scholarly journals Investigation of two coronal mass ejections from circular ribbon source region:Origin, Sun-Earth propagation and Geoeffectiveness

2022 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Syed Ibrahim ◽  
Wahab Uddin ◽  
Bhuwan Joshi ◽  
Ramesh Chandra ◽  
Arun Kumar Awasthi

Abstract In this article, we compare the properties of two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that show similar source region characteristics but different evolutionary behaviors in the later phases. We discuss the two events in terms of their near-Sun characteristics, interplanetary evolution and geoeffectiveness. We carefully analyzed the initiation and propagation parameters of these events to establish the precise CME-interplanetary CME (ICME) connection and their near-Earth consequences. The first event is associated with poor geomagnetic storm disturbance index (Dst ≈-20 nT) while the second event is associated with an intense geomagnetic storm of DST ≈-119 nT. The configuration of the sunspots in the active regions and their evolution are observed by Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). For source region imaging, we rely on data obtained from Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Hα filtergrams from the Solar Tower Telescope at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES). For both the CMEs, flux rope eruptions from the source region triggered flares of similar intensities (≈M1). At the solar source region of the eruptions,we observed a circular ribbon flare (CRF) for both cases, suggesting fan-spine magnetic configuration in the active region corona. The multi-channel SDO observations confirm that the eruptive flares and subsequent CMEs were intimately related to the filament eruption. Within the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronograph (LASCO) field of view (FOV) thetwo CMEs propagated with linear speeds of 671 and 631 km s−1, respectively. These CMEs were tracked up to the Earth by Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) instruments. We find that the source region evolution of CMEs, guided by the large-scale coronal magnetic field configuration, along with near-Sun propagation characteristics, such as CME-CME interactions, played important roles in deciding the evolution of CMEs in the interplanetary medium and subsequently their geoeffectiveness.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Bothmer

<div> <p><span>Magnetic clouds are transient solar wind flows in the interplanetary medium with smooth rotations of the magnetic field vector and low plasma beta values. The analysis of magnetic clouds identified in the data of the two Helios spacecraft between 0.3 and 1 AU showed that they can be interpreted to first order by force-free, large-scale, cylindrical magnetic flux tubes. A close correlation of their occurrences was found with disappearing filaments at the Sun. The magnetic clouds that originated from the northern solar hemisphere showed predominantly left-handed magnetic helicities and the ones from the southern hemisphere predominantly right-handed ones. They were often preceded by an interplanetary shock wave and some were found to be directly following a coronal mass ejection towards the Helios spacecraft as detected by the Solwind coronagraph on board the P78-1 satellite. With the SOHO mission unprecedented long-term observations of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were taken with the LASCO coronagraphs, with a spatial and time resolution that allowed to investigate their internal white-light fine structure. With complementary photospheric and EUV observations from SOHO, CMEs were found to arise from pre-existing small scale loop systems, overlying regions of opposite magnetic polarities. From the characteristic pattern of their source regions in both solar hemispheres, a generic scheme was presented in which their projected white-light topology depends primarily on the orientation and position of the source region’s neutral line on the solar disk. Based on this interpretation the graduated cylindrical shell method was developed, which allowed to model the electron density distribution of CMEs as 3D flux ropes. This concept was validated through stereoscopic observations of CMEs taken by the coronagraphs of the SECCHI remote sensing suite on board the twin STEREO spacecraft. The observations further revealed that the dynamic near-Sun evolution of CMEs often leads to distortions of their flux rope structure. However, the magnetic flux rope concept of CMEs is today one of the fundamental methods in space weather forecasts. With the Parker Solar Probe we currently observe for the first time CMEs in-situ and remotely at their birthplaces in the solar corona and can further unravel their origin and evolution from the corona into the heliosphere. This lecture provides a state-of-the-art overview on the magnetic structure of CMEs and includes latest observations from the Parker Solar Probe mission.</span></p> </div>


Solar Physics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 296 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Yardley ◽  
D. H. Mackay ◽  
L. M. Green

