Morphology of slowly-varying geomagnetic external fields — a review

The morphology of slowly-varying geomagnetic external fields (such as Sq, L, and Dst) and the production mechanisms of electric current systems for those fields are briefly reviewed to provide background knowledge of the present state of research regarding the source fields for scientists concerned with the electromagnetic induction within the earth. It is concluded that both the Sq and Dst fields seem to have sources both in the magnetosphere and the ionosphere, while the classic idea of L-field production solely in the ionosphere by the wind dynamo is still acceptable.