Changes In Solar Wind Research Articles

Ionospheric Response Over Brazil to the August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm as Probed by CSES‐01 and Swarm Satellites and by Local Ground‐Based Observations

AbstractThe geomagnetic storm that occurred on 25 August 25 2018, that is, during the minimum of solar cycle 24, is currently the strongest ever probed by the first China Seismo‐Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES‐01). By integrating the in situ measurements provided by CSES‐01 (orbiting at altitude of 507 km) and by Swarm A satellite (orbiting at ca., 460 km) with ground‐based observations (ionosondes, magnetometers, and Global Navigation Satellite System receivers), we investigate the ionospheric response at lower‐ and mid‐latitudes over Brazil. Specifically, we investigate the electrodynamic disturbances driven by solar wind changes, by focusing on the disturbances driving modifications of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ). Our proposed multisensor technique analysis mainly highlights the variations in the topside and bottomside ionosphere, and the interplay between prompt penetrating electric fields and disturbance dynamo electric fields resulting in EEJ variations. Thanks to this approach and leveraging on the newly available CSES‐01 data, we complement and extend what recently investigated in the Western South American sector, by highlighting the significant longitudinal differences, which mainly come from the occurrence of a daytime counter‐EEJ during both 25 and 26 August at Braziliian longitudes and during part of 26 August only in the Peruvian sector. In addition, the increased thermospheric circulation driven by the storm has an impact on the EEJ during the recovery phase of the storm. The observations at the CSES‐01/Swarm altitudes integrated with the ground‐based observation recorded signatures of equatorial ionospheric anomaly crests formation and modification during daytime coupled with the positive ionospheric storm effects at midlatitude.

Determination of Solar Wind Angular Momentum and Alfvén Radius from Parker Solar Probe Observations

Abstract As fundamental parameters of the Sun, the Alfvén radius and angular momentum loss determine how the solar wind changes from sub-Alfvénic to super-Alfvénic and how the Sun spins down. We present an approach to determining the solar wind angular momentum flux based on observations from Parker Solar Probe (PSP). A flux of about 0.15 × 1030 dyn cm sr−1 near the ecliptic plane and 0.7:1 partition of that flux between the particles and magnetic field are obtained by averaging data from the first four encounters within 0.3 au from the Sun. The angular momentum flux and its particle component decrease with the solar wind speed, while the flux in the field is remarkably constant. A speed dependence in the Alfvén radius is also observed, which suggests a “rugged” Alfvén surface around the Sun. Substantial diving below the Alfvén surface seems plausible only for relatively slow solar wind given the orbital design of PSP. Uncertainties are evaluated based on the acceleration profiles of the same solar wind streams observed at PSP and a radially aligned spacecraft near 1 au. We illustrate that the “angular momentum paradox” raised by Réville et al. can be removed by taking into account the contribution of the alpha particles. The large proton transverse velocity observed by PSP is perhaps inherent in the solar wind acceleration process, where an opposite transverse velocity is produced for the alphas with the angular momentum conserved. Preliminary analysis of some recovered alpha parameters tends to agree with the results.

On the Walén Relation for Alfvénic Fluctuations in Interplanetary Space

Abstract In interplanetary space, the majority of the Alfvénic fluctuations cannot satisfy the Walén relation even though plasma and magnetic field fluctuations are correlated very well. Finding a proper de Hoffman–Teller (HT) wave frame velocity is thus important for characterizing the Alfvénic fluctuations. Recognizing that the Alfvénic fluctuations emanating from different sizes of solar wind streams have their own HT frames, we propose a new scheme called the wave frame with varying velocity (WFVV) method by considering the local averaged HT frame to find a time-varying profile of HT frame velocity. We apply this WFVV method to two Alfvénic events on 2002 October 14 and 17. Unlike the three other schemes discussed in this study, the WFVV method is preferable because it can provide the HT frame variation in more detail, particularly for the large solar wind changes associated with directional discontinuities observed in the October 14 event. For such Alfvénic structures, a time-dependent HT frame derived from the WFVV method, rather than a constant HT frame, produces a better result of the Walén test together with a smaller convection electric field. The difference of estimated HT frame velocities among different schemes was as large as 30 km s−1 for these two events. In addition, we noted that the degree of Alfvénicity tends to decrease with an increasing variance of HT frame velocity, suggesting that a constant HT frame will also give good results for cases of a small variance of HT frame velocity.

