The geomagnetic response to changes in the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been investigated for 18 IMF events. These events consisted of clear southward shifts of the IMF when the IMF Bz(GSM) component had been northward for more than 2 hours. It was found that when the IMF thus shifted southward and remained southward for at least 2 hours, a magnetospheric substorm always ensued. Several properties of this subsequent geomagnetic activity were determined to be associated with IMF parameters. The amplitude of auroral negative bays was confirmed to be a function of the southward IMF flux preceding the onsets. Auroral bay activity was also observed to cease abruptly coincident with permanent northward recoveries in the IMF. Finally, it was observed that many of the ground expansion onsets were associated with either IMF northward fluctuations or partial northward recoveries, which we interpret as indicative of the existence of a class of IMF-triggered substorms.