The solar output and its variations have been quantified by several interplanetary parameters generated for near earth space at 1 AU. Earlier studies had established the relative role of the solar wind speed, as well as the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field in generating magnetic field disturbances.

The high speed solar wind streams were studied and sorted for solar cycle 22 &23 on the basis of strict selection criteria. In the study period of solar cycles 22 and 23, a total number of 294 high-speed solar wind stream (HSWS) events have been sorted out in which 116 HSWS events were observed in solar cycle 22, whereas 178 HSWS events have been observed in solar cycle 23. 93 HSWS events were registered to be flare-generated stream events where as 201 HSWS events are registered to be coronal hole associated stream events during the whole period of solar cycles 22 and 23. It is observed that larger numbers of the HSWS events occur during the descending phases, whereas minimum number of HSWS events is observed in the ascending phases of solar activity cycle.

High-speed solar wind streams are found to be significantly effective in producing geomagnetic field disturbances. Flare-generated HSWS events are found to be more effective in producing large geomagnetic disturbances in both solar cycles (22 & 23).

Frequency of occurrence of HSWS events and sunspot number in the ascending phase of the solar cycles 22 and 23 are positively correlated, while in the maximum, descending and minimum phases of solar cycles (22 and 23) anti-correlation is observed. We find that the plasma electric field (VB) is the most effective parameter for producing larger geomagnetic disturbances.