https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/705/2/L180">
 

LINKING REMOTE IMAGERY OF A CORONAL MASS EJECTION TO ITS IN SITU SIGNATURES AT 1 AU

Abstract

In a case study (2008 June 6–7) we report on how the internal structure of a coronal mass ejection (CME) at 1 AU can be anticipated from remote observations of white-light images of the heliosphere. Favorable circumstances are the absence of fast equatorial solar wind streams and a low CME velocity which allow us to relate the imaging and in situ data in a straightforward way. The STEREO-B spacecraft encountered typical signatures of a magnetic flux rope inside an interplanetary CME (ICME) whose axis was inclined at 45° to the solar equatorial plane. Various CME direction-finding techniques yield consistent results to within 15°. Further, remote images from STEREO-A show that (1) the CME is unambiguously connected to the ICME and can be tracked all the way to 1 AU, (2) the particular arc-like morphology of the CME points to an inclined axis, and (3) the three-part structure of the CME may be plausibly related to the in situ data. This is a first step in predicting both the direction of travel and the internal structure of CMEs from complete remote observations between the Sun and 1 AU, which is one of the main requirements for forecasting the geo-effectiveness of CMEs.

Publication Date

10-22-2009

Journal Title

The Astrophysical Journal

Publisher

IOP

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/705/2/L180

Document Type

Article

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