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
3
Department of Banking and Finance, University of Zurich
, Plattenstraße 14, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
4
Department of Control Theory, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
, Prospekt Gagarina 23, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
5
Center of Economic Research
, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstraße 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Georgios Balasis
;
Georgios Balasis
6
Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens
, I. Metaxa & Vas. Pavlou Street, 15236 Penteli, Greece
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Jonathan F. Donges
;
Jonathan F. Donges
7
Research Domain I—Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
8
Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
, Kräftriket 2B, 11419 Stockholm, Sweden
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Marina Georgiou;
Marina Georgiou
6
Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens
, I. Metaxa & Vas. Pavlou Street, 15236 Penteli, Greece
9
Department of Physics, Section of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Mechanics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece
10
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space & Climate Physics, University College London
, Holmbury Hill Road, Dorking RH5 6NT, Surrey, United Kingdom
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Stelios M. Potirakis;
Stelios M. Potirakis
11
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of West Attica, Campus 2
, 250 Thivon and P. Ralli, Aigaleo, 12244 Athens, Greece
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Jürgen Kurths
Jürgen Kurths
1
Research Domain IV—Transdisciplinary Concepts and Methods, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
2
Department of Physics, Humboldt University
, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
4
Department of Control Theory, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
, Prospekt Gagarina 23, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
12
Institute for Complex Systems and Mathematical Biology, University of Aberdeen, King’s College
, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom
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Chaos 28, 085716 (2018)
Article history
Received:
February 04 2018
Accepted:
June 22 2018
Citation
Reik V. Donner, Veronika Stolbova, Georgios Balasis, Jonathan F. Donges, Marina Georgiou, Stelios M. Potirakis, Jürgen Kurths; Temporal organization of magnetospheric fluctuations unveiled by recurrence patterns in the Dst index. Chaos 1 August 2018; 28 (8): 085716. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5024792
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