Solar large-scale emitting chains: some CME-associated events

Transient large-scale emitting chains and threads, associated with several coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are analyzed by the SOHO/EIT, TRACE, Yohkoh/SXT, Nobeyama Radioheliograph, and some other imaging data. It is illustrated that a pronounced evolution of the chains and threads in the EUV, soft X-ray, microwave, and other ranges can occur many hours both before and after a CME on a considerable part of the solar visible disk, especially near the place of a CME eruption. Such relations between chains and CMEs seem to be plausible due to both phenomena being the consequences of the evolution of large-scale magnetic fields and have often a global character.     

基于多视角观测的SEP事件与twin-CME关系研究

本文联合SOHO和STEREO-A/B（三视角）日冕观测和太阳高能粒子（SEP）观测,分析了2007—2014年间169个快速（速度>900 km·s^-1）、宽角度（>60°）日冕物质抛射（CME）及其先行CME和关联SEP事件.通过相关分析,给出了SOHO/EPHIN 25~53MeV及STEREO/HET 23.8~60 MeV能量范围的大SEP事件通量判断阈值,分别为0.01和0.014（cm²·s·sr·MeV）^-1.三视角CME观测能有效地避免投影效应产生的twin-CME事件误判,统计得到单一视角确定twin-CME事件的误判率一般低于10%,最高不超过15%.基于三视角判断的twin-CME事件及SEP事件峰值强度,得到判断twin-CME事件的时间阈值最短约为9 h（9~13 h）.single-CME产生的SEP事件强度与CME速度、动能的相关性明显高于twin-CME,并且三视角下的相关性结果与单视角类似.结果表明,一个主CME可能存在多个先行CME,依据单卫星观测判断先行CME时有一定的误判几率,但少数单个先行CME的误判并不影响基于单卫星的统计规律或统计结果.

     

Changes in the solar magnetic field preceding a coronal mass ejection

The combined observing power of the Yohkoh, SOHO and TRACE spacecraft, along with the continuing ground-based observations has proved invaluable for the detection of changes in the magnetic morphology preceding coronal mass ejections (CMEs). A wide range of activity from small scale dimmings to large scale eruptions covering half the solar disk have been observed. The relationship between flares and CMEs has also become clearer. Rather than one event causing the other it would seem that it is a global change in the magnetic field which causes both. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in the sigmoid (S-shaped) structures seen in soft X-rays. The likelihood of a CME occurring appears to increase if there is a sigmoidal structure observed. This has formed the basis of more extensive studies into predicting the time and location of a CME from the changes in behaviour of features on the solar disk.     

Understanding CMEs and their source regions

CMEs are an important aspect of coronal and interplanetary dynamics. They can eject large amounts of mass and magnetic fields into the heliosphere which can drive large geomagnetic storms and interplanetary shocks, a key source of solar energetic particles. However, our knowledge of the origins and early development of CMEs at the Sun is limited. CMEs are most frequently associated with erupting prominences and long-enduring X-ray arcades, but sometimes with weak or no observed surface activity. I review some of the well-determined coronal properties of CMEs and what we know about their source regions, including recent studies using Yohkoh, SOHO and radio data. One exciting, new type of observation is of halo-like CMEs which suggest the launch of a geoeffective disturbance toward Earth. Besides their utility for forecasting the arrival at Earth of magnetic clouds and geomagnetic storms, halo CMEs are important for understanding the development and internal structure of CMEs since we can view their source regions near Sun center and can measure their in-situ characteristics along their central axes.     

Variations in the large-scale polar solar magnetic flux: The average annual series of the Π index in 1858–2006

A long series of the known Π index of the solar corona structure has been proposed. It seems that this index, which characterizes the limb extension of polar coronal plume systems, is of importance because it is related to the large-scale polar solar magnetic flux. Solar corona photographs and drawings during total solar eclipses, collected for 13 solar activity cycles from different sources (78 eclipses), as well as H-alpha map data on the drift of the high-latitude belt of filaments before polarity reversal of the polar magnetic field have been used. Daily solar corona images, obtained on the SOHO spacecraft (using an EIT ultraviolet telescope), have been additionally used.     

ERNE observations of energetic particles associated with Earth-directed coronal mass ejections in April and May, 1997

Two Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which were most effective in energetic (1–50 MeV) particle acceleration during the first 18 months since the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) launch, occurred on April 7 and May 12, 1997. In the analysis of these events we have deconvoluted the injection spectrum of energetic protons by using the method described by Anttila et al. In order to apply the method developed earlier for data of a rotating satellite (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, GOES), we first had to develop a method to calculate the omnidirectional energetic particle intensities from the observations of Energetic and Relativistic Nuclei and Electrons (ERNE), which is an energetic particle detector onboard the three-axis stabilized SOHO spacecraft. The omnidirectional intensities are calculated by fitting an exponential pitch angle distribution from directional information of energetic protons observed by ERNE. The results of the analysis show that, compared to a much faster and more intensive CMEs observed during the previous solar maximum, the acceleration efficiency decreases fast when the shock propagates outward from the Sun. The particles injected at distances <0.5 AU from the Sun dominate the particle flux during the whole period, when the shock propagates to the site of the spacecraft. The main portion of particles injected by the shock during its propagation further outward from the Sun are trapped around the shock, and are seen as an intensity increase at the time of the shock passage.     

