Ensemble Numerical Simulations of Realistic SEP Events and the Inspiration for Space Weather Awareness

Author(s):  
Chenxi Du ◽  
Xianzhi Ao ◽  
Bingxian Luo ◽  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
Chong Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract The solar energetic particle (SEP) event is a kind of hazardous space weather phenomenon, so its quantitative forecast is of great importance from the aspect of space environmental situation awareness. We present here a set of SEP forecast tools, which consists of three components: 1) a simple polytropic solar wind model to estimate the background solar wind conditions at the inner boundary of 0.1AU (about 20 R⊙); 2) an ice-cream-cone model to estimate the erupted CME parameters; and 3) the improved Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere (iPATH) model to calculate particle fluxes and energy spectra. By utilizing the above models, we have simulated six realistic SEP events from August 14, 2010 to September 10, 2014, and compared the simulated results to the GOES spacecraft observations. The results show that the simulated fluxes of > 10MeV particles agree with the observations while the simulated fluxes of > 100MeV particles are higher than the observed data. One of the possible reasons is that we have adopted a simple method in the model to calculate the injection rate of energetic particles. Furthermore, we have conducted the ensemble numerical simulations over these events and investigated the effects of different background solar wind conditions at the inner boundary on SEP events. The results imply that the initial CME density plays an important role in determining the power spectrum, while the effect of varying background solar wind temperature is not significant. Naturally, we have examined the influence of CME initial density on the numerical prediction results for virtual SEP cases with different CME ejection speeds. The result shows that the effect of initial CME density variation is inversely associated with CME speed.

2016 ◽  
Vol 809 ◽  
pp. 213-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Akiki ◽  
J. Majdalani

This work focuses on the development of a semi-analytical model that is appropriate for the rotational, steady, inviscid, and compressible motion of an ideal gas, which is accelerated uniformly along the length of a right-cylindrical rocket chamber. By overcoming some of the difficulties encountered in previous work on the subject, the present analysis leads to an improved mathematical formulation, which enables us to retrieve an exact solution for the pressure field. Considering a slender porous chamber of circular cross-section, the method that we follow reduces the problem’s mass, momentum, energy, ideal gas, and isentropic relations to a single integral equation that is amenable to a direct numerical evaluation. Then, using an Abel transformation, exact closed-form representations of the pressure distribution are obtained for particular values of the specific heat ratio. Throughout this effort, Saint-Robert’s power law is used to link the pressure to the mass injection rate at the wall. This allows us to compare the results associated with the axisymmetric chamber configuration to two closed-form analytical solutions developed under either one- or two-dimensional, isentropic flow conditions. The comparison is carried out assuming, first, a uniformly distributed mass flux and, second, a constant radial injection speed along the simulated propellant grain. Our amended formulation is consequently shown to agree with a one-dimensional solution obtained for the case of uniform wall mass flux, as well as numerical simulations and asymptotic approximations for a constant wall injection speed. The numerical simulations include three particular models: a strictly inviscid solver, which closely agrees with the present formulation, and both $k$–$\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}$ and Spalart–Allmaras computations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Temmer

AbstractThe Sun, as an active star, is the driver of energetic phenomena that structure interplanetary space and affect planetary atmospheres. The effects of Space Weather on Earth and the solar system is of increasing importance as human spaceflight is preparing for lunar and Mars missions. This review is focusing on the solar perspective of the Space Weather relevant phenomena, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), flares, solar energetic particles (SEPs), and solar wind stream interaction regions (SIR). With the advent of the STEREO mission (launched in 2006), literally, new perspectives were provided that enabled for the first time to study coronal structures and the evolution of activity phenomena in three dimensions. New imaging capabilities, covering the entire Sun-Earth distance range, allowed to seamlessly connect CMEs and their interplanetary counterparts measured in-situ (so called ICMEs). This vastly increased our knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of interplanetary space due to solar activity and fostered the development of Space Weather forecasting models. Moreover, we are facing challenging times gathering new data from two extraordinary missions, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (launched in 2018) and ESA’s Solar Orbiter (launched in 2020), that will in the near future provide more detailed insight into the solar wind evolution and image CMEs from view points never approached before. The current review builds upon the Living Reviews article by Schwenn from 2006, updating on the Space Weather relevant CME-flare-SEP phenomena from the solar perspective, as observed from multiple viewpoints and their concomitant solar surface signatures.


