Analysis of Quasistationary Solar Wind Stream Forecasts for 2010–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 58-66
Author(s):  
Yu. S. Shugai ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Solar Rotation ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Slow Solar Wind ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Solar Wind Stream ◽  
Time Model

A real-time model for predicting the quasistationary solar wind speed at the near-Earth orbit is presented. The forecast of the high-speed solar wind stream velocity is obtained with an empirical model linking the areas of coronal holes to the solar wind speed. The forecast of the slow solar wind is based on data on the observed solar wind speed from the previous solar rotation. Over the whole analyzed period from May 2010 to December 2019, the coefficient of correlation between the observed and predicted solar wind speed values is 0.45, and the standard deviation is 88 km/s. The accuracy of forecasting the speed of quasistationary solar wind streams is comparable to the results of foreign models.

Study of alpha particle properties across rarefaction regions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tereza Durovcova ◽  
Jana Šafránková ◽  
Zdeněk Němeček
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Alpha Particle ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Alpha Particles ◽  
Slow Solar Wind ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Wind Source

<p>Two large-scale interaction regions between the fast solar wind emanating from coronal holes and the slow solar wind coming from streamer belt are usually distinguished. When the fast stream pushes up against the slow solar wind ahead of it, a compressed interaction region that co-rotates with the Sun (CIR) is created. It was already shown that the relative abundance of alpha particles, which usually serve as one of solar wind source identifiers can change within this region. By symmetry, when the fast stream outruns the slow stream, a corotating rarefaction region (CRR) is formed. CRRs are characterized by a monotonic decrease of the solar wind speed, and they are associated with the regions of small longitudinal extent on the Sun. In our study, we use near-Earth measurements complemented by observations at different heliocentric distances, and focus on the behavior of alpha particles in the CRRs because we found that the large variations of the relative helium abundance (AHe) can also be observed there. Unlike in the CIRs, these variations are usually not connected with the solar wind speed and alpha-proton relative drift changes. We thus apply a superposed-epoch analysis of identified CRRs with a motivation to determine the global profile of alpha particle parameters through these regions. Next, we concentrate on the cases with largest AHe variations and investigate whether they can be associated with the changes of the solar wind source region or whether there is a relation between the AHe variations and the non-thermal features in the proton velocity distribution functions like the temperature anisotropy and/or presence of the proton beam.</p>

scholarly journals Coronal hole evolution from multi-viewpoint data as input for a STEREO solar wind speed persistence model

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. A18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Temmer ◽  
Jürgen Hinterreiter ◽  
Martin A. Reiss
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Wind Speed Profile ◽  
Persistence Model

We present a concept study of a solar wind forecasting method for Earth, based on persistence modeling from STEREO in situ measurements combined with multi-viewpoint EUV observational data. By comparing the fractional areas of coronal holes (CHs) extracted from EUV data of STEREO and SoHO/SDO, we perform an uncertainty assessment derived from changes in the CHs and apply those changes to the predicted solar wind speed profile at 1 AU. We evaluate the method for the time period 2008–2012, and compare the results to a persistence model based on ACE in situ measurements and to the STEREO persistence model without implementing the information on CH evolution. Compared to an ACE based persistence model, the performance of the STEREO persistence model which takes into account the evolution of CHs, is able to increase the number of correctly predicted high-speed streams by about 12%, and to decrease the number of missed streams by about 23%, and the number of false alarms by about 19%. However, the added information on CH evolution is not able to deliver more accurate speed values for the forecast than using the STEREO persistence model without CH information which performs better than an ACE based persistence model. Investigating the CH evolution between STEREO and Earth view for varying separation angles over ∼25–140° East of Earth, we derive some relation between expanding CHs and increasing solar wind speed, but a less clear relation for decaying CHs and decreasing solar wind speed. This fact most likely prevents the method from making more precise forecasts. The obtained results support a future L5 mission and show the importance and valuable contribution using multi-viewpoint data.