Dayside Polar Cap Density Enhancements Formed During Substorms

AbstractThe formation of polar cap density enhancements, such as tongues‐of‐ionization (TOIs), are often attributed to enhanced dayside reconnection and convection due to solar wind changes. However, ionospheric poleward moving density enhancements can also form in the absence of changes in the solar wind. This study examines how TOI and patch events that are not triggered by solar wind changes relate to magnetospheric processes, specifically substorms. Based on total electron content and Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) observations, we find substorms that occur at the same time as TOIs are associated with sudden enhancements in dayside poleward flows during the substorm expansion phase. Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) observations also show enhanced field‐aligned currents (FACs) that extend into the dayside ionosphere during this period. We suggest that the global enhancement of FACs and convection during these substorms are the drivers of these TOIs by enhancing dayside convection and transporting high‐density lower‐latitude plasma into the polar cap. However, we also find that not all substorms are coincident with polar cap density enhancements. A superposed epoch study showed that the AL index for TOIs during substorms is not particularly stronger than substorms without TOIs, but epoch studies of AMPERE observations do show events with TOIs to have a higher total FAC on both the dayside and nightside. Our results show the importance of TOI formation during substorms when solar wind drivers are absent, and the importance of considering substorms in the global current system. This work also shows the need to incorporate substorms into models of high‐latitude global convection and currents.

Coronal-jet-producing Minifilament Eruptions as a Possible Source of Parker Solar Probe Switchbacks

Abstract The Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has observed copious rapid magnetic field direction changes in the near-Sun solar wind. These features have been called “switchbacks,” and their origin is a mystery. But their widespread nature suggests that they may be generated by a frequently occurring process in the Sun’s atmosphere. We examine the possibility that the switchbacks originate from coronal jets. Recent work suggests that many coronal jets result when photospheric magnetic flux cancels, and forms a small-scale “minifilament” flux rope that erupts and reconnects with coronal field. We argue that the reconnected erupting-minifilament flux rope can manifest as an outward propagating Alfvénic fluctuation that steepens into an increasingly compact disturbance as it moves through the solar wind. Using previous observed properties of coronal jets that connect to coronagraph-observed white-light jets (a.k.a. “narrow CMEs”), along with typical solar wind speed values, we expect the coronal-jet-produced disturbances to traverse near-perihelion PSP in ≲25 minutes, with a velocity of ∼400 km s−1. To consider further the plausibility of this idea, we show that a previously studied series of equatorial latitude coronal jets, originating from the periphery of an active region, generate white-light jets in the outer corona (seen in STEREO/COR2 coronagraph images; 2.5–15 R ⊙), and into the inner heliosphere (seen in Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)/Hi1 heliospheric imager images; 15–84 R ⊙). Thus it is tenable that disturbances put onto open coronal magnetic field lines by coronal-jet-producing erupting-minifilament flux ropes can propagate out to PSP space and appear as switchbacks.

Measuring Information Coupling between the Solar Wind and the Magnetosphere–Ionosphere System

The interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere–ionosphere system is very complex, being essentially the result of the interplay between an external driver, the solar wind, and internal processes to the magnetosphere–ionosphere system. In this framework, modelling the Earth’s magnetosphere–ionosphere response to the changes of the solar wind conditions requires a correct identification of the causality relations between the different parameters/quantities used to monitor this coupling. Nowadays, in the framework of complex dynamical systems, both linear statistical tools and Granger causality models drastically fail to detect causal relationships between time series. Conversely, information theory-based concepts can provide powerful model-free statistical quantities capable of disentangling the complex nature of the causal relationships. In this work, we discuss how to deal with the problem of measuring causal information in the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere system. We show that a time delay of about 30–60 min is found between solar wind and magnetospheric and ionospheric overall dynamics as monitored by geomagnetic indices, with a great information transfer observed between the z component of the interplanetary magnetic field and geomagnetic indices, while a lower transfer is found when other solar wind parameters are considered. This suggests that the best candidate for modelling the geomagnetic response to solar wind changes is the interplanetary magnetic field component . A discussion of the relevance of our results in the framework of Space Weather is also provided.

Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a Uranus-at-equinox type rotating magnetosphere

Context. As proven by measurements at Uranus and Neptune, the magnetic dipole axis and planetary spin axis can be off by a large angle exceeding 45°. The magnetosphere of such an (exo-)planet is highly variable over a one-day period and it does potentially exhibit a complex magnetic tail structure. The dynamics and shape of rotating magnetospheres do obviously depend on the planet’s characteristics but also, and very substantially, on the orientation of the planetary spin axis with respect to the impinging, generally highly supersonic, stellar wind. Aims. On its orbit around the Sun, the orientation of Uranus’ spin axis with respect to the solar wind changes from quasi-perpendicular (solstice) to quasi-parallel (equinox). In this paper, we simulate the magnetosphere of a fictitious Uranus-like planet plunged in a supersonic plasma (the stellar wind) at equinox. A simulation with zero wind velocity is also presented in order to help disentangle the effects of the rotation from the effects of the supersonic wind in the structuring of the planetary magnetic tail. Methods. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in conservative form are integrated on a structured spherical grid using the Message-Passing Interface-Adaptive Mesh Refinement Versatile Advection Code (MPI-AMRVAC). In order to limit diffusivity at grid level, we used background and residual decomposition of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is thus made of the sum of a prescribed time-dependent background field B0(t) and a residual field B1(t) computed by the code. In our simulations, B0(t) is essentially made of a rigidly rotating potential dipole field. Results. The first simulation shows that, while plunged in a non-magnetised plasma, a magnetic dipole rotating about an axis oriented at 90° with respect to itself does naturally accelerate the plasma away from the dipole around the rotation axis. The acceleration occurs over a spatial scale of the order of the Alfvénic co-rotation scale r*. During the acceleration, the dipole lines become stretched and twisted. The observed asymptotic fluid velocities are of the order of the phase speed of the fast MHD mode. In two simulations where the surrounding non-magnetised plasma was chosen to move at supersonic speed perpendicularly to the rotation axis (a situation that is reminiscent of Uranus in the solar wind at equinox), the lines of each hemisphere are symmetrically twisted and stretched as before. However, they are also bent by the supersonic flow, thus forming a magnetic tail of interlaced field lines of opposite polarity. Similarly to the case with no wind, the interlaced field lines and the attached plasma are accelerated by the rotation and also by the transfer of kinetic energy flux from the surrounding supersonic flow. The tailwards fluid velocity increases asymptotically towards the externally imposed flow velocity, or wind. In one more simulation, a transverse magnetic field, to both the spin axis and flow direction, was added to the impinging flow so that magnetic reconnection could occur between the dipole anchored field lines and the impinging field lines. No major difference with respect to the no-magnetised flow case is observed, except that the tailwards acceleration occurs in two steps and is slightly more efficient. In order to emphasise the effect of rotation, we only address the case of a fast-rotating planet where the co-rotation scale r* is of the order of the planetary counter-flow magnetopause stand-off distance rm. For Uranus, r*≫ rm and the effects of rotation are only visible at large tailwards distances r ≫ rm.

Response of the magnetosphere–ionosphere system to sudden changes in solar wind dynamic pressure

The geomagnetic sudden commencement (SC) is a plasma and magnetic field disturbance in the magnetosphere–ionosphere region, which appears as a response of this system to a sudden change in the solar wind dynamic pressures associated with shock and tangential discontinuity of solar wind. As this mechanism seems to be simple, the SC has been widely investigated based on observations in the region from the surface of the Earth to the magnetosphere. A schematic model of the SC was presented by Araki (Solar wind sources of magnetospheric ultra-low-frequency waves. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, pp 183–200, 1994), who compiled many observational results and theories related to this phenomenon. Recent advances in supercomputing allow us to present new numerical results including three-dimensional global current systems of the SC which cannot be obtained only by direct observations and theoretical analysis. The simulation study not only confirms the results of a previous model on the initial response of the magnetosphere–ionosphere system to solar wind changes (the preliminary impulse) but also presents new findings on dynamical processes in the magnetosphere–ionosphere system in the period following the initial response (the main impulse). Furthermore, the simulation study reveals the SC sequence in the context of break and recovery of the steady magnetosphere–ionosphere convection system. The transient flow vortex in the flank magnetosphere in the main impulse phase plays an essential role in recovering the convection system. This report describes the SC process from the viewpoint of the state transition of the magnetosphere–ionosphere compound system Tanaka (Space Sci Rev 133:1, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-007-9168-4, 2007).

