A new model describing Forbush Decreases at Mars: combining the heliospheric modulation and the atmospheric influence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingnan Guo ◽  
Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber ◽  
Mateja Dumbovic ◽  
Bernd Heber ◽  
Yuming Wang
Keyword(s):  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Martian Atmosphere ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Mars Atmosphere ◽  
Interaction Regions ◽  
Energy Dependent

<p>Forbush decreases are depressions in the galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) which are mostly caused by the modulations of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and also sometimes by stream/corotating interaction regions (SIRs/CIRs). Forbush decreases have been studied extensively using neutron monitors at Earth and have been recently, for the first time, measured on the surface of another planet - Mars by the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD), on board Mars Science Laboratory’s (MSL) rover Curiosity. The modulation of the GCR particles by heliospheric transients in space is energy-dependent and afterwards these particles are also interacting with the Martian atmosphere with the interaction process depending on the particle type and energy. In order to study the space weather environment near Mars using the ground-measured Forbush decreases, it is important to understand and quantify the energy-dependent modulation of the GCR particles by not only the pass-by heliospheric disturbances but also the Martian atmosphere. In this study, we develop a model which combines the heliospheric modulation of GCRs and the atmospheric modification of such modulated GCR spectra to quantify the amplitudes of the Forbush decreases at Mars: both on ground and in the interplanetary space near Mars during the pass-by of an ICME/SIR. The modeled results are in good agreement when compared to studies of Forbush decreases caused by ICMEs/SIRs measured by MSL on the surface of Mars and by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft in orbit.  This supports the validity of both the Forbush decrease description and the Martian atmospheric transport models.  Our model can be potentially used to understand the property of ICMEs and SIRs passing Mars.</p>

scholarly journals Measurements of Forbush decreases at Mars: both by MSL on ground and by MAVEN in orbit

2018 ◽  
Vol 611 ◽  
pp. A79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingnan Guo ◽  
Robert Lillis ◽  
Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber ◽  
Cary Zeitlin ◽  
Patrick Simonson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Solar Energetic Particle ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Martian Atmosphere ◽  
Surface Fluxes ◽  
Power Law Distribution ◽  
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Radiation Dose Rate ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Mars Atmosphere

The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD), on board Mars Science Laboratory’s (MSL) Curiosity rover, has been measuring ground level particle fluxes along with the radiation dose rate at the surface of Mars since August 2012. Similar to neutron monitors at Earth, RAD sees many Forbush decreases (FDs) in the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) induced surface fluxes and dose rates. These FDs are associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and/or stream/corotating interaction regions (SIRs/CIRs). Orbiting above the Martian atmosphere, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft has also been monitoring space weather conditions at Mars since September 2014. The penetrating particle flux channels in the solar energetic particle (SEP) instrument onboard MAVEN can also be employed to detect FDs. For the first time, we study the statistics and properties of a list of FDs observed in-situ at Mars, seen both on the surface by MSL/RAD and in orbit detected by the MAVEN/SEP instrument. Such a list of FDs can be used for studying interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICME) propagation and SIR evolution through the inner heliosphere. The magnitudes of different FDs can be well-fitted by a power-law distribution. The systematic difference between the magnitudes of the FDs within and outside the Martian atmosphere may be mostly attributed to the energy-dependent modulation of the GCR particles by both the pass-by ICMEs/SIRs and the Martian atmosphere.