Formation of current sheets and plasmoids within corotating/stream interaction regions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timofey Sagitov ◽  
Roman Kislov
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Coronal Hole ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Solar Rotation ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Current Sheets ◽  
Interaction Regions

<p>High speed streams originating from coronal holes are long-lived plasma structures that form corotating interaction regions (CIRs) or stream interface regions (SIRs) in the solar wind. The term CIR is used for streams existing for at least one solar rotation period, and the SIR stands for streams with a shorter lifetime. Since the plasma flows from coronal holes quasi-continuously, CIRs/SIRs simultaneously expand and rotate around the Sun, approximately following the Parker spiral shape up to the Earth’s orbit.</p><p>Coronal hole streams rotate not only around the Sun but also around their own axis of simmetry, resembling a screw. This effect may occur because of the following mechanisms: (1) the existence of a difference between the solar wind speed at different sides of the stream, (2) twisting of the magnetic field frozen into the plasma, and  (3) a vortex-like motion of the edge of the mothering coronal hole at the Sun. The screw type of the rotation of a CIR/SIR can lead to centrifugal instability if CIR/SIR inner layers have a larger angular velocity than the outer. Furthermore, the rotational plasma movement and the stream distortion can twist magnetic field lines. The latter contributes to the pinch effect in accordance with a well-known criterion of Suydam instability (Newcomb, 1960, doi: 10.1016/0003-4916(60)90023-3). Owing to the presence of a cylindrical current sheet at the boundary of a coronal hole, conditions for tearing instability can also appear at the CIR/SIR boundary. Regardless of their geometry, large scale current sheets are subject to various instabilities generating plasmoids. Altogether, these effects can lead to the formation of a turbulent region within CIRs/SIRs, making them filled with current sheets and plasmoids. </p><p>We study a substructure of CIRs/SIRs, characteristics of their rotation in the solar wind, and give qualitative estimations of possible mechanisms which lead to splitting of the leading edge a coronal hole flow and consequent formation of current sheets within CIRs/SIRs.</p>

scholarly journals Cosmic Ray Signatures of Different Types of Solar Wind Streams

1990 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 259-260
Author(s):  
P.K. Shrivastava ◽  
S.P. Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Cosmic Ray Intensity ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Speed Solar Wind ◽  
High Speed Solar Wind

The earlier concept of average solar wind speed has changed with time. Besides quiet periods of low/average solar wind speeds, two different kinds of solar sources (solar flares and coronal holes) have been identified to produce high speed solar wind streams. In an earlier investigation, it was reported that the high speed streams associated to these sources produce distinctly different effects on the cosmic ray intensity (Venkatesan, et. al., 1982).

scholarly journals Highlight Results from Ulysses

2001 ◽  
Vol 203 ◽  
pp. 525-532
Author(s):  
R. G. Marsden
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Minimum ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Radial Component ◽  
Slow Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Wind Flow ◽  
Low Energy Ions ◽  
Inner Heliosphere

Launched in October 1990, the ESA-NASA Ulysses mission has conducted the very first survey of the heliosphere within 5 AU of the Sun over the full range of heliolatitudes. The first polar passes took place in 1994 and 1995, enabling Ulysses to characterise the global structure of the heliosphere at solar minimum, when the corona adopts its simplest configuration. The most important findings to date include a confirmation of the uniform nature of the high-speed (~ 750 km s−1) solar wind flow from the polar coronal holes, filling two-thirds of the volume of the inner heliosphere; the sharp boundary, existing from the chromosphere through the corona, between fast and slow solar wind streams; the latitude independence of the radial component of the heliospheric magnetic field; the lower-than-expected latitude gradient of galactic and anomalous cosmic rays; the continued existence of recurrent increases in the flux of low-energy ions and electrons up to the highest latitudes.

scholarly journals Spectrum of geomagnetic activity in the period range 5−60 days: possible lunar influences

