Magnetic cloud distortion resulting from propagation through a structured solar wind: Models and observations

Details Magnetic cloud distortion resulting from propagation through a structured solar wind: Models and observations Magnetic cloud distortion resulting from propagation through a structured solar wind: Models and observations

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006jgra..11112109o&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 111, Issue A12, CiteID A12109

Physics

18

Interplanetary Physics: Coronal Mass Ejections (7513), Interplanetary Physics: Ejecta, Driver Gases, And Magnetic Clouds, Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary Shocks, Space Weather: Magnetic Storms (2788)

Scientific paper

Numerical simulations of magnetic clouds (MCs) propagating through a structured solar wind suggest that MC-associated magnetic flux ropes are highly distorted by inhomogeneities in the ambient medium. In particular, a solar wind configuration of fast wind from high latitudes and slow wind at low latitudes, common at periods close to solar minimum, should distort the cross section of magnetic clouds into concave-outward structures. This phenomenon has been reported in observations of shock front orientations, but not in the body of magnetic clouds. In this study an analytical magnetic cloud model based upon a kinematically distorted flux rope is modified to simulate propagation through a structured medium. This new model is then used to identify specific time series signatures of the resulting concave-outward flux ropes. In situ observations of three well studied magnetic clouds are examined with comparison to the model, but the expected concave-outward signatures are not present. Indeed, the observations are better described by the convex-outward flux rope model. This may be due to a sharp latitudinal transition from fast to slow wind, resulting in a globally concave-outward flux rope, but with convex-outward signatures on a local scale.

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