特大地磁暴的一种行星际源:多重磁云

2001年3月31日观测到的大的多重磁云(Multi MC)事件造成了第23周太阳峰年(2000～2001)最大的地磁暴(Dst=-387nT). 通过分析ACE飞船的观测数据, 描述了这个多重磁云在1AU处的磁场和等离子体特征. 并且根据SOHO和GOES卫星的观测资料, 认证了它的太阳源. 在这次事件中, 由于多重磁云内部异常增强的南向磁场, 使之地磁效应变得更强, 它大大的延长了地磁暴的持续时间. 观测结果与理论分析表明, 多重磁云中子磁云的相互挤压使磁云内的磁场强度及其南向分量增强数倍, 从而加强了地磁效应. 因此, 研究认为多重磁云中子磁云之间的相互压缩是造成特大地磁暴的一种机制. 此外, 研究发现形成多重磁云的日冕物质抛射(CMEs)并不一定要来自同一太阳活动区.     

Sigmoid CME source regions at the Sun: some recent results

Identifying coronal mass ejection (CME) precursors in the solar corona would be an important step in space weather forecasting, as well as a vital key to understanding the physics of CMEs. Twisted magnetic field structures are suspected of being the source of at least some CMEs. These features can appear sigmoid (S or inverse-S) shaped in soft X-ray (SXR) images. We review recent observations of these structures and their relation to CMEs, using SXR data from the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) on the Yohkoh satellite, and EUV data from the EUV Imaging Telescope (EIT) on the SOHO satellite. These observations indicate that the pre-eruption sigmoid patterns are more prominent in SXRs than in EUV, and that sigmoid precursors are present in over 50% of CMEs. These findings are important for CME research, and may potentially be a major component to space weather forecasting. So far, however, the studies have been subject to restrictions that will have to be relaxed before sigmoid morphology can be used as a reliable predictive tool. Moreover, some CMEs do not display a SXR sigmoid structure prior to eruption, and some others show no prominent SXR signature of any kind before or during eruption.     

Early life of coronal mass ejections

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large-scale magnetized plasma structures ejected from closed magnetic field regions of the Sun. White light coronagraphic observations from ground and space have provided extensive information on CMEs in the outer corona. However, our understanding of the solar origin and early life of CMEs is still in an elementary stage because of lack of adequate observations. Recent space missions such as Yohkoh and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and ground-based radioheliographs at Nobeyama and Nancay have accumulated a wealth of information on the manifestations of CMEs near the solar surface. We review some of these observations in an attempt to relate them to what we already know about CMEs. Our discussion relies heavily on non-coronagraphic data combined with coronagraphic data. Specifically, we discuss the following aspects of CMEs: (i) coronal dimming and global disk signatures, (ii) non-radial propagation during the early phase, (iii) Photospheric magnetic field changes during CMEs, and (iv) acceleration of fast CMEs. The relative positions and evolution of coronal dimming, arcade formation, prominence eruption will be discussed using specific events. The magnitude and spatial extent of CME acceleration may be an important parameter that distinguishes fast and slow CMEs.     

The relationship between prominence eruptions and coronal mass ejections

The SOHO observations with LASCO and EIT present an ideal opportunity to study the relationship between prominence eruptions and coronal mass ejections (CME). High-cadence measurements of prominence eruptions demonstrate that the prominence eruption is not generally the cause of the associated CME, but that it is more probable that the destabilisation of the CME in fact releases the constraints on the prominence, causing it to erupt. We report here selected observations of associated CMEs and prominence eruptions covering the period of SOHO operations from mid-January 1996 to October 1999. In addition to the causality, we find that in general the projected speed of the prominence eruption matches fairly closely the projected speed of the associated CME, but it is always lower. Furthermore, the prominence eruption is generally simply one facet of the coronal transient activity, of which there are often several other discrete parts. The prominence eruption is also generally offset in heliolatitude from the centre of the CME.     

