Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net 1023-5809 1607-7946 9 5/6 2002 10.5194/npg-9-399-2002 http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/9/399/2002/ http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/9/399/2002/npg-9-399-2002.html http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/9/399/2002/npg-9-399-2002.pdf 399 407 0000-00-00 Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system A. T. Y. Lui The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA The dissipation power and size of auroral blobs are investigated in detail to examine the possible analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system. The distributions of these auroral parameters are sorted in terms of different levels of activity, namely substorms, pseudo-breakups, and quiet conditions. A power law (scale-free) component is seen in all these distributions. In addition, a peak distribution is found for substorm intervals and a hump for pseudo-breakup intervals. The peak distribution is present prominently during magnetic storms, i.e. when the magnetosphere is strongly driven by the solar wind. It is interpreted that the scale-free component is associated with the activity of the diffuse aurora, corresponding to disturbances at all permissible scales within the plasma sheet. Ionospheric feedback appears to be essential for the presence of two components in the distribution for auroral dissipation power. These results are consistent with the concept that the magnetosphere is in a forced and/or self-organized critical state, although they do not constitute conclusive evidence for the analogy.