AbstractThe coronal magnetic field evolution of 20 bipolar active regions (ARs) is simulated from their emergence to decay using the time-dependent nonlinear force-free field method of Mackay, Green, and van Ballegooijen (Astrophys. J. 729, 97, 2011). A time sequence of cleaned photospheric line-of-sight magnetograms, which covers the entire evolution of each AR, is used to drive the simulation. A comparison of the simulated coronal magnetic field with the 171 and 193 Å observations obtained by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), is made for each AR by manual inspection. The results show that it is possible to reproduce the evolution of the main coronal features such as small- and large-scale coronal loops, filaments and sheared structures for 80% of the ARs. Varying the boundary and initial conditions, along with the addition of physical effects such as Ohmic diffusion, hyperdiffusion and a horizontal magnetic field injection at the photosphere, improves the match between the observations and simulated coronal evolution by 20%. The simulations were able to reproduce the build-up to eruption for 50% of the observed eruptions associated with the ARs. The mean unsigned time difference between the eruptions occurring in the observations compared to the time of eruption onset in the simulations was found to be ≈5 hrs. The simulations were particularly successful in capturing the build-up to eruption for all four eruptions that originated from the internal polarity inversion line of the ARs. The technique was less successful in reproducing the onset of eruptions that originated from the periphery of ARs and large-scale coronal structures. For these cases global, rather than local, nonlinear force-free field models must be used. While the technique has shown some success, eruptions that occur in quick succession are difficult to reproduce by this method and future iterations of the model need to address this.


2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A100 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Cremades ◽  
F. A. Iglesias ◽  
L. A. Merenda

Aims. Understanding how magnetic fields are structured within coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and how they evolve from the low corona into the heliosphere, is a major challenge for space weather forecasting and for solar physics. The study of CME morphology is a particularly auspicious approach to this problem, given that it holds a close relationship with the CME magnetic field configuration. Although earlier studies have suggested an asymmetry in the width of CMEs in orthogonal directions, this has not been inspected using multi-viewpoint observations. Methods. The improved spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution, added to the multiple vantage points offered by missions of the Heliophysics System Observatory, constitute a unique opportunity to gain insight into this regard. We inspect the early evolution (below ten solar radii) of the morphology of a dozen CMEs occurring under specific conditions of observing spacecraft location and CME trajectory, favorable to reduce uncertainties typically involved in the 3D reconstruction used here. These events are carefully reconstructed by means of a forward modeling tool using simultaneous observations of the Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Extreme Ultraviolet Imager and the Solar Dynamics Observatory Atmospheric Imaging Assembly as input when originating low in the corona, and followed up in the outer fields of view of the STEREO and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory coronagraphs. We then examine the height evolution of the morphological parameters arising from the reconstructions. Results. The multi-viewpoint analysis of this set of CMEs revealed that their initial expansion – below three solar radii – is considerably asymmetric and non-self-similar. Both angular widths, namely along the main axes of CMEs (AWL) and in the orthogonal direction (AWD, representative of the flux rope diameter), exhibit much steeper change rates below this height, with the growth rate of AWL found to be larger than that of AWD, also below that height. Angular widths along the main axes of CMEs are on average ≈1.8 times larger than widths in the orthogonal direction AWD. The ratios of the two expansion speeds, namely in the directions of CMEs main axes and in their orthogonal, are nearly constant in time after ∼4 solar radii, with an average ratio ≈1.6. Heights at which the width change rate is defined to stabilize are greater for AWL than for AWD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (S300) ◽  
pp. 209-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie M. Green ◽  
Bernhard Kliem

AbstractUnderstanding the magnetic configuration of the source regions of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is vital in order to determine the trigger and driver of these events. Observations of four CME productive active regions are presented here, which indicate that the pre-eruption magnetic configuration is that of a magnetic flux rope. The flux ropes are formed in the solar atmosphere by the process known as flux cancellation and are stable for several hours before the eruption. The observations also indicate that the magnetic structure that erupts is not the entire flux rope as initially formed, raising the question of whether the flux rope is able to undergo a partial eruption or whether it undergoes a transition in specific flux rope configuration shortly before the CME.


1994 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 159-171
Author(s):  
Ester Antonucci

The coronal features observed in X-ray emission, varying from the small-scale, short-lived bright points to the large-scale, long-lived coronal holes, are closely associated with the coronal magnetic field and its topology, and their variability depends strongly on the solar cycle. Here we discuss the spatial distribution of the coronal structures, the frequency distribution of the brightness variations in active regions, and the role of magnetic reconnection in determining the variability of the coronal features, on the basis of the new observations of the soft X-ray emission recently obtained with the Yohkoh satellite and the NIXT experiment.


