Interplanetary Type Research Articles

Quantifying the Propagation of Fast Coronal Mass Ejections from the Sun to Interplanetary Space by Combining Remote Sensing and Multi-point In Situ Observations

Abstract In order to have a comprehensive view of the propagation and evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun to deep interplanetary space beyond 1 au, we carry out a kinematic analysis of seven CMEs in solar cycle 23. The events are required to have coordinated coronagraph observations, interplanetary type II radio bursts, and multi-point in situ measurements at the Earth and Ulysses. A graduated cylindrical shell model, an analytical model without free parameters, and a magnetohydrodynamic model are used to derive CME kinematics near the Sun, to quantify the CME/shock propagation in the Sun–Earth space, and to connect in situ signatures at the Earth and Ulysses, respectively. We find that each of the seven CME-driven shocks experienced a major deceleration before reaching 1 au and thereafter propagated with a gradual deceleration from the Earth to larger distances. The resulting CME/shock propagation profile for each case is roughly consistent with all the data, which verifies the usefulness of the simple analytical model for CME/shock propagation in the heliosphere. The statistical analysis of CME kinematics indicates a tendency that the faster the CME, the larger the deceleration, and the shorter the deceleration time period within 1 au. For several of these events, the associated geomagnetic storms were mainly caused by the southward magnetic fields in the sheath region. In particular, the interaction between a CME-driven shock and a preceding ejecta significantly enhanced the pre-existing southward magnetic fields and gave rise to a severe complex geomagnetic storm.

Statistical Survey of Coronal Mass Ejections and Interplanetary Type II Bursts

Abstract Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are responsible for most severe space weather events, such as solar energetic particle events and geomagnetic storms at Earth. Type II radio bursts are slow drifting emissions produced by beams of suprathermal electrons accelerated at CME-driven shock waves propagating through the corona and interplanetary medium. Here, we report a statistical study of 153 interplanetary type II radio bursts observed by the two STEREO spacecraft between 2008 March and 2014 August. The shock associated radio emission was compared with CME parameters included in the Heliospheric Cataloguing, Analysis and Techniques Service catalog. We found that faster CMEs are statistically more likely to be associated with the interplanetary type II radio bursts. We correlate frequency drifts of interplanetary type II bursts with white-light observations to localize radio sources with respect to CMEs. Our results suggest that interplanetary type II bursts are more likely to have a source region situated closer to CME flanks than CME leading edge regions.

New Evidence for Third Harmonic Electromagnetic Radiation in Interplanetary Type III Solar Radio Bursts

This article provides new evidence for a third harmonic component in the electromagnetic radiation generated by interplanetary type III solar radio bursts observed locally near 1 AU. This evidence comes mainly from the analysis of the low-frequency radio emissions observed by the Wind spacecraft. The analysis examines, at high-time and high-frequency resolution, the local type III radiation that is occasionally observed at Wind. The associated Langmuir waves and energetic electron beams, as well as simultaneous observations from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and Ulysses spacecraft where possible, are used to confirm the local nature of the observed radiation and to help identify the solar origin. We find that the detection of a third harmonic component in the local type III radiation near 1 AU is exceedingly rare. However, our analyses indicate that, in addition to the more commonly observed second harmonic component, a third harmonic component is sometimes conspicuously evident in the local type III radiation. We find that the third harmonic component, when observed, is less intense than the second harmonic component, with the intensity ratio varying between 0.3 and 0.7. Sometimes the third harmonic component is expected to be detected, but it is not observed.

Cut-off features in interplanetary solar radio type IV emission

Solar radio type IV bursts can sometimes show directivity, so that no burst is observed when the source region in located far from the solar disk center. This has recently been verified also from space observations, at decameter wavelengths, using a 3D-view to the Sun with STEREO and Wind satellites. It is unclear whether the directivity is caused by the emission mechanism, by reduced radio wave formation toward certain directions, or by absorption/blocking of radio waves along the line of sight. We present here observations of three type IV burst events that occurred on 23, 25, and 29 July 2004, and originated from the same active region. The source location of the first event was near the solar disk center and in the third event near the west limb. Our analysis shows that in the last two events the type IV bursts experienced partial cut-offs in their emission, that coincided with the appearance of shock-related type II bursts. The type II bursts were formed at the flanks and leading fronts of propagating coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These events support the suggestion of absorption toward directions where the type II shock regions are located.