Utilizing galactic cosmic rays as signatures of coronal mass ejections

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateja Dumbovic
Keyword(s):  
Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
Flux Rope ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Magnetic Structures ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Ray

<p>Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most violent eruptions in the solar system. They are one of the main drivers of the heliospheric variability and cause various interplanetary as well as planetary disturbances. One of their very common in-situ signatures are short-term reductions in the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux (i.e. Forbush decreases), which are measured by ground-based instruments at Earth and Mars, as well as various spacecraft throughout the heliosphere (most recently by Solar Orbiter). In general, interplanetary magnetic structures interact with GCRs producing depressions in the GCR flux. Therefore, different types of interplanetary magnetic structures cause different types of GCR depressions, allowing us to distinguish between them. In the interplanetary space the CME typically consists of two structures: the presumably closed flux rope and the shock/sheath which is formed ahead of the flux rope as it propagates and expands in the interplanetary space. Interaction of GCRs with these two structures is modelled separately, where the flux-rope related Forbush decrease can be modelled assuming that the GCRs diffuse slowly into the expanding flux rope, which is initially empty at its center (ForbMod model). The resulting Forbush decrease at a given time, i.e. heliospheric distance, reflects the evolutionary properties of CMEs. However, ForbMod is not yet able to take into account complex, non-self-similar evolution of the flux rope. Nevertheless, Forbush decreases can undoubtedly give us information on the CMEs in the heliosphere, especially where other measurements are lacking, and with further development, Forbush decrease reverse modelling could provide insight into the CME evolution.</p>

The acceleration of energetic particle fluxes in shock fronts in interplanetary space

1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. S844-S848 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. R. Rao ◽  
K. G. McCracken ◽  
R. P. Bukata
Keyword(s):  
Particle Acceleration ◽  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Wave Model ◽  
Interplanetary Shocks ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Anisotropic Character ◽  
Particle Fluxes ◽  
Shock Wave Model ◽  
Shock Fronts

On six occasions during 1966, enhanced fluxes of > 7.5-MeV energetic particles have been observed coincident with the onset of a Forbush decrease which was initiated by a solar flare. The anisotropic character of the particle fluxes indicates that the particles were not trapped and that particle acceleration was occurring in the region associated with the onset of the Forbush decreases. Subsequent to the onset of the Forbush decreases, bidirectional anisotropies of 7.5–45 MeV-protons were observed. It will be shown that these observations provide strong evidence for the shock-wave model for the Forbush decrease. It is suggested that particle acceleration in interplanetary shocks is a commonly occurring phenomenon, and, in particular, it is suggested that recurrent ≈1-MeV proton events are due to particle acceleration in corotating shock fronts.

Using Forbush decreases at Earth and Mars to measure the radial evolution of ICMEs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan von Forstner ◽  
Jingnan Guo ◽  
Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber ◽  
Mateja Dumbović ◽  
Miho Janvier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Arrival Time ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Space Physics ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Forbush Decreases

<p>Interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), large clouds of plasma and magnetic field regularly expelled from the Sun, are one of the main drivers of space weather effects in the solar system. While the prediction of their arrival time at Earth and other locations in the heliosphere is still a complex task, it is also necessary to further understand the time evolution of their geometric and magnetic structure, which is even more challenging considering the limited number of available observation points.</p><p>Forbush decreases (FDs), short-term drops in the flux of galactic cosmic rays (GCR), can be caused by the shielding from strong and/or turbulent magnetic structures in the solar wind, such as ICMEs and their associated shock/sheath regions. In the past, FD observations have often been used to determine the arrival times of ICMEs at different locations in the solar system, especially where sufficient solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements are not (or not always) available. One of these locations is Mars, where the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) onboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission's Curiosity rover has been continuously measuring GCRs and FDs on the surface for more than 7 years.</p><p>In this work, we investigate whether FD data can be used to derive additional information about the ICME properties than just the arrival time by performing a statistical study based on catalogs of FDs observed at Earth or Mars. In particular, we find that the linear correlation between the FD amplitude and the maximum steepness, which was already seen at Earth by previous authors (Belov et al., 2008, Abunin et al., 2012), is likewise present at Mars, but with a different proprtionality factor.</p><p>By consulting physics-based analytical models of FDs, we find that this quantity is not expected to be influenced by the different energy ranges of GCR particles observed by the instruments at Earth and Mars. Instead, we suggest that the difference in FD characteristics at the two planets is caused by the radial enlargement of the ICMEs, and particularly their sheath regions, as they propagate from Earth (1 AU) to Mars (~ 1.5 AU). This broadening factor derived from our analysis extends observations for the evolution closer to the Sun by Janvier et al. (2019, JGR Space Physics) to larger heliocentric distances and is consistent with these results.</p>

