B. J. Thompson

SOHO/EIT observations of an Earth‐directed coronal mass ejection on May 12, 1997

An earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed on May 12, 1997 by the SOHO Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT). The CME, originating north of the central solar meridian, was later observed by the Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) as a “halo” CME: a bright expanding ring centered about the occulting disk. Beginning at about 04:35 UT, EIT recorded several CME signatures, including dimming regions close to the eruption, post-eruption arcade formation, and a bright wavefront propagating quasi-radially from the source region. Each of these phenomena appear to be associated with the same eruption, and the onset time of these features corresponds with the estimated onset time observed in LASCO. We discuss the correspondence of these features as observed by EIT with the structure of the CME in the LASCO data.

EIT OBSERVATIONS OF THE EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SUN

The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the SOHO spacecraft has been operational since 2 January 1996. EIT observes the Sun over a 45 x 45 arc min field of view in four emission line groups: Feix, x, Fexii, Fexv, and Heii. A post-launch determination of the instrument flatfield, the instrument scattering function, and the instrument aging were necessary for the reduction and analysis of the data. The observed structures and their evolution in each of the four EUV bandpasses are characteristic of the peak emission temperature of the line(s) chosen for that bandpass. Reports on the initial results of a variety of analysis projects demonstrate the range of investigations now underway: EIT provides new observations of the corona in the temperature range of 1 to 2 MK. Temperature studies of the large-scale coronal features extend previous coronagraph work with low-noise temperature maps. Temperatures of radial, extended, plume-like structures in both the polar coronal hole and in a low latitude decaying active region were found to be cooler than the surrounding material. Active region loops were investigated in detail and found to be isothermal for the low loops but hottest at the loop tops for the large loops.Variability of solar EUV structures, as observed in the EIT time sequences, is pervasive and leads to a re-evaluation of the meaning of the term ‘quiet Sun’. Intensity fluctuations in a high cadence sequence of coronal and chromospheric images correspond to a Kolmogorov turbulence spectrum. This can be interpreted in terms of a mixed stochastic or periodic driving of the transition region and the base of the corona. No signature of the photospheric and chromospheric waves is found in spatially averaged power spectra, indicating that these waves do not propagate to the upper atmosphere or are channeled through narrow local magnetic structures covering a small fraction of the solar surface. Polar coronal hole observing campaigns have identified an outflow process with the discovery of transient Fexii jets. Coronal mass ejection observing campaigns have identified the beginning of a CME in an Fexii sequence with a near simultaneous filament eruption (seen in absorption), formation of a coronal void and the initiation of a bright outward-moving shell as well as the coronal manifestation of a ‘Moreton wave’.

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of MHD waves observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope

We investigate the global large amplitude waves propagating across the solar disk as observed by the SOHO/Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT). These waves appear to be similar to those observed in Hα in the chromosphere and which are known as “Moreton waves,” associated with large solar flares [Moreton, 1960, 1964]. Uchida [1968] interpreted these Moreton waves as the propagation of a hydromagnetic disturbance in the corona with its wavefront intersecting the chromosphere to produce the Moreton wave as observed in movie sequences of Hα images. To search for an understanding of the physical characteristics of these newly observed EIT waves, we constructed a three-dimensional, time-dependent, numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model. Measured global magnetic fields, obtained from the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO) at Stanford University, are used as the initial magnetic field to investigate hydromagnetic wave propagation in a three-dimensional spherical geometry. Using magnetohydrodynamic wave theory together with simulation, we are able to identify these observed EIT waves as fast mode MHD waves dominated by the acoustic mode, called magnetosonic waves. The results to be presented include the following: (1) comparison of observed and simulated morphology projected on the disk and the distance-time curves on the solar disk; (2) three-dimensional evolution of the disturbed magnetic field lines at various viewing angles; (3) evolution of the plasma density profile at a specific location as a function of latitude; and (4) computed Friedrichs diagrams to identify the MHD wave characteristics.

Interaction of EIT Waves with Coronal Active Regions

Large-scale coronal waves associated with flares were first observed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT). We present the first three-dimensional MHD modeling of the interaction of the EIT waves with active regions and the possibility of destabilization of an active region by these waves. The active region is modeled by an initially force-free, bipolar magnetic configuration with gravitationally stratified density. We include finite thermal pressure and resistive dissipation in our model. The EIT wave is launched at the boundary of the region, as a short time velocity pulse that travels with the local fast magnetosonic speed toward the active region. We find that the EIT wave undergoes strong reflection and refraction, in agreement with observations, and induces transient currents in the active region. The resulting Lorentz force leads to the dynamic distortion of the magnetic field and to the generation of secondary waves. The resulting magnetic compression of the plasma induces flows, which are particularly strong in the current-carrying active region. We investigate the effect of the magnetic field configuration and find that the current-carrying active region is destabilized by the impact of the wave. Analysis of the threedimensional interaction between EIT waves and active regions can serve as a diagnostic of the active region coronal magnetic structure and stability. Subject headings: MHD — Sun: corona — Sun: magnetic fields — waves On-line material: color figures, mpeg animations

A CATALOG OF CORONAL 'EIT WAVE' TRANSIENTS

Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) data have been visually searched for coronal EIT wave transients over the period beginning from 1997 March 24 and extending through 1998 June 24. The dates covered start at the beginning of regular high-cadence (more than 1 image every 20 minutes) observations, ending at the four-month interruption of SOHO observations in mid-1998. One hundred and seventy six events are included in this catalog. The observations range from candidate events, which were either weak or had insufficient data coverage, to events which were well defined and were clearly distinguishable in the data. Included in the catalog are times of the EIT images in which the events are observed, diagrams indicating the observed locations of the wave fronts and associated active regions, and the speeds of the wave fronts. The measured speeds of the wave fronts varied from less than 50 to over 700 km s–1 with typical speeds of 200-400 km s–1.