2009 ◽  
Vol 501 (3) ◽  
pp. 1123-1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Soenen ◽  
F. P. Zuccarello ◽  
C. Jacobs ◽  
S. Poedts ◽  
R. Keppens ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond A. Greenwald

The plasma environment extending from the solar surface through interplanetary space to the outermost reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field is dynamic, often disturbed, and capable of harming humans and damaging manmade systems. Disturbances in this environment have been identified as space weather disturbances. At the present time there is growing interest in monitoring and predicting space weather disturbances. In this paper we present some of the difficulties involved in achieving this goal by comparing the processes that drive tropospheric-weather systems with those that drive space-weather systems in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The former are driven by pressure gradients which result from processes that heat and cool the atmosphere. The latter are driven by electric fields that result from interactions between the streams of ionised gases emerging from the Sun (solar wind) and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Although the dimensions of the Earth’s magnetosphere are vastly greater than those of tropospheric weather systems, the global space-weather response to changes in the solar wind is much more rapid than the response of tropospheric-weather systems to changing conditions. We shall demonstrate the rapid evolution of space-weather systems in the upper atmosphere through measurements with a global network of radars known as SuperDARN. We shall also describe how the SuperDARN network is evolving, including a newly funded Australian component known as the Tasman International Geospace Environmental Radar (TIGER).


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. A39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
Xianzhi Ao ◽  
Yuming Wang ◽  
Chuanbing Wang ◽  
Yanxia Cai ◽  
...  

We present in this paper an operational solar wind prediction system. The system is an outcome of the collaborative efforts between scientists in research communities and forecasters at Space Environment Prediction Center (SEPC) in China. This system is mainly composed of three modules: (1) a photospheric magnetic field extrapolation module, along with the Wang-Sheeley-Arge (WSA) empirical method, to obtain the background solar wind speed and the magnetic field strength on the source surface; (2) a modified Hakamada-Akasofu-Fry (HAF) kinematic module for simulating the propagation of solar wind structures in the interplanetary space; and (3) a coronal mass ejection (CME) detection module, which derives CME parameters using the ice-cream cone model based on coronagraph images. By bridging the gap between fundamental science and operational requirements, our system is finally capable of predicting solar wind conditions near Earth, especially the arrival times of the co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs) and CMEs. Our test against historical solar wind data from 2007 to 2016 shows that the hit rate (HR) of the high-speed enhancements (HSEs) is 0.60 and the false alarm rate (FAR) is 0.30. The mean error (ME) and the mean absolute error (MAE) of the maximum speed for the same period are −73.9 km s−1 and 101.2 km s−1, respectively. Meanwhile, the ME and MAE of the arrival time of the maximum speed are 0.15 days and 1.27 days, respectively. There are 25 CMEs simulated and the MAE of the arrival time is 18.0 h.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacobo Varela Rodriguez ◽  
Sacha A. Brun ◽  
Antoine Strugarek ◽  
Victor Réville ◽  
Filippo Pantellini ◽  
...  

