Statistical properties of geomagnetic measurements as a potential forecast tool for strong perturbations

We have localized the main magnetic disturbances for the period 1998–2002 in the Dst index from the World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Kyoto, Japan. Two kinds of time intervals previous to them were studied through a methodology recently introduced in the literature. Records used for this study are from the low-latitude Vassouras Magnetic Observatory, Brazil. A correlation between statistical properties of both types of periods and the corresponding storm intensities has been found. It is proposed as a potential tool for magnetic storm probabilistic forecasting.