Radial Evolution of Coronal Mass Ejections in the Inner Heliosphere: Catalog and Analysis

Author(s):  
Tarik Salman ◽  
Reka Winslow ◽  
Noé Lugaz

<p>Our knowledge of the properties of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) in the inner heliosphere is constrained by the relative lack of plasma observations between the Sun and 1 AU. In this work, we present a comprehensive catalog of 47 CMEs measured in situ measurements by two or more radially aligned spacecraft (MESSENGER, Venus Express, STEREO, and Wind/ACE). We estimate the CME impact speeds at Mercury and Venus using a drag-based model and present an average propagation profile of CMEs (speed and deceleration/acceleration) in the inner heliosphere. We find that CME deceleration continues past Mercury's orbit but most of the deceleration occurs between the Sun and Mercury. We examine the exponential decrease of the maximum magnetic field strength in the CME with heliocentric distance using two approaches: a modified statistical method and analysis from individual conjunction events. Findings from both the approaches are on average consistent with previous studies but show significant event-to-event variability. We also find the expansion of the CME sheath to be well fit by a linear function. However, we observe the average sheath duration and its increase to be fairly independent of the initial CME speed, contradicting commonly held knowledge that slower CMEs drive larger sheaths. We also present an analysis of the 3 November 2011 CME observed in a longitudinal conjunction between MESSENGER, Venus Express, and STEREO-B focusing on the expansion of the CME and its correlation with the exponential fall-off of the maximum magnetic field strength in the ejecta.</p>

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Amenomori ◽  
X. J. Bi ◽  
D. Chen ◽  
T. L. Chen ◽  
W. Y. Chen ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (3) ◽  
pp. 3642-3655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan R Macneil ◽  
Mathew J Owens ◽  
Robert T Wicks ◽  
Mike Lockwood ◽  
Sarah N Bentley ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Local inversions are often observed in the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF), but their origins and evolution are not yet fully understood. Parker Solar Probe has recently observed rapid, Alfvénic, HMF inversions in the inner heliosphere, known as ‘switchbacks’, which have been interpreted as the possible remnants of coronal jets. It has also been suggested that inverted HMF may be produced by near-Sun interchange reconnection; a key process in mechanisms proposed for slow solar wind release. These cases suggest that the source of inverted HMF is near the Sun, and it follows that these inversions would gradually decay and straighten as they propagate out through the heliosphere. Alternatively, HMF inversions could form during solar wind transit, through phenomena such velocity shears, draping over ejecta, or waves and turbulence. Such processes are expected to lead to a qualitatively radial evolution of inverted HMF structures. Using Helios measurements spanning 0.3–1 au, we examine the occurrence rate of inverted HMF, as well as other magnetic field morphologies, as a function of radial distance r, and find that it continually increases. This trend may be explained by inverted HMF observed between 0.3 and 1 au being primarily driven by one or more of the above in-transit processes, rather than created at the Sun. We make suggestions as to the relative importance of these different processes based on the evolution of the magnetic field properties associated with inverted HMF. We also explore alternative explanations outside of our suggested driving processes which may lead to the observed trend.


2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Burlaga

Abstract. During 2002, the Voyager 1 spacecraft was in the heliosphere between 83.4 and 85.9AU (1AU is the mean distance from the Sun to Earth) at 34° N heliographic latitude. The magnetic field strength profile observed in this region had a multifractal structure in the range of scales from 2 to 16 days. The multifractal spectrum observed near 85AU is similar to that observed near 40AU, indicating relatively little evolution of the multifractal structure of the magnetic field with increasing distance in the distant heliosphere in the epoch near solar maximum.


1991 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 101-102
Author(s):  
M.E. Costa ◽  
P. M. McCulloch ◽  
P. A. Hamilton

We have measured a value of 4±5m--2rad for the rotation measure of the radio pulsar PSR0529-66 in the LMC and, after allowing for the dispersion and rotation measures of our Galaxy on the pulsar's line of sight, we deduce that the magnetic field strength in the LMC is in the range 0 to 5μGauss oriented away from the Sun.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Davies ◽  
Robert Forsyth ◽  
Simon Good

<p>Understanding the evolution of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) as they propagate through the heliosphere is essential in forecasting space weather severity. Much of our knowledge of ICMEs has been gained using in-situ measurements from single spacecraft, although the increasing number of missions in the inner heliosphere has led to an increase in multi-spacecraft studies improving our understanding of the global structure of ICMEs. Whilst most such recent studies have focused on the inner heliosphere within 1 AU, Juno cruise phase data provides a new opportunity to study ICME evolution over greater distances. We present analysis of ICMEs observed in-situ both by Juno and at least one other spacecraft within 1 AU to investigate their evolution as they propagate through the heliosphere. Investigation of the sheath region and timing considerations between spacecraft allows for the general shape of the shock front to be reconstructed. Combining in-situ observations and results of flux rope fitting techniques determines the global picture of the ICME as it propagates. However, effects on in-situ observations due to radial evolution and due to the longitudinal separation between multi-spacecraft remain hard to separate. We note the importance of the interplanetary environment in which the ICME propagates and the need for caution in radial alignment studies.  </p>


1983 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 345-361
Author(s):  
Leon Golub

We review the origins and uses of scaling laws in studies of stellar outer atmospheres, with particular emphasis on the properties of coronal loops. The evidence for a fundamental structuring of the Solar corona is reviewed and a discussion of thermodynamic scaling laws is presented. In order to intercompare different theories for coronal formation and heating, it is necessary to recast the theories in terms of observable quantities. As an example, we present a discussion of magnetic field-related heating and scaling laws which can be obtained relating coronal pressure, temperature and magnetic field strength; available data are shown to be consistent with scaling laws obtained in this way. However, some parameters of the theory must be treated as adjustable at the present time and it is necessary to examine data from other stars in order to determine whether these are true parameters in coronal heating. We examine some of the difficulties involved in using unresolved stellar data when dealing with loop atmospheres, by first treating the Sun as an unresolved source. Using the detailed observations now available we examine the limits of applicability of single-loop models. The possibilities and limits of stellar data are then discussed.


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