Interplanetary spread of solar energetic protons near a high-speed solar wind stream

Aims. We study how a fast solar wind stream embedded in a slow solar wind influences the spread of solar energetic protons in interplanetary space. In particular, we aim at understanding how the particle intensity and anisotropy vary along interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) lines that encounter changing solar wind conditions such as the shock waves bounding a corotating interaction region (CIR). Moreover, we study how the intensities and anisotropies vary as a function of the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinate, and how the width of the particle intensities evolves with the heliographic radial distance. Furthermore, we study how cross-field diffusion may alter these spatial profiles. Methods. To model the energetic protons, we used a recently developed particle transport code that computes particle distributions in the heliosphere by solving the focused transport equation (FTE) in a stochastic manner. The particles are propagated in a solar wind containing a CIR, which was generated by the heliospheric model, EUHFORIA. We study four cases in which we assume a delta injection of 4 MeV protons spread uniformly over different regions at the inner boundary of the model. These source regions have the same size and shape, yet are shifted in longitude from each other, and are therefore magnetically connected to different solar wind conditions. Results. The intensity and anisotropy profiles along selected IMF lines vary strongly according to the different solar wind conditions encountered along the field line. The IMF lines crossing the shocks bounding the CIR show the formation of accelerated particle populations, with the reverse shock wave being a more efficient accelerator than the forward shock wave. The longitudinal intensity profiles near the CIR are highly asymmetric in contrast to the profiles obtained in a nominal solar wind. For the injection regions that do not cross the transition zone between the fast and slow solar wind, we observe a steep intensity drop of several orders of magnitude near the stream interface (SI) inside the CIR. Moreover, we demonstrate that the longitudinal width of the particle intensity distribution can increase, decrease, or remain constant with heliographic radial distance, reflecting the underlying IMF structure. Finally, we show how the deflection of the IMF at the shock waves and the compression of the IMF in the CIR deforms the three-dimensional shape of the particle distribution in such a way that the original shape of the injection profile is lost.

Quasi-periodicities in cosmic rays and time lag with the solar activity at a middle latitude neutron monitor: 1982–2017

Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) after entering the heliosphere are continuously modulated by the change in solar wind and the associated heliosphericmagnetic field. GCRs also follow about 11 year sunspot cycle in an inverse way with some time lag of few months to years, which usually varies from cycle to cycle Badruddin et al. 2007; Kane 2014; Aslam and Badruddin 2015 (e.g. Badruddin et al. in Astron. Astrophys. 466(2):697–704, 2007; Kane in Sol. Phys. 289:2669–2675, 2014; Aslam and Badruddin in Sol. Phys. 290:2333, 2015). In this work, we have investigated solar modulation of GCRs measured at three mid cut-off rigidity neutron monitor stations for the period of 1982 to 2017, covering two complete solar cycles and a major part of the recent cycle 24. We study the time lag between GCRs intensity and various solar, geomagnetic and interplanetary parameters separately during the solar cycles under investigation. Further, we have investigated the presence and temporal evolution of mid term quasi-periodicities of GCRs time series during the above mentioned phases utilizing both Morlet wavelet transform and Scargle periodogram technique. Power spectral analysis indicates the presence of several mid term quasi-periodicities including Rieger type and Quasi-biennial oscillations. We discuss the findings and compare them with results of other authors.

Performance Analysis of Grid connected PV/Wind Hybrid Power System during Variations of Environmental Conditions and Load

This survey investigates a dynamic modeling, simulation and control of Photovoltaic (PV)-wind hybrid system connected to electrical grid, considering changes of environmental conditions. In addition, the daily variations of critical load power are considered. The studied hybrid system consists of two Photovoltaic (PV) stations placed at different locations and one wind farm are integrated into main AC bus to enhance the system effectiveness. The PV/wind hybrid system feeds large plant with critical variable loads and electrical utility grid. The technique of extracting maximum power point is applied for both photovoltaic stations and wind farm to capture maximum power under varying climatic conditions. Modeling and simulation of the studied hybrid system is performed using matlab-Simulink software. The reliability of the studied hybrid system is analyzed under various operating conditions such as changes of solar irradiation and wind speed. Control strategy for power flow is proposed to supply critical load demand of plant. The simulation results show that when the injected power from hybrid system is larger than critical load power, the excess power will be injected to electrical grid. Otherwise, when injected power is lower than critical power demand, electrical utility grid in cooperated with hybrid power system will supply the critical load power. In addition, when the injected power from hybrid system is unavailable, load demand is entirely fed by electrical utility.

