Rapid solar wind and geomagnetic variability during the ascendant phases of the 11-yr solar cycles

Solar activity and its consequences for the interplanetary space are governing and perturbing the Earth's magnetosphere. The response of the terrestrial magnetosphere displayed as geomagnetic disturbances is measured by several geomagnetic indices. This paper analyses the geomagnetic variability during the ascendant phases of the last four solar cycles (nos. 20-23) under the influence of the high speed solar wind. The ascendant phase of a solar cycle is a proper interval of the irrespective cycle during which the influences of the solar cycles adjacent to it (the precedent and the following ones) are not present. The correlation between the geomagnetic indices and the high speed stream intensity during the analysed intervals was examined. Lomb-Scargle method of spectral analysis was applied on the solar wind velocity series during the ascendant phases.