Interplanetary Type II Radio Bursts from Wind/WAVES and Sustained Gamma-Ray Emission from Fermi/LAT: Evidence for Shock Source

Abstract We present quantitative evidence that interplanetary type II radio bursts and sustained gamma-ray emission (SGRE) events from the Sun are closely related. Out of about 30 SGRE events reported in Share et al. we consider 13 events that had a duration exceeding ∼5 hr to exclude any flare-impulsive phase gamma-rays. The SGRE duration also has a linear relation with the ending frequency of the bursts. The synchronism between the ending times of SGRE and the type II emission strongly supports the idea that the same shock accelerates electrons to produce type II bursts and protons (>300 MeV) that propagate from the shock to the solar surface to produce SGRE via pion decay. The acceleration of high-energy particles is confirmed by the associated solar energetic particle (SEP) events detected at Earth and/or at the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft. Furthermore, the presence of >300 MeV protons is corroborated by the fact that the underlying coronal mass ejections (CMEs) had properties identical to those associated with ground-level enhancement events: they had speeds of >2000 km s−1 and all were full-halo CMEs. Many SEP events did not have detectable flux at Earth in the >300 MeV energy channels, presumably because of poor magnetic connectivity.

Visibility and Origin of Compact Interplanetary Radio Type IV Bursts

We have analyzed radio type IV bursts in the interplanetary (IP) space at decameter–hectometer (DH) wavelengths to determine their source origin and a reason for the observed directivity. We used radio dynamic spectra from the instruments on three different spacecraft, STEREO-A, Wind, and STEREO-B, which were located approximately 90 degrees apart from each other in 2011 – 2012, and thus gave a 360 degree view of the Sun. The radio data were compared to white-light and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations of flares, EUV waves, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in five solar events. We find that the reason that compact and intense DH type IV burst emission is observed from only one spacecraft at a time is the absorption of emission in one direction and that the emission is blocked by the solar disk and dense corona in the other direction. The geometry also makes it possible to observe metric type IV bursts in the low corona from a direction where the higher-located DH type IV emission is not detectable. In the absorbed direction we found streamers, and they were estimated to be the locations of type II bursts, caused by shocks at the CME flanks. The high-density plasma was therefore most probably formed by shock–streamer interaction. In some cases, the type II-emitting region was also capable of stopping later-accelerated electron beams, which were visible as type III bursts that ended near the type II burst lanes.

Direction-finding Analysis of the 2012 July 6 Type II Solar Radio Burst at Low Frequencies

Abstract The 2012 July 6 X1.1 flare at S13W59 and a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) with a space speed of ∼1900 km s−1 were associated with type III and type II radio bursts. The metric-to-decametric type II radio burst extended down to ∼5 MHz. Simultaneously, a slowly drifting feature with a harmonic structure was observed by Wind and Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory radio receivers around and below 1 MHz, above the strong type III radio burst at lower frequencies. The radio direction-finding analysis of this lower-frequency interplanetary (IP) type II radio burst indicates that the radio source was located near the nose and possibly toward the southern flank of the CME-driven shock. These results provide an independent confirmation of the previous suggestions that when the metric and IP type II bursts are overlapping, the lower-frequency IP type II radio burst originates near the shock nose, whereas the source of the higher-frequency metric type II burst is closer to the Sun in the shock flank region. These results further support the idea that the coronal and IP type II bursts are produced by the same CME-driven shock.