Understanding Space Weather: Part III: The Sun’s Domain

Abstract The Sun exports a continuous outflow of plasma into interplanetary space: the solar wind. The solar wind primarily comprises two components: high- and slow-speed flows. These move with velocities ranging from 200 to 800 km s-1 depending on the source of the particular flow. As well as its speed, the density, temperature, and even the composition of the solar wind change. Adding to its intrinsic variability, there are embedded transients resulting from flares and coronal mass ejections that further complicate its dynamics and space weather impacts. The solar wind interacts differently with each of the solar system objects it encounters based on their magnetic and atmospheric properties. Even more complex processes occur as the solar wind encounters the interstellar medium, at the outer boundaries of the Sun’s domain. The solar wind stretches to beyond 100 au (where 1 au ≡ 149 597 870 700 m) from the Sun, which means that Earth is essentially immersed in the very hot solar atmosphere, and that leads to many space weather impacts on life and society. The specific space weather impacts on Earth will be discussed in detail in the next two papers in this series.

Response times of Cassini/INCA > 5.2 keV ENAs and Voyager ions in the heliosheath over the solar cycle

Both a magnetosphere-like tail and a bubble model of the heliosphere were posited by E. N. Parker in 1961. Recently, we showed that heliosheath ions are the source of > 5.2 keV Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENA), whose images of the heliosphere exhibit a rough nose to anti-nose (tail) global symmetry that resembles a diamagnetic bubble. The comparison between energetic neutral atom (ENA) global images of the helioshphere obtained with the Ion and Neutral Camera (INCA) on board Cassini and ions measured in-situ by the Low Energy Charged Particle experiment (LECP) on board Voyager 1 and 2 (V1/V2) in overlapping energy bands over an 11-year period shows that the heliosphere responds promptly, within ∼2-3 years, to outward propagating solar wind changes in both the nose and tail directions. Here we focus on the recovery of solar cycle 24 and the response times of > 5.2 keV ENAs to show that this ∼2-3-year time delay is consistent with a “tail” of ∼80-120 AU. This preliminary rough calculation is generally consistent with lower energy ENA data (E < 6 keV, from the IBEX-Lo and IBEX-Hi) and is supported by recent modelling of the heliosphere.

2017 Leonard Medal for Mark Thiemens

2017 Leonard Medal for Mark Thiemens

A new solar wind‐driven global dynamic plasmapause model: 1. Database and statistics

AbstractA large database, possibly the largest plasmapause location database, with 49,119 plasmapause crossing events from the in situ observations and 3957 plasmapause profiles (corresponding to 48,899 plasmapause locations in 1 h magnetic local time (MLT) intervals) from optical remote sensing from 1977 to 2015 by 18 satellites is compiled. The responses of the global plasmapause to solar wind and geomagnetic changes and the diurnal, seasonal, solar cycle variations of the plasmapause are investigated based on this database. It is found that the plasmapause shrinks toward the Earth globally and a clear bulge appears in the afternoon to premidnight MLT sector as the solar wind or geomagnetic conditions change from quiet to disturbed. The bulge is clearer during storm times or southward interplanetary magnetic field. The diurnal variations of the plasmapause are most probably the result of the difference between the magnetic dipole tilt and the Earth's spin axis. The seasonal variations of the plasmapause are characterized by equinox valleys and solstice peaks. It is also found that the plasmapause approaches the Earth during high solar activity and expands outward during low solar activity. This database will help us study and understand the evolution properties of the plasmapause shape and the interaction processes of the plasmasphere, the ring current, and the radiation belts in the magnetosphere.

How does the Sun Influence the Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn?

AbstractSpacecraft have visited Jupiter and Saturn at all phases of the solar cycle and thus we have a wealth of data with which to explore both upstream parameters and magnetospheric response. In this paper we review upstream parameters including interplanetary magnetic field strength and direction, solar wind dynamic pressure, plasma beta and Mach number. We consider the impact of changing solar wind on dayside coupling via reconnection. We also comment on how solar UV flux variability over a solar cycle influences the plasma and neutral tori in the inner magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, and thus estimate the solar cycle effects on internally driven magnetospheric dynamics. Finally we place our results in the context of the now complete set of data from the Cassini mission at Saturn and the current data streaming in from Juno at Jupiter, outlining future avenues for research.

Solar wind controls on Mercury's magnetospheric cusp

AbstractThis study assesses the response of the cusp to solar wind changes comprehensively, using 2848 orbits of MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) observation. The assessment entails four steps: (1) propose and validate an approach to estimate the solar wind magnetic field (interplanetary magnetic field (IMF)) for MESSENGER's cusp transit; (2) define an index σ measuring the intensity of the magnetic disturbance which significantly peaks within the cusp and serves as an indicator of the cusp activity level; (3) construct an empirical model of σ as a function of IMF and Mercury's heliocentric distance rsun, through linear regression; and (4) use the model to estimate and compare the polar distribution of the disturbance σ under different conditions for a systematic comparison. The comparison illustrates that the disturbance peak over the cusp is strongest and widest extending in local time for negative IMF Bx and negative IMF Bz, and when Mercury is around the perihelion. Azimuthal shifts are associated with both IMF By and rsun: the cusp moves toward dawn when IMF By or rsun decrease. These dependences are explained in terms of the IMF Bx‐controlled dayside magnetospheric topology, the component reconnection model applied to IMF By and Bz, and the variability of solar wind ram pressure associated with heliocentric distance rsun. The applicability of the component reconnection model on IMF By indicates that at Mercury reconnection occurs at lower shear angles than at Earth.

