Substorm energy

It is shown that the area A_k(× 10⁶km²) covered by brightest auroras and the area A_q bounded by the auroral oval have a simple relation given by

$\text{A}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{= 0.05(A}{}_{\mathrm{q}}\text{? A}{}_0\text{)}{}^2$

, where A₀ denotes the area of the minimum size oval and the quantity (A_q ? A₀)² is proportional to the energy ε_q which is stored in the magnetotail and is available for substorms. Following the definition of the intensity of solar flares, A_k may be chosen as a measure of the intensity of substorms. It is also found that the joule heat energy produced by the auroral electrojet is also proportional to (A_q ? A₀)². Thus, it may be concluded that the intensity of substorms is proportional to the energy ε_q stored in the magnetotail.