Corotating Forbush Decreases

1968 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. McCracken ◽  
I. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Particle Event

A natural introduction to this topic is a brief discussion of two phenomena observable in interplanetary space near Earth—the energetic storm particle event (ESPE), and the recurrent Forbush decrease.

scholarly journals Model of optical response of marine aerosols to Forbush decreases

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2765-2776 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Bondo ◽  
M. B. Enghoff ◽  
H. Svensmark
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Optical Response ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Angstrom Exponent ◽  
Ångström Exponent ◽  
Ångstrom Exponent

Abstract. In order to elucidate the effect of galactic cosmic rays on cloud formation, we investigate the optical response of marine aerosols to Forbush decreases – abrupt decreases in galactic cosmic rays – by means of modeling. We vary the nucleation rate of new aerosols, in a sectional coagulation and condensation model, according to changes in ionization by the Forbush decrease. From the resulting size distribution we then calculate the aerosol optical thickness and Angstrom exponent, for the wavelength pairs 350, 450 nm and 550, 900 nm. In the cases where the output parameters from the model seem to compare best with atmospheric observations we observe, for the shorter wavelength pair, a change in Angstrom exponent, following the Forbush Decrease, of −6 to +3%. In some cases we also observe a delay in the change of Angstrom exponent, compared to the maximum of the Forbush decrease, which is caused by different sensitivities of the probing wavelengths to changes in aerosol number concentration and size. For the long wavelengths these changes are generally smaller. The types and magnitude of change is investigated for a suite of nucleation rates, condensable gas production rates, and aerosol loss rates. Furthermore we compare the model output with observations of 5 of the largest Forbush decreases after year 2000. For the 350, 450 nm pair we use AERONET data and find a comparable change in signal while the Angstrom Exponent is lower in the model than in the data, due to AERONET being mainly sampled over land. For 550, 900 nm we compare with both AERONET and MODIS and find little to no response in both model and observations. In summary our study shows that the optical properties of aerosols show a distinct response to Forbush Decreases, assuming that the nucleation of fresh aerosols is driven by ions. Shorter wavelengths seem more favorable for observing these effects and great care should be taken when analyzing observations, in order to avoid the signal being drowned out by noise.

scholarly journals The Two-step Forbush Decrease: A Tale of Two Substructures Modulating Galactic Cosmic Rays within Coronal Mass Ejections

2021 ◽  
Vol 922 (2) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Miho Janvier ◽  
Pascal Démoulin ◽  
Jingnan Guo ◽  
Sergio Dasso ◽  
Florian Regnault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Superposed Epoch Analysis ◽  
Epoch Analysis

Abstract Interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) are known to modify the structure of the solar wind as well as interact with the space environment of planetary systems. Their large magnetic structures have been shown to interact with galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), leading to the Forbush decrease (FD) phenomenon. We revisit in the present article the 17 yr of Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft ICME detection along with two neutron monitors (McMurdo and Oulu) with a superposed epoch analysis to further analyze the role of the magnetic ejecta in driving FDs. We investigate in the following the role of the sheath and the magnetic ejecta in driving FDs, and we further show that for ICMEs without a sheath, a magnetic ejecta only is able to drive significant FDs of comparable intensities. Furthermore, a comparison of samples with and without a sheath with similar speed profiles enable us to show that the magnetic field intensity, rather than its fluctuations, is the main driver for the FD. Finally, the recovery phase of the FD for isolated magnetic ejecta shows an anisotropy in the level of the GCRs. We relate this finding at 1 au to the gradient of the GCR flux found at different heliospheric distances from several interplanetary missions.