The solar influences data analysis centre

Since 1981, the Royal Observatory of Belgium has operated the Sunspot Index Data Centre, the World Data Centre for the Sunspot Index. Recently, the Space Weather Forecast Centre of Paris–Meudon was transferred and added to the activities of the SIDC. Moreover, a complete archive of all images of the SOHO instrument EIT has become available at the SIDC. Given all these extensions, the new style SIDC has become a ‘Solar Influences Data Centre’ that analyses solar activity and provides services on three different time scales:1. Fast warnings and real time monitoring. As the Regional Warning Centre (RWC) for Western Europe of the International Space Environment Service (ISES), the SIDC collects and redistributes solar, geomagnetic, and ionospheric data in Western Europe. Short-term predictions (3 days) and alerts are produced on a daily basis.2. Forecasts and middle term analysis. The SIDC takes care of the calculation of a sunspot index, called the International Sunspot Number. We compute and broadcast the daily, monthly, yearly international sunspot numbers, with middle range predictions (up to 12 months).3. Post-event analysis and long-term solar cycle analysis. Since the launch of SOHO, EIT offers a global view of the EUV corona over the whole rising phase of the solar activity cycle. Such a long-duration data series is unprecedented and allows the study of the evolution over the solar cycle of objects classes such as active regions, coronal holes, coronal mass ejections or flares.     

Flares,ejections, proton events

Statistical analysis is performed for the relationship of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and X-ray flares with the fluxes of solar protons with energies >10 and >100 MeV observed near the Earth. The basis for this analysis was the events that took place in 1976–2015, for which there are reliable observations of X-ray flares on GOES satellites and CME observations with SOHO/LASCO coronagraphs. A fairly good correlation has been revealed between the magnitude of proton enhancements and the power and duration of flares, as well as the initial CME speed. The statistics do not give a clear advantage either to CMEs or the flares concerning their relation with proton events, but the characteristics of the flares and ejections complement each other well and are reasonable to use together in the forecast models. Numerical dependences are obtained that allow estimation of the proton fluxes to the Earth expected from solar observations; possibilities for improving the model are discussed.     

Coronal heating

Louise Harra presents a summary of a meeting at which a wealth of new sources of data – Yohkoh, SOHO, TRACE, XMM-Newton and Chandra – is bringing new insights to studies of solar and stellar coronal heating.     

Tracing magnetic helicity from the solar corona to the interplanetary space

On October 14, 1995, a C1.6 long duration event (LDE) started in active region (AR) NOAA 7912 at approximately 5:00 UT and lasted for about 15 h. On October 18, 1995, the Solar Wind Experiment and the Magnetic Field Instrument (MFI) on board the Wind spacecraft registered a magnetic cloud (MC) at 1 AU, which was followed by a strong geomagnetic storm. We identify the solar source of this phenomenon as AR 7912. We use magnetograms obtained by the Imaging Vector Magnetograph at Mees Solar Observatory, as boundary conditions to the linear force-free model of the coronal field, and, we determine the model in which the field lines best fit the loops observed by the Soft X-ray Telescope on board Yohkoh. The computations are done before and after the ejection accompanying the LDE. We deduce the loss of magnetic helicity from AR 7912. We also estimate the magnetic helicity of the MC from in situ observations and force-free models. We find the same sign of magnetic helicity in the MC and in its solar source. Furthermore, the helicity values turn out to be quite similar considering the large errors that could be present. Our results are a first step towards a quantitative confirmation of the link between solar and interplanetary phenomena through the study of magnetic helicity.     

CMEs: How do the puzzle pieces fit together?

This review consists of questions to participants in the S-RAMP Symposium (S3) on CMEs and Coronal Holes, as well as to a few others, and their responses in a “town meeting” format (originally conducted on Hugh Hudson's website). Here we deal only with CMEs. The questions we ask aim at probing the weaknesses of existing models and highlighting controversies, thereby providing guidance toward a more complete view of solar eruptions. Topics covered include: the “solar flare myth”, flux ropes, new phenomena (EIT waves, dimmings, global brightenings), helicity and sigmoids, and transequatorial loops (as sources of CMEs). Although this is a review, we're more concerned here with what is not known than what is already agreed upon. We asked people to speculate freely in advance of the observational, analytical, and theoretical work that will provide definitive answers—this is not the standard Scientific Method at work!     

Particle acceleration and transport in the inner heliosphere

In the solar system, our Sun is Nature’s most efficient particle accelerator. In large solar flares and fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs), protons and heavy ions can be accelerated to over ~GeV/nucleon. Large flares and fast CMEs often occur together. However there are clues that different acceleration mechanisms exist in these two processes. In solar flares, particles are accelerated at magnetic reconnection sites and stochastic acceleration likely dominates. In comparison, at CME-driven shocks, diffusive shock acceleration dominates. Besides solar flares and CMEs, which are transient events, acceleration of particles has also been observed in other places in the solar system, including the solar wind termination shock, planetary bow shocks, and shocks bounding the Corotation Interaction Regions (CIRs). Understanding how particles are accelerated in these places has been a central topic of space physics. However, because observations of energetic particles are often made at spacecraft near the Earth, propagation of energetic particles in the solar wind smears out many distinct features of the acceleration process. The propagation of a charged particle in the solar wind closely relates to the turbulent electric field and magnetic field of the solar wind through particle-wave interaction. A correct interpretation of the observations therefore requires a thorough understanding of the solar wind turbulence. Conversely, one can deduce properties of the solar wind turbulence from energetic particle observations. In this article I briefly review some of the current state of knowledge of particle acceleration and transport in the inner heliosphere and discuss a few topics which may bear the key features to further understand the problem of particle acceleration and transport.     