Sun-to-earth propagation of the 2015 June 21 coronal mass ejection revealed by optical, EUV, and radio observations

We investigate the propagation of the 2015 June 21 CME-driven shock as revealed by the type II bursts at metric and longer wavelengths and coronagraph observations. The CME was associated with the second largest geomagnetic storm of solar cycle 24 and a large solar energetic particle (SEP) event. The eruption consisted of two M-class flares, with the first one being confined, with no metric or interplanetary radio bursts. However, there was intense microwave burst, indicating accelerated particles injected toward the Sun. The second flare was eruptive that resulted in a halo CME. The CME was deflected primarily by an equatorial coronal hole that resulted in the modification of the intensity profile of the associated SEP event and the duration of the CME at Earth. The interplanetary type II burst was particularly intense and was visible from the corona all the way to the vicinity of the Wind spacecraft with fundamental-harmonic structure. We computed the shock speed using the type II drift rates at various heliocentric distances and obtained information on the evolution of the shock that matched coronagraph observations near the Sun and in-situ observations near Earth. The depth of the geomagnetic storm is consistent with the 1-AU speed of the CME and the magnitude of the southward component.

Interplanetary type II radio bursts and their association with CMEs and flares

We study the characteristics of the CMEs and their association with the end-frequency of interplanetary (IP)-type-II bursts by analyzing a set of 138 events (IP-type-II bursts–flares–CMEs) observed during the period 1997–2012. The present analysis consider only the type II bursts having starting frequency $< 14~\mbox{MHz}$ to avoid the extension of coronal type IIs. The selected events are classified into three groups depending on the end-frequency of type IIs as follows, (A) Higher, (B) Intermediate and (C) Lower end-frequency. We compare characteristics of CMEs, flares and type II burst for the three selected groups of events and report some of the important differences. The observed height of CMEs is compared with the height of IP type IIs estimated using the electron density models. By applying a density multiplier ( $m$ ) to this model, the density has been constrained both in the upper corona and in the interplanetary medium, respectively as $m= 1 \mbox{ to } 10$ and $m = 1 \mbox{ to } 3$ . This study indicates that there is a correlation between the observed CME height and estimated type II height for groups B and C events whereas this correlation is absent in group A. In all the groups (A, B & C), the different heights of CMEs and type II reveal that the type IIs are not only observed at the nose but also at the flank of the CMEs.

Interplanetary Type III Bursts and Electron Density Fluctuations in the Solar Wind

Abstract Type III bursts are generated by fast electron beams originated from magnetic reconnection sites of solar flares. As propagation of radio waves in the interplanetary medium is strongly affected by random electron density fluctuations, type III bursts provide us with a unique diagnostic tool for solar wind remote plasma measurements. Here, we performed a statistical survey of 152 simple and isolated type III bursts observed by the twin-spacecraft Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory mission. We investigated their time–frequency profiles in order to retrieve decay times as a function of frequency. Next, we performed Monte Carlo simulations to study the role of scattering due to random electron density fluctuations on time–frequency profiles of radio emissions generated in the interplanetary medium. For simplification, we assumed the presence of isotropic electron density fluctuations described by a power law with the Kolmogorov spectral index. Decay times obtained from observations and simulations were compared. We found that the characteristic exponential decay profile of type III bursts can be explained by the scattering of the fundamental component between the source and the observer despite restrictive assumptions included in the Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. Our results suggest that relative electron density fluctuations in the solar wind are 0.06–0.07 over wide range of heliospheric distances.

Low Altitude Solar Magnetic Reconnection, Type III Solar Radio Bursts, and X-ray Emissions

Type III solar radio bursts are the Sun’s most intense and frequent nonthermal radio emissions. They involve two critical problems in astrophysics, plasma physics, and space physics: how collective processes produce nonthermal radiation and how magnetic reconnection occurs and changes magnetic energy into kinetic energy. Here magnetic reconnection events are identified definitively in Solar Dynamics Observatory UV-EUV data, with strong upward and downward pairs of jets, current sheets, and cusp-like geometries on top of time-varying magnetic loops, and strong outflows along pairs of open magnetic field lines. Type III bursts imaged by the Murchison Widefield Array and detected by the Learmonth radiospectrograph and STEREO B spacecraft are demonstrated to be in very good temporal and spatial coincidence with specific reconnection events and with bursts of X-rays detected by the RHESSI spacecraft. The reconnection sites are low, near heights of 5–10 Mm. These images and event timings provide the long-desired direct evidence that semi-relativistic electrons energized in magnetic reconnection regions produce type III radio bursts. Not all the observed reconnection events produce X-ray events or coronal or interplanetary type III bursts; thus different special conditions exist for electrons leaving reconnection regions to produce observable radio, EUV, UV, and X-ray bursts.