<p><span>The aim of the study is to analyze the response of the Earth magnetosphere for various space weather conditions and model the effect of interplanetary coronal mass ejections. The magnetopause stand off distance, open-closed field lines boundary and plasma flows towards the planet surface are investigated. We use the MHD code PLUTO in spherical coordinates to perform a parametric study regarding the dynamic pressure and temperature of the solar wind as well as the interplanetary magnetic field intensity and orientation. The range of the parameters analyzed extends from regular to extreme space weather conditions consistent with coronal mass ejections at the Earth orbit. The direct precipitation of the solar wind on the Earth day side at equatorial latitudes is extremely unlikely even during super coronal mass ejections. For example, the SW precipitation towards the Earth surface for a IMF purely oriented in the Southward direction requires a IMF intensity around 1000 nT and the SW dynamic pressure above 350 nPa, space weather conditions well above super-ICMEs. The analysis is extended to previous stages of the solar evolution considering the rotation tracks from Carolan (2019). The simulations performed indicate an efficient shielding of the Earth surface 1100 Myr after the Sun enters in the main sequence. On the other hand, for early evolution phases along the Sun main sequence once the Sun rotation rate was at least 5 times faster (< 440 Myr), the Earth surface was directly exposed to the solar wind during coronal mass ejections (assuming today´s Earth magnetic field). Regarding the satellites orbiting the Earth, Southward and Ecliptic IMF orientations are particularly adverse for Geosynchronous satellites, partially exposed to the SW if the SW dynamic pressure is 8-14 nPa and the IMF intensity 10 nT. On the other hand, Medium orbit satellites at 20000 km are directly exposed to the SW during Common ICME if the IMF orientation is Southward and during Strong ICME if the IMF orientation is Earth-Sun or Ecliptic. The same way, Medium orbit satellites at 10000 km are directly exposed to the SW if a Super ICME with Southward IMF orientation impacts the Earth.</span></p><p>This work was supported by the project 2019-T1/AMB-13648 founded by the Comunidad de Madrid, grants ERC WholeSun, Exoplanets A and PNP. We extend our thanks to CNES for Solar Orbiter, PLATO and Meteo Space science support and to INSU/PNST for their financial support.</p>


Author(s):  
Joanna D. Haigh ◽  
Peter Cargill

This chapter discusses how there are four general factors that contribute to the Sun's potential role in variations in the Earth's climate. First, the fusion processes in the solar core determine the solar luminosity and hence the base level of radiation impinging on the Earth. Second, the presence of the solar magnetic field leads to radiation at ultraviolet (UV), extreme ultraviolet (EUV), and X-ray wavelengths which can affect certain layers of the atmosphere. Third, the variability of the magnetic field over a 22-year cycle leads to significant changes in the radiative output at some wavelengths. Finally, the interplanetary manifestation of the outer solar atmosphere (the solar wind) interacts with the terrestrial magnetic field, leading to effects commonly called space weather.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Holappa ◽  
Timo Asikainen ◽  
Kalevi Mursula

<p>The interaction of the solar wind with the Earth’s magnetic field produces geomagnetic activity, which is critically dependent on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Most solar wind coupling functions quantify this dependence on the IMF orientation with the so-called IMF clock angle in a way, which is symmetric with respect to the sign of the B<sub>y</sub> component. However, recent studies have shown that IMF B<sub>y</sub> is an additional, independent driver of high-latitude geomagnetic activity, leading to higher (weaker) geomagnetic activity in Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter for B<sub>y</sub> > 0 (B<sub>y</sub> < 0). For NH summer the dependence on the B<sub>y</sub> sign is reversed. We quantify the size of this explicit B<sub>y</sub>-effect with respect to the solar wind coupling function, both for northern and southern high-latitude geomagnetic activity. We show that for a given value of solar wind coupling function, geomagnetic activity is about 40% stronger for B<sub>y</sub> > 0 than for B<sub>y</sub> < 0 in NH winter. We also discuss recent advances in the physical understanding of the B<sub>y</sub>-effect. Our results highlight the importance of the IMF B<sub>y</sub>-component for space weather and must be taken into account in future space weather modeling.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. A24
Author(s):  
Nicholas Achilleos ◽  
Patrick Guio ◽  
Nicolas André ◽  
Arianna M. Sorba

Theoretical models play an important role in the Planetary Space Weather Services (PSWS) of the European Planetary Network (“Europlanet”), due to their ability to predict the physical response of magnetospheric environments to compressions or rarefactions in the upstream solar wind flow. We illustrate this aspect by presenting examples of some calculations done with the UCL Magnetodisc Model in both “Jupiter” and “Saturn” mode. Similar model outputs can now be provided via the PSWS MAGNETODISC service. For each planet’s space environment, we present example model outputs showing the effect of compressions and rarefactions on the global magnetic field, plasma pressure and azimuthal current density. As a simple illustration of the physics underlying these reference models, we quantify solar wind effects by comparing the “compressed” and “expanded” outputs to a nominal “average-state” model, reflecting more typical solar wind dynamic pressures. We also describe the implementation of the corresponding PSWS MAGNETODISC Service, through which similar outputs may be obtained by potential users.


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