Expected hysteresis of the 23-rd solar cycle in the heliosphere Original Research Article

Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field parameters are investigated using the data obtained at the Earthʹs orbit for the 20–23 solar cycles. The time-epoch analysis and hysteresis curves of the heliospheric parameters show some general and specific properties of the cycles. We have found specific hysteresis behaviour when the solar wind energy flow and the induced electric field are plotted against the sunspot number during 20–22 solar cycles. Based on these finding and using measured heliospheric parameters during the rising phase of the current 23-rd solar cycle we are able to present some semi-quantitative estimations of the expected solar wind energy flux and the induced electric field for the time period after the solar maximum. The similarity between the rising phases of the 23-rd and 20-th solar cycles presents additional grounds for expectations of the lower maximum of the current solar cycle and the geomagnetic activity in the present solar cycle as compared with the 21-st and 22-nd solar cycles.