Nat Gopalswamy

Interplanetary acceleration of coronal mass ejections

Using an observed relation between speeds of CMEs near the Sun and in the solar wind, we determine an “effective” acceleration acting on the CMEs. We found a linear relation between this effective acceleration and the initial speed of the CMEs. The acceleration is similar to that of the slow solar wind in magnitude. The average solar wind speed naturally divides CMEs into fast and slow ones. Based on the relation between the acceleration and initial speed, we derive an empirical model to predict the arrival of CMEs at 1 AU.

Predicting the 1‐AU arrival times of coronal mass ejections

We describe an empirical model to predict the 1-AU arrival of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). This model is based on an effective interplanetary (IP) acceleration described by Gopalswamy et al. [2000b] that the CMEs are subject to, as they propagate from the Sun to 1 AU. We have improved this model (1) by minimizing the projection effects (using data from spacecraft in quadrature) in determining the initial speed of CMEs, and (2) by allowing for the cessation of the interplanetary acceleration before 1 AU. The resulting effective IP acceleration was higher in magnitude than what was obtained from CME measurements from spacecraft along the Sun-Earth line. We evaluated the predictive capability of the CME arrival model using recent two-point measurements from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Wind, and ACE spacecraft. We found that an acceleration cessation distance of 0.76 AU is in reasonable agreement with the observations. The new prediction model reduces the average prediction error from 15.4 to 10.7 hours. The model is in good agreement with the observations for high-speed CMEs. For slow CMEs the model as well as observations show a flat arrival time of ∼4.3 days. Use of quadrature observations minimized the projection effects naturally without the need to assume the width of the CMEs. However, there is no simple way of estimating the projection effects based on the surface location of the Earth-directed CMEs observed by a spacecraft (such as SOHO) located along the Sun-Earth line because it is impossible to measure the width of these CMEs. The standard assumption that the CME is a rigid cone may not be correct. In fact, the predicted arrival times have a better agreement with the observed arrival times when no projection correction is applied to the SOHO CME measurements. The results presented in this work suggest that CMEs expand and accelerate near the Sun (inside 0.7 AU) more than our model supposes; these aspects will have to be included in future models.

Radio Signatures of Coronal Mass Ejection Interaction: Coronal Mass Ejection Cannibalism?

We report the first detection at long radio wavelengths of interaction between coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the interplanetary medium. The radio signature is in the form of intense continuum-like radio emission following an interplanetary type II burst. At the time of the radio enhancement, coronagraphic images show a fast CME overtaking a slow CME. We interpret the radio enhancement as a consequence of shock strengthening when the shock ahead of the fast CME plows through the core of the preceding slow CME. The duration of the radio enhancement is consistent with the transit time of the CME-driven shock through the core of the slow CME. As a consequence of the interaction, the core of the slow CME changed its trajectory significantly. Based on the emission characteristics of the radio enhancement, we estimate the density of the core of the slow CME to be ~4 × 104 cm-3. The CME interaction has important implications for space weather prediction based on halo CMEs: some of the false alarms could be accounted for by CME interactions. The observed CME interaction could also explain some of the complex ejecta at 1 AU, which have unusual composition.

A STATISTICAL STUDY OF TWO CLASSES OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS

A comprehensive statistical study is performed to address the question of whether two classes of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) exist. A total of 3217 CME events observed by SOHO/LASCO in 1996-2000 have been analyzed. We have examined the distributions of CMEs according to speed and acceleration, respectively, and investigated the correlation between speed and acceleration of CMEs. This statistical analysis is conducted for two subsets containing those CMEs that show a temporal and spatial association either with GOES X-ray solar flares or with eruptive filaments. We have found that CMEs associated with flares have a higher median speed than those associated with eruptive filaments and that the median speed of CMEs associated with strong flares is higher than that of weak-flare-associated CMEs. The distribution of CME acceleration shows a conspicuous peak near zero, not only for the whole data set, but also for the two subsets associated either with solar flares or with eruptive filaments. However, we have confirmed that the CMEs associated with major flares tend to be more decelerated than the CMEs related to eruptive filaments. The fraction of flare-associated CMEs has a tendency to increase with the CME speed, whereas the fraction of eruptive-filament-associated CMEs tends to decrease with the CME speed. This result supports the concept of two CME classes. We have found a possibility of two components in the CME speed distribution for both the CME data associated with flares larger than M1 class and the CME data related with limb flares. Our results suggest that the apparent single-peak distribution of CME speed can be attributed to the projection effect and possibly to abundance of small flares too. We also note that there is a possible correlation between the speed of CMEs and the time-integrated X-ray flux of the CME-associated limb flares.