Origin of Radio Enhancements in Type II Bursts in the Outer Corona

We study interplanetary (IP) solar radio type II bursts from 2011 – 2014 in order to determine the cause of the intense enhancements in their radio emission. Type II bursts are known to be due to propagating shocks that are often associated with fast halo-type coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We analysed the radio spectral data and the white-light coronagraph data from 16 selected events to obtain directions and heights for the propagating CMEs and the type II bursts. CMEs preceding the selected events were included in the analysis to verify whether CME interaction was possible. As a result, we were able to classify the events into five different groups. 1) Events where the heights of the CMEs and type II bursts are consistent, indicating that the shock is located at the leading front of the CME. The radio enhancements are superposed on the type II lanes, and they are probably formed when the shock meets remnant material from earlier CMEs, but the shock continues to propagate at the same speed. 2) Events where the type II heights agree with the CME leading front and an earlier CME is located at a height that suggests interaction. The radio enhancements and frequency jumps could be due to the merging process of the CMEs. 3) Events where the type II heights are significantly lower than the CME heights almost from the start. Interaction with close-by streamers is probably the cause for the enhanced radio emission, which is located at the CME flank region. 4) Events where the radio enhancements are located within wide-band type II bursts and the causes for the radio enhancements are not clear. 5) Events where the radio enhancements are associated with later-accelerated particles (electron beams, observed as type III bursts) that stop at the type II burst emission lane, and no other obvious reason for the enhancement can be identified. Most of the events (38%) were due to shock–streamer interaction, while one quarter of the events was due to possible CME–CME interaction. The drift rates, bandwidth characteristics, or cross-correlations of various characteristics did not reveal any clear association with particular category types. The chosen atmospheric density model causes the largest uncertainties in the derived radio heights, although in some cases, the emission bandwidths also lead to relatively large error margins. Our conclusion is that the enhanced radio emission associated with CMEs and propagating shocks can have different origins, depending on their overall configuration and the associated processes.

The 26 December 2001 Solar Eruptive Event Responsible for GLE63: III. CME, Shock Waves, and Energetic Particles

The SOL2001-12-26 moderate solar eruptive event (GOES importance M7.1, microwaves up to 4000 sfu at 9.4 GHz, CME speed 1446 km/s) produced strong fluxes of solar energetic particles and ground-level enhancement of cosmic-ray intensity (GLE63). To find a possible reason for the atypically high proton outcome of this event, we study multi-wavelength images and dynamic radio spectra and quantitatively reconcile the findings with each other. An additional eruption probably occurred in the same active region about half an hour before the main eruption. The latter produced two blast-wave-like shocks during the impulsive phase. The two shock waves eventually merged around the radial direction into a single shock traced up to $25R_\odot$ as a halo ahead of the expanding CME body, in agreement with an interplanetary Type II event recorded by the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (WAVES) experiment on the Wind spacecraft. The shape and kinematics of the halo indicate an intermediate regime of the shock between the blast wave and bow shock at these distances. The results show that i) the shock wave appeared during the flare rise and could accelerate particles earlier than usually assumed; ii) the particle event could be amplified by the preceding eruption, which stretched closed structures above the developing CME, facilitated its lift-off and escape of flare-accelerated particles, enabled a higher CME speed and stronger shock ahead; iii) escape of flare-accelerated particles could be additionally facilitated by reconnection of the flux rope, where they were trapped, with a large coronal hole; iv) the first eruption supplied a rich seed population accelerated by a trailing shock wave.

Small electron acceleration episodes in the solar corona

We study the energetics of non-thermal electrons produced in small acceleration episodes in the solar corona. We carried out an extensive survey spanning 2004–2015 and shortlisted six impulsive electron events detected at 1 au that were not associated with large solar flares (GOES soft X-ray class > C1) or with coronal mass ejections. Each of these events had weak, but detectable hard X-ray (HXR) emission near the west limb, and were associated with interplanetary type III bursts. In some respects, these events seem like weak counterparts of ‘cold/tenuous’ flares. The energy carried by the HXR producing electron population was ≈1023–1025 erg, while that in the corresponding population detected at 1 au was ≈1024–1025 erg. The number of electrons that escape the coronal acceleration site and reach 1 au constitute 6 per cent to 148 per cent of those that precipitate downwards to produce thick target HXR emission.