scholarly journals Model of optical response of marine aerosols to Forbush decreases

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 22833-22863
Author(s):  
T. Bondo ◽  
M. B. Enghoff ◽  
H. Svensmark
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Forbush Decrease ◽  
Optical Response ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Forbush Decreases ◽  
Angstrom Exponent ◽  
Ångström Exponent ◽  
Ångstrom Exponent

Abstract. In order to elucidate the effect of galactic cosmic rays on cloud formation, we investigate the optical response of marine aerosols to Forbush decreases – abrupt decreases in galactic cosmic rays – by means of modeling. We vary the nucleation rate of new aerosols, in a sectional coagulation and condensation model, according to changes in ionization by the Forbush decrease. From the resulting size distribution we then calculate the aerosol optical thickness and Angstrom exponent, for the wavelength pairs 350, 450 nm and 550, 900 nm. For the shorter wavelength pair we observe a change in Angstrom exponent, following the Forbush Decrease, of −6 to +3% in the cases with atmospherically realistic output parameters. For some parameters we also observe a delay in the change of Angstrom exponent, compared to the maximum of the Forbush decrease, which is caused by different sensitivities of the probing wavelengths to changes in aerosol number concentration and size. For the long wavelengths these changes are generally smaller. The types and magnitude of change is investigated for a suite of nucleation rates, condensable gas production rates, and aerosol loss rates. Furthermore we compare the model output with observations of 5 of the largest Forbush decreases after year 2000. For the 350, 450 nm pair we use AERONET data and find a comparable change in signal while the Angstrom Exponent is lower in the model than in the data, due to AERONET being mainly sampled over land. For 550, 900 nm we compare with both AERONET and MODIS and find little to no response in both model and observations. In summary our study shows that the optical properties of aerosols show a distinct response to Forbush Decreases, assuming that the nucleation of fresh aerosols is driven by ions. Shorter wavelengths seem more favorable for observing these effects and great care should be taken when analyzing observations, in order to avoid the signal being drowned out by noise.

scholarly journals Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections from MAVEN Orbital Observations at Mars

2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Dan Zhao ◽  
Jianpeng Guo ◽  
Hui Huang ◽  
Haibo Lin ◽  
Yichun Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Mars Atmosphere ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Forward Shock ◽  
Interaction Regions ◽  
Space Weather Event ◽  
Strong Dynamic ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract The measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft, in orbit around Mars, are utilized to investigate interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) near 1.52 au. We identify 24 ICMEs from 2014 December 6 to 2019 February 21. The ICME list is used to examine the statistical properties of ICMEs. On average, the magnetic field strength of 5.99 nT in ICMEs is higher than that of 5.38 nT for stream interaction regions (SIRs). The density of 5.27 cm−3 for ICMEs is quite comparable to that of 5.17 cm−3 for SIRs, the velocity of 394.7 km s−1 for ICMEs is slightly lower than that of 432.8 km s−1 for SIRs, and the corresponding dynamic pressure of 1.34 nPa for ICMEs is smaller than that of 1.50 nPa for SIRs. Using existing databases of ICMEs at 1 au for the same time period, we compare ICME average properties at 1.52 au with those at 1 au. The averages of the characteristic quantities decrease by a factor of 1.1–1.7 from 1 to 1.52 au. In addition, we analyze an unusual space weather event associated with the ICME on 2015 March 9–10, and propose that the extremely strong dynamic pressure with a maximum of ∼18 nPa on March 8 is caused by the combined effects of the enhanced density inside a heliospheric plasma sheet (HPS), the compression of the HPS by the forward shock, and the high velocity of the sheath ahead of the ICME.

scholarly journals Space weather: the solar perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Temmer
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Space Weather ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Space Weather Forecasting ◽  
Stereo Mission ◽  
Interaction Regions ◽  
Near Future ◽  
First Time

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.

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