A New Method for Estimating Widths, Velocities, and Source Location of Halo Coronal Mass Ejections

It is well know that the coronagraphic observations of halo CMEs are subject to projection effects. Viewing in the plane of the sky does not allow us to determine the crucial parameters defining geoeffectivness of CMEs, such as the velocity, width or source location. We assume that halo CMEs at the beginning phase of propagation have constant velocities, are symmetric and propagate with constant angular widths. Using these approximations and determining projected velocities and difference between times when CME appears on the opposite sides of the occulting disk we are able to get the necessary parameters. We present consideration for the whole halo CMEs from SOHO/LASCO catalog until the end of 2000. We show that the halo CMEs are in average much more faster and wider than the all CMEs from the SOHO/LASCO catalog.It is well known that coronagraphic observations of halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are subject to projection effects. Viewing in the plane of the sky does not allow us to determine the crucial parameters that define the geoeffectiveness of CMEs, such as the space speed, width, or source location. Assuming that halo CMEs have constant velocities, are symmetric, and propagate with constant angular widths, at least in their early phase, we have developed a technique that allows us to obtain the required parameters. This technique requires measurements of sky-plane speeds and the moments of the first appearance of the halo CMEs above opposite limbs. We apply this technique to obtain the parameters of all the halo CMEs observed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) missions Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph experiment until the end of 2000. We also present a statistical summary of these derived parameters of the halo CMEs.

Coronal mass ejections of solar cycle 23

I summarize the statistical, physical, and morphological properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) of solar cycle 23, as observed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission. The SOHO data is by far the most extensive data, which made it possible to fully establish the properties of CMEs as a phenomenon of utmost importance to Sun-Earth connection as well as to the heliosphere. I also discuss various subsets of CMEs that are of primary importance for their impact on Earth.

A Global Picture of CMEs in the Inner Heliosphere

This is an overview of Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the heliosphere with an observational bias towards remote sensing by coronagraphs. Particular emphasis will be placed on the results from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission which has produced high quality CME data uniform and continuos over the longest stretch ever. After summarizing the morphological, physical, and statistical properties of CMEs, a discussion on the phenomena associated with them is presented. These are the various manifestations of CMEs observed at different wavelengths and the accompanying phenomena such as shocks and solar energetic particles that provide information to build a complete picture of CMEs. Implications of CMEs for the evolution of the global solar magnetic field are presented. CMEs in the heliosphere are then discussed including out-of-the-ecliptic observations from Ulysses and the possibility of a 22-year cycle of cosmic ray modulation by CMEs. After outlining some of the outstanding questions, a summary of the chapter is provided.

On the Relationship Between Coronal Mass Ejections and Magnetic Clouds

We compare the substructures of the 1997 February 07 coronal mass ejection (CME) observed near the Sun with a corresponding event in the interplanetary medium to determine the origin of magnetic clouds (MCs). We find that the eruptive prominence core of the CME observed near the Sun may not directly become a magnetic cloud as suggested by some authors and that it might instead become the ”pressure pulse” following the magnetic cloud. We substantiate our conclusions using time of arrival, size and composition estimates of the CME-MC substructures obtained from ground based, SOHO and WIND observations.

On the Rates of Coronal Mass Ejections: Remote Solar and In Situ Observations

Wecomparetheratesofcoronalmassejections(CMEs)asinferredfromremotesolarobservationsandinterplanetary CMEs (ICMEs) as inferred from in situ observations at both 1 AU and Ulysses from 1996 through 2004. We also distinguish between those ICMEs that contain a magnetic cloud (MC) and those that do not. While the rates of CMEs andICMEstrackeachotherwellatsolarminimum,theydivergesignificantlyinearly1998,duringtheascendingphase of the solar cycle, with the remote solar observations yielding approximately 20 times more events than are seen at 1 AU. This divergence persists through 2004. A similar divergence occurs between MCs and non-MC ICMEs. We argue that these divergences are due to the birth of midlatitude active regions, which are the sites of a distinct population of CMEs, only partially intercepted by Earth, and we present a simple geometric argument showing that theCMEandICMEratesareconsistentwithoneanother.Wealsoacknowledgecontributionsfrom(1)anincreased rate of high-latitude CMEs and (2) focusing effects from the global solar field. While our analysis, coupled with numerical modeling results, generally supports the interpretation that whether one observes a MC within an ICME is sensitive to the trajectory of the spacecraft through the ICME (i.e., an observational selection effect), one result directly contradicts it. Specifically, we find no systematic offset between the latitudinal origin of ICMEs that contain MCs at 1 AU in the ecliptic plane and that of those that do not.

Radio-rich solar eruptive events

We report on the analysis of a large number of solar eruptive events that produced radio emission in the dekameter-hectometric (DH) radio window (1–14 MHz), newly opened by the Wind/WAVES experiment. The distinguishing characteristics of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) associated with the DH type II radio bursts are larger-than-average width and speed. Flares of all sizes (X-ray importance B to X) occurring at all longitudes were associated with the DH type II bursts and CMEs. We found a global enhancement in EUV over an area much larger than the flaring active region in the beginning many events. A comparison between the ‘Shock Associated‧ events and microwave bursts shows that at least half of the events do not have temporal relation. A majority of the DH type II bursts were associated with IP shocks and kilometric type II bursts. In particular, we found a very close relationship between the kilometric type II bursts and the IP shocks.