The bubble-like shape of the heliosphere observed by Voyager and Cassini

For more than five decades, the shape and interactions of the heliosphere with the local interstellar medium have been discussed in the context of two competing models, posited in 19611: a magnetosphere-like heliotail and a more symmetric bubble shape. Although past models broadly assumed the magnetosphere-like concept, the accurate heliospheric configuration remained largely undetermined due to lack of measurements. In recent years, however, Voyagers 1 and 2 (V1 and V2) crossed the termination shock — the boundary where the solar wind drops — north and south of the ecliptic plane at 94 au2,3 and 84 au4 in 2004 and 2007, respectively, and discovered the reservoir of ions and electrons that constitute the heliosheath, while Cassini remotely imaged the heliosphere5 for the first time in 2003. Here we report 5.2–55 keV energetic neutral atom (ENA) global images of the heliosphere obtained with the Cassini/Ion and Neutral Camera (INCA). We compare them with 28–53 keV ions measured within the heliosheath by the low-energy charged particle (LECP) experiment onboard V1 and V2 over an 11-year period (2003–2014). We show that the heliosheath ions are the source of ENA. These observations also demonstrate that the heliosphere responds promptly, within ~2–3 years, to outward propagating solar wind changes in both the nose and tail directions. These results, together with the V1 measurement of a ~0.5 nT interstellar magnetic field6 and the enhanced ratio between particle pressure and magnetic pressure in the heliosheath7, strongly suggest a diamagnetic bubble-like heliosphere with few substantial tail-like features. Our results are consistent with recent modelling8–11. The authors put together measurements of ions and neutral atoms from Cassini and the two Voyagers and find that the heliosphere responds quickly (with a lag of 2–3 years) to the solar cycle and that it is bubble-shaped and not tail-shaped, as usually schematized.

Variations of the Martian plasma environment during the ICME passage on 8 March 2015: A time‐dependent MHD study

AbstractThe Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft observed a strong interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) impacting Mars on 8 March 2015. We use a time‐dependent global MHD model to investigate the response of the Martian ionosphere and induced magnetosphere to the large solar wind disturbance associated with the ICME. Taking observed upstream solar wind conditions from MAVEN as inputs to the MHD model, the variations of the Martian plasma environments are simulated realistically in a time period from 2.5 h prior to the arrival of the ICME shock to about 12 h after the impact. Detailed comparisons between the model results and the relevant MAVEN plasma measurements are presented, which clearly show that the time‐dependent multispecies single‐fluid MHD model is able to reproduce the main features observed by the spacecraft during the ICME passage. Model results suggest that the induced magnetosphere responds to solar wind variation on a very short time scale (approximately minutes). The variations of the plasma boundaries' distances from the planet along the subsolar line are examined in detail, which show a clear anticorrelation with the magnetosonic Mach number. Plasma properties in the ionosphere (especially the induced magnetic field) varied rapidly with solar wind changes. Model results also show that ion escape rates could be enhanced by an order of magnitude in response to the high solar wind dynamic pressure during the ICME event.

Treatment of Viscosity in the Shock Waves Observed After Two Consecutive Coronal Mass Ejection Activities CME08/03/2012 and CME15/03/2012

A coronal mass ejection (CME) is one of the most the powerful activities of the Sun. There is a possibility to produce shocks in the interplanetary medium after CMEs. Shock waves can be observed when the solar wind changes its velocity from being supersonic nature to being subsonic nature. The investigations of such activities have a central place in space weather purposes, since; the interaction of shocks with viscosity is one of the most important problems in the supersonic and compressible gas flow regime (Blazek in Computational fluid dynamics: principles and applications. Elsevier, Amsterdam 2001). The main aim of present work is to achieve a search for the viscosity effects in the shocks occurred after two consecutive coronal mass ejection activities in 2012 (i.e. CME08/03/2012 and CME15/03/2012).