Coronal type III radio bursts and their X-ray flare and interplanetary type III counterparts

Type III bursts and hard X-rays are both produced by flare energetic electron beams. The link between both emissions has been investigated in many previous studies, but no statistical studies have compared both coronal and interplanetary type III bursts with X-ray flares. Using coronal radio events above 100 MHz exclusively from type III bursts, we revisited long-standing questions: Do all coronal type III bursts have X-ray counterparts. What correlation, if any, occurs between radio and X-ray intensities. What X-ray and radio signatures above 100 MHz occur in connection with interplanetary type III bursts below 14 MHz. We analysed data from 2002 to 2011 starting with coronal type III bursts above 100 MHz. We used RHESSI X-ray data greater than 6 keV to make a list of 321 events that have associated type III bursts and X-ray flares, encompassing at least 28 percent of the initial sample of type III events. We examined the timings, intensities, associated GOES class, and any interplanetary radio signature. For our 321 events, the X-ray emission at 6 keV usually lasted longer than type III burst groups at frequencies greater than 100 MHz. A weak correlation was found between the type III radio flux at frequencies below 327 MHz and the X-ray intensity at 25-50 keV, with an absence of events at high X-ray intensity and low type III radio flux. Interplanetary type III bursts less than 14 MHz were observed for 54 percent of the events, increasing when events were observed with 25-50 keV X-rays. A stronger interplanetary association was present when 25-50 keV count rates were above 250 counts per second or 170 MHz fluxes were greater than 1000 SFU, relating to more energetic electrons above 25 keV and events where magnetic flux tubes extend into the high corona. On average type III bursts increase in flux with decreasing frequency, the rate varies from event to event.

Interplanetary Type IV Bursts

We study the characteristics of moving type IV radio bursts which extend to the hectometric wavelengths (interplanetary type IV or type IV IP bursts) and their relationship with energetic phenomena on the Sun. Our dataset comprises 48 interplanetary type IV bursts observed with Wind/WAVES in the 13.825 MHz-20 kHz frequency range. The dynamic spectra of the RSTN, the Nancay Decametric Array (DAM), the ARTEMIS-IV, the Culgoora, Hiraiso and Izmiran Radio Spectrographs were used to track the evolution of the events in the low corona. These were supplemented with SXR flux data from the GOES and CME data from the SOHO/LASCO. Positional information of the coronal bursts was obtained by the NRH. We examined the relationship of the type IV events with coronal radio bursts, CMEs and SXR flares. The majority of the events (45) were characterized as compact; their duration was on average 106 minutes. This type of events was, mostly, associated with M-and X-class flares (40 out of 45) and fast CMEs; 32 of these events had CMEs faster than 1000 km/s. Furthermore, in 43 compact events the CME was, possibly, subjected to reduced aerodynamic drag as it was propagating in the wake of a previous CME. A minority (three) of long lived type IV IP bursts was detected, with duration from 960 minutes to 115 hours. These events are referred to as extended or long duration and appear to replenish their energetic electron content, possibly from electrons escaping from the corresponding coronal type IV bursts. The latter were found to persist on the disk, for tens of hours to days. Prominent among them was the unusual interplanetary type IV burst of 18--23 May 2002, which is the longest event in the Wind/WAVES catalog. The three extended events were, usually, accompanied by a number of flares, of GOES class C in their majority, and of CMEs, many of which were slow and narrow.

AN ANALYSIS OF INTERPLANETARY SOLAR RADIO EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A CORONAL MASS EJECTION

ABSTRACT Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large-scale eruptions of magnetized plasma that may cause severe geomagnetic storms if Earth directed. Here, we report a rare instance with comprehensive in situ and remote sensing observations of a CME combining white-light, radio, and plasma measurements from four different vantage points. For the first time, we have successfully applied a radio direction-finding technique to an interplanetary type II burst detected by two identical widely separated radio receivers. The derived locations of the type II and type III bursts are in general agreement with the white-light CME reconstruction. We find that the radio emission arises from the flanks of the CME and are most likely associated with the CME-driven shock. Our work demonstrates the complementarity between radio triangulation and 3D reconstruction techniques for space weather applications.