1979 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 671 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Piddington

Solar ephemeral active regions may provide a larger amount of emerging magnetic flux than the active regions themselves, and the origin and disposal of this flux pose problems. The related X-ray bright points are a major feature of coronal dynamics, and the two phenomena may entail a revision of our ideas of the activity cycle. A new large-scale subsurface magnetic field system has been suggested, but it is shown that such a system is neither plausible nor necessary. The emerging magnetic bipoles merely represent loops in pre-existing vertical flux tubes which are parts of active regions or the remnants of active regions. These loops result from the kink (or helical) instability in a twisted flux tube. Their observed properties are explained in terms of the flux-rope theory of solar fields. The model is extended to some dynamical effects in emerging loops. Further observations of ephemeral active regions may provide important tests between the traditional and flux-rope theories of solar magnetic fields.


Author(s):  
B. Filippov

Abstract Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are tightly related to filament eruptions and usually are their continuation in the upper solar corona. It is common practice to divide all observed CMEs into fast and slow ones. Fast CMEs usually follow eruptive events in active regions near big sunspot groups and associated with major solar flares. Slow CMEs are more related to eruptions of quiescent prominences located far from active regions. We analyse 10 eruptive events with particular attention to the events on 2013 September 29 and on 2016 January 26, one of which was associated with a fast CME, while another was followed by a slow CME. We estimated the initial store of free magnetic energy in the two regions and show the resemblance of pre-eruptive situations. The difference of late behaviour of the two eruptive prominences is a consequence of the different structure of magnetic field above the filaments. We estimated this structure on the basis of potential magnetic field calculations. Analysis of other eight events confirmed that all fast CMEs originate in regions with rapidly changing with height value and direction of coronal magnetic field.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prantika Bhowmik ◽  
Anthony Yeates

<p>During Solar Minimum, the Sun is perceived to be quite inactive with barely any spots emerging on the solar surface. Consequently, we observe a drop in the number of highly energetic events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are often associated with active regions on the photosphere. However, our magnetofrictional simulations during the minimum period suggest that the solar corona could still be significantly dynamic while evolving in response to the large-scale shearing velocities on the solar surface. The non-potential evolution of the corona leads to the accumulation of magnetic free energy and helicity, which is periodically lost through eruptive events. Our study shows that these events can be categorised into two distinct classes. One set of events are caused due to full-scale eruption of low-lying coronal flux ropes and could be associated with occasional filament erupting CMEs observed during Solar Minimum. The other set of events are not driven by destabilisation of low-lying structures but rather by eruption from overlying sheared arcades. These could be linked with streamer blowouts or stealth CMEs. The two classes differ considerably in the amount of magnetic flux and helicity shed through the outer coronal boundary. We additionally investigate how other measurables such as current, open magnetic flux, free energy, coronal holes area, and the horizontal component of the magnetic field on the outer model boundary vary during the two classes of event. This study demonstrates and emphasises the importance and necessity of understanding the dynamics of the coronal magnetic field during Solar Minimum.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hechao Chen ◽  
Jiayan Yang ◽  
Junchao Hong ◽  
Haidong Li ◽  
Yadan Duan

<p>Increasing observations show that coronal jets may result in bubble-shaped coronal mass ejections (CMEs), but the genesis of jet-driven CMEs and their nature are not fully understood. Here, we report a direct stereoscopic observation on the magnetic coupling from a coronal blowout jet to a stellar-sized CME.  Observations in the EUV passbands of SDO/AIA show that this whole event starts with a small-scale active-region filament whose eruption occurs at a coronal geyser site due to flux emergence and cancellation. By interacting with an overlying null-point configuration, this erupting filament first breaks one of its legs and triggers an unwinding blowout jet. The release of magnetic twist in its jet spire is estimated at around 1.5−2.0 turns. This prominent twist transport in jet spire rapidly creates a newborn large-scale flux rope from the jet base to a remote site. As a result, the newborn large-scale flux rope erupts into the outer coronae causing an Earth-directed bubble-shaped CME. In particular, two sets of distinct flare post-flare loops form in its source region in sequence, indicating this eruptive event couples with twice flare reconnection. This observation highlights a real pathway for jet-CME magnetic coupling and provides a new hint for the buildup of large-scale CME flux ropes.<span> </span></p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S320) ◽  
pp. 211-217
Author(s):  
Lucie M. Green

AbstractCoronal mass ejections are the most spectacular form of solar activity and they play a key role in driving space weather at the Earth. These eruptions are associated with active regions and occur throughout an active region's entire lifetime. All coronal mass ejection models invoke the presence of a twisted magnetic field configuration known as a magnetic flux rope either before or after eruption onset. The observational identification of magnetic flux ropes in the solar atmosphere using remote sensing data represents a challenging task, but theoretical models have led to the understanding that there are signatures that reveal their presence. The range of coronal mass ejection models are helping build a more complete picture of both the trigger and drivers of these eruptions.


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