Reconnection remnants in the magnetic cloud of October 18-19, 1995: A shock, monochromatic wave, heat flux dropout, and energetic ion beam

Evidence is presented that the Wind spacecraft observed particle and field signatures on October 18–19, 1995, due to reconnection near the foot points of a magnetic cloud (i.e., between 1 and 5 solar radii). These signatures include (1) an internal shock traveling approximately along the axis of the magnetic cloud, (2) a simple compression of the magnetic field consistent with the foot point magnetic fields being thrust outward at speeds much greater than the solar wind speed, (3) an electron heat flux dropout occurring within minutes of the shock, indicating a topological change resulting from disconnection from the solar surface, (4) a very cold 5 keV proton beam, and (5) an associated monochromatic wave. We expect that given observations of enough magnetic clouds, Wind and other spacecraft will see signatures similar to the ones reported here indicating reconnection. However, these observations require the spacecraft to be fortuitously positioned to observe the passing shock and other signatures and will therefore be associated with only a small fraction of magnetic clouds. Consistent with this, a few magnetic clouds observed by Wind have been found to possess internal shock waves.

Observations of Coronal Structures Above an Active Region by EIT and Implications for Coronal Energy Deposition

Solar EUV images recorded by the EUV Imaging Telescope (EIT) on SOHO have been used to evaluate temperature and density as a function of position in two largescale features in the corona observed in the temperature range of 1.0–2.0xa0MK. Such observations permit estimates of longitudinal temperature gradients (if present) in the corona and, consequently, estimates of thermal conduction and radiative losses as a function of position in the features. We examine two relatively cool features as recorded in EITs Feu2009ix/x (171xa0Å) and Feu2009xii (195xa0Å) bands in a decaying active region. The first is a long-lived loop-like feature with one leg, ending in the active region, much more prominent than one or more distant footpoints assumed to be rooted in regions of weakly enhanced field. The other is a near-radial feature, observed at the West limb, which may be either the base of a very high loop or the base of a helmet streamer. We evaluate energy requirements to support a steady-state energy balance in these features and find in both instances that downward thermal conductive losses (at heights above the transition region) are inadequate to support local radiative losses, which are the predominant loss mechanism. The requirement that a coronal energy deposition rate proportional to the square of the ambient electron density (or pressure) is present in these cool coronal features provides an additional constraint on coronal heating mechanisms.

In‐ecliptic CIR‐associated energetic particle events and polar coronal hole structures: SOHO/COSTEP observations for the Whole Sun Month Campaign

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), in halo orbit around the L1 Lagrangian point of the Sun-Earth system, combines a unique set of instruments for studies of the Sun and the heliosphere. SOHOs Comprehensive Suprathermal and Energetic Particle Analyser measures in situ particles in the energy range 44 keV/particle to above 53 MeV/nucleon. For the time period of the Whole Sun Month Campaign in mid 1996 we have identified recurrent energetic particle intensity increases in association with corotating interaction regions (CIRs) in the energy range <10 MeV. Solar wind measurements of the Wind spacecraft were used to estimate the corresponding magnetic source location in Carrington longitude for comparison of energetic particles with synoptic maps of the lower corona, derived from images of SOHOs Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope. The comparison reveals a close relationship of latitudinal extensions of polar coronal holes, situated in regions up to 40° away from the ecliptic, with CIR-associated in-ecliptic particle events.

Energetic particle signatures of a corotating interaction region from a high latitude coronal hole: SOHO, wind and Ulysses observations

Abstract In mid 1996 the Comprehensive Suprathermal and Energetic Particle Analyser (COSTEP) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, at 1 AU in the ecliptic plane, detected recurrent periods of enhanced MeV ions in association with a corotating interaction region (CIR). Measurements of energetic ions from the Cosmic Ray and Solar Particle Instrument/Low Energy Telescope (COSPIN/LET) onboard Ulysses taken at 5 AU, at mid-northern heliographic latitudes, showed that Ulysses encountered recurrent particle events during the same time period. We used the solar wind speeds observed at both locations to estimate the corresponding solar source longitudes of the particle events. These longitudes are related to warps of the Suns large high latitude northern coronal hole boundaries observed by SOHOs Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT). The findings are supported by threedimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculations of the footpoint positions of the magnetic field lines at both spacecraft. The observations suggest that close to the Sun a superradial expansion of the fast solar wind from the Suns high latitude northern coronal hole down to ecliptic latitudes is present.