Method for determining the parameters of full halo coronal mass ejections

A method for determining the parameters of halo-type coronal mass ejections (full halo CMEs)—direction of motion, angular size, CME velocity along the Sun-Earth axis, etc.—has been proposed and tested. The method is based on the found empirical dependence between the angular sizes of CMEs located near the sky plane and angular sizes of associated eruptive prominences or post-eruptive arcades as well as on the relationships between the halo CME parameters derived in a simple geometrical CME model. Using this method and the SOHO/LASCO C3 and SOHO/EIT data, the parameters of 33 full halo CMEs have been determined. It is concluded that (1) the trajectories of all considered full halo CMEs deviate with recession of the CME front to R _F > (2–5)R ₀ toward the Sun-Earth axis; (2) the majority of full halo CMEs recorded by LASCO C3 coronagraphs have relatively large angular sizes, 2α > 60°.     

一个新的太阳宇宙线的日-地传输模型

提出了一个新的太阳宇宙线日 -地传输的数学模型 ,它包括日冕粒子分布源和行星际传播方程 .根据对太阳宇宙线耀斑黑子群特征和耀斑相的观测 ,提出了多极性黑子湮没的两阶段日冕传输过程和传输方程 ,得到了与观测特征一致的日冕粒子分布源 .日冕传输的第一阶段 ,和太阳耀斑脉冲相的时间相当 ,加速粒子通过扩散很快均匀地分布在耀斑区 ,形成所谓快传播区 .第二阶段 ,加速粒子向快传播区以外的日冕区扩散并向行星际空间逃逸 ,形成慢传播过程 .日冕传输模型的数值结果和日冕传输的观测特征符合 .太阳宇宙线的行星际传播采用三维正交均匀各向异性方程描述 .最后把模型的数值结果与 1 997年 9月 2 4日事件的SOHO（SolarandHeliosphericObservatory）观测资料作了比较 .能较好地符合 .     

Sympathetic flaring with BATSE,GOES, and EIT data

Sympathetic flaring is defined as the initiation of a solar flare as a result of a transient phenomenon occurring elsewhere on the Sun. Discovery of sympathetic flaring or lack thereof, may lead to a greater understanding of the physics of flare initiation. Knowledge of a mechanism for initiating solar flares would also aid in predicting at least some solar flares. Two studies of sympathetic flaring are presented in this paper. The first part of the paper presents a test for sympathetic flaring in flares observed with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to compare the distribution of solar X-ray flares in time to that expected from a time-varying, Poisson distribution. No evidence for sympathetic flaring is found, though it cannot be ruled out. The X-ray flare data also do not allow discovery of sympathetic flares occurring within 2 min of the initial flare. Because the observations do allow for at least some flares to occur sympathetically, the second part of the paper examines one possible mechanism for initiating flares. The mechanism examined is large-scale coronal transients observed by the SOHO/Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope: EIT waves. A comparison of the rate of flaring in the interval prior to an EIT wave to the rate of flaring while the wave traverses the solar disk shows no increase in the number of flares due to the EIT wave.     

一个新的太阳宇宙线的日-地传输模型

提出了一个新的太阳宇宙线日 -地传输的数学模型 ,它包括日冕粒子分布源和行星际传播方程 .根据对太阳宇宙线耀斑黑子群特征和耀斑相的观测 ,提出了多极性黑子湮没的两阶段日冕传输过程和传输方程 ,得到了与观测特征一致的日冕粒子分布源 .日冕传输的第一阶段 ,和太阳耀斑脉冲相的时间相当 ,加速粒子通过扩散很快均匀地分布在耀斑区 ,形成所谓快传播区 .第二阶段 ,加速粒子向快传播区以外的日冕区扩散并向行星际空间逃逸 ,形成慢传播过程 .日冕传输模型的数值结果和日冕传输的观测特征符合 .太阳宇宙线的行星际传播采用三维正交均匀各向异性方程描述 .最后把模型的数值结果与 1 997年 9月 2 4日事件的SOHO（SolarandHeliosphericObservatory）观测资料作了比较 .能较好地符合 .