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 804-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Střeštík
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Activity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Solar Rotation ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Frequency Resolution ◽  
Solar Activity Minimum ◽  
Activity Maximum ◽  
Average Spectrum ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract. The series of daily Ap-indices has been subdivided into pentades (1932–1936 etc.) and spectra with fine-frequency resolution have been calculated for the indices in each of these intervals. Daily sunspot numbers have been processed in the same way. The average spectrum from all spectra in the pentades, as well as the spectrum from the whole interval have been calculated, and significant peaks have been determined. There is a significant difference between the spectra in the pentades containing the solar activity minimum (1932–1936, 1942–1946 etc.) and those containing the solar activity maximum (1937–1941, 1947–1951 etc.). Most peaks can be interpreted as a response to solar rotation and to the structure of solar wind speed (two high-speed streams per solar rotation), both modulated by the 11-year, annual and semi-annual waves. No significant peak corresponding to the period of the synodic month, or its half has been found. This result suggests that the influence of lunar cycles on some natural phenomena (if any) is not mediated by geomagnetic activity.Key words. Geomagnetism and paleomagnetism · Time variations · Diurnal to secular · Magnetospheric physics · Solar wind-magnetosphere interactions

A superposed epoch analysis of geomagnetic storms

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 612-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Taylor ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
T. K. Yeoman
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Geomagnetic Storms ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Wind Pressure ◽  
Superposed Epoch Analysis ◽  
Controlling Parameter ◽  
Epoch Analysis

Abstract. A superposed epoch analysis of geomagnetic storms has been undertaken. The storms are categorised via their intensity (as defined by the Dst index). Storms have also been classified here as either storm sudden commencements (SSCs) or storm gradual commencements (SGCs, that is all storms which did not begin with a sudden commencement). The prevailing solar wind conditions defined by the parameters solar wind speed (vsw), density (ρsw) and pressure (Psw) and the total field and the components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) during the storms in each category have been investigated by a superposed epoch analysis. The southward component of the IMF, appears to be the controlling parameter for the generation of small SGCs (-100 nT< minimum Dst ≤ -50 nT for ≥ 4 h), but for SSCs of the same intensity solar wind pressure is dominant. However, for large SSCs (minimum Dst ≤ -100 nT for ≥ 4 h) the solar wind speed is the controlling parameter. It is also demonstrated that for larger storms magnetic activity is not solely driven by the accumulation of substorm activity, but substantial energy is directly input via the dayside. Furthermore, there is evidence that SSCs are caused by the passage of a coronal mass ejection, whereas SGCs result from the passage of a high speed/ slow speed coronal stream interface. Storms are also grouped by the sign of Bz during the first hour epoch after the onset. The sign of Bz at t = +1 h is the dominant sign of the Bz for ~24 h before the onset. The total energy released during storms for which Bz was initially positive is, however, of the same order as for storms where Bz was initially negative.

scholarly journals Origins of the semiannual variation of geomagnetic activity in 1954 and 1996

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Cliver ◽  
L. Svalgaard ◽  
A. G. Ling
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Solar Minimum ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Heliospheric Current Sheet ◽  
Solar Cycles ◽  
Axial Variation ◽  
Semiannual Variation

Abstract. We investigate the cause of the unusually strong semiannual variation of geomagnetic activity observed in the solar minimum years of 1954 and 1996. For 1996 we separate the contributions of the three classical modulation mechanisms (axial, equinoctial, and Russell-McPherron) to the six-month wave in the aam index and find that all three contribute about equally. This is in contrast to the longer run of geomagnetic activity (1868-1998) over which the equinoctial effect accounts for ∼70% of the semiannual variation. For both 1954 and 1996, we show that the Russell-McPherron effect was enhanced by the Rosenberg-Coleman effect (an axial polarity effect) which increased the amount of the negative (toward Sun) [positive (away from Sun)] polarity field observed during the first [second] half of the year; such fields yield a southward component in GSM coordinates. Because this favourable condition occurs only for alternate solar cycles, the marked semiannual variation in 1954 and 1996 is a manifestation of the 22-year cycle of geomagnetic activity. The 11-year evolution of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) also contributes to the strong six-month wave during these years. At solar minimum, the streamer belt at the base of the HCS is located near the solar equator, permitting easier access to high speed streams from polar coronal holes when the Earth is at its highest heliographic latitudes in March and September. Such an axial variation in solar wind speed was observed for 1996 and is inferred for 1954. Key words. Magnetosphere (solar wind – magnetosphere interactions; storms and substorms)

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