Development of a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F-15 Disturbance Storm-Time Index

As the Department of Defense's use of space and space assets increases, so does its need for timely and accurate predictions of space weather conditions. A good understanding of the data from satellites together with data from ground stations can help model and determine cariations in the sapce environment. An accurate, real-time Disturbance storm-time (Dst) index would be a primary input into current and future space weather models. The Dst index is a measure of geomagnetic activity used to assess the severity of magnetic storms. The index is based on the average value of the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field measured at four ground-based observatories. Use of the Dst as an index of storm strength is possible since the strength of the surface magnetic field at low latitudes is proportional to the energy content of the ring current, which increases during magnetic storms.