Propagation of Solar Energetic Particles During Multiple Coronal Mass Ejection Events

We study solar energetic particle (SEP) events during multiple solar eruptions. The analysed sequences, on 24-26 November 2000, 9-13 April 2001, and 22-25 August 2005, consisted of halo-type coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that originated from the same active region and were associated with intense flares, EUV waves, and interplanetary (IP) radio type II and type III bursts. The first two solar events in each of these sequences showed SEP enhancements near Earth, but the third in the row did not. We observed that in these latter events the type III radio bursts were stopped at much higher frequencies than in the earlier events, indicating that the bursts did not reach the typical plasma density levels near Earth. To explain the missing third SEP event in each sequence, we suggest that the earlier-launched CMEs and the CME-driven shocks either reduced the seed particle population and thus led to inefficient particle acceleration, or that the earlier-launched CMEs and shocks changed the propagation paths or prevented the propagation of both the electron beams and SEPs, so that they did not get detected near Earth even when the shock arrivals were recorded.

A tiny event producing an interplanetary type III burst

We investigate the conditions under which small scale energy release events in the low corona gave rise to strong interplanetary (IP) type III bursts. We analyze observations of three tiny events, detected by the Nan\c cay Radio Heliograph (NRH), two of which produced IP type IIIs. We took advantage of the NRH positioning information and of the high cadence of AIA/SDO data to identify the associated EUV emissions. We measured positions and time profiles of the metric and EUV sources. We found that the EUV events that produced IP type IIIs were located near a coronal hole boundary, while the one that did not was located in a closed magnetic field region. In all three cases tiny flaring loops were involved, without any associated mass eruption. In the best observed case the radio emission at the highest frequency (435 MHz) was displaced by ~55" with respect to the small flaring loop. The metric type III emission shows a complex structure in space and in time, indicative of multiple electron beams, despite the low intensity of the events. From the combined analysis of dynamic spectra and NRH images we derived the electron beam velocity as well as the height, ambient plasma temperature and density at the level of formation of the 160 MHz emission. From the analysis of the differential emission measure derived from the AIA images we found that the first evidence of energy release was at the footpoints and this was followed by the development of flaring loops and subsequent cooling. We conclude that even small energy release events can accelerate enough electrons to give rise to powerful IP type III bursts. The proximity of the electron acceleration site to open magnetic field lines facilitates the escape of the electrons into the interplanetary space. The offset between the site of energy release and the metric type III location warrants further investigation.

Electron Exciter Speeds Associated with Interplanetary Type III Solar Radio Bursts

This article provides a comprehensive quantitative investigation of the kinematics of the electron exciters associated with interplanetary type III solar radio bursts. Detailed multispacecraft analyses of the radio and plasma wave data from the widely separated Wind and STEREO spacecraft are provided for five interplanetary type III bursts that illustrate different aspects of the problems involved in establishing the electron exciter speeds. The exciter kinematics are determined from the observed frequency drift and in-situ radiation characteristics for each type III burst. The analysis assumes propagation of the electron exciters along a Parker spiral, with origin at the associated solar active region, and curvature determined by the measured solar wind speed. The analyses take fully into account the appropriate light-propagation-time corrections from the radio source to the observing spacecraft as the exciters propagate along the Parker spiral path. For the five in-situ type III bursts analyzed in detail here, we found that their initial exciter speeds, near the Sun, ranged from $0.2c$ to $0.38c$ , where $c$ is the speed of light. This is significantly higher than the exciter speeds derived from other recent analyses. The results presented here further suggest that the type III electron exciters normally decelerate as they propagate through the interplanetary medium. We argue based on the observations by the widely separated spacecraft that the initial part of the type III radiation usually occurs at the fundamental of the plasma frequency. Finally, we compare the results for the exciter speeds to all previous determinations and provide quantitative arguments to explain the differences.