H1: Heliospheric magnetic field and solar wind

Moderator:

Evangelia Samara (NASA GSFC), evangelia.samara@nasa.gov

Co-Moderator:

Nishtha Sachdeva (University of Michigan), nishthas@umich.edu

Advisor:

Mario M. Bisi  (UKRI STFC RAL Space, UK), Mario.Bisi@stfc.ac.uk

Impact:

  • Structure of interplanetary space throughout the heliosphere
  • SIRs/CIRs formation and propagation (including arrival characteristics at targets)
  • Variability of space environment (preconditioning)
  • Geospace energy input (impact of HSSs/SIRs/CIRs)
     

Introduction:

The background solar wind is generally considered to be generated as two “modes”: the slow solar wind (generally thought to originate from closed magnetic-field regions such as above streamer belts, active regions, and potentially from quiet-Sun regions); and the fast solar wind (generally from open magnetic-field lines from above Coronal Holes (CHs) - these can be long lasting in their duration). High-speed stream (HSS) is generally the space-weather term used for a fast solar wind flow traversing the heliosphere. HSSs and the slow solar wind can interact to form stream interaction regions (SIRs) of compressed plasma and magnetic fields throughout the heliosphere and sometimes shear layers are also caused where HSSs and slow solar wind flow more alongside each other rather than interacting with each other. Co-rotating/recurrent SIRs are classified as co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs) that are the major drivers of recurrent strong geomagnetic storms at Earth. Improving our understanding of the background solar wind, the origins of HSSs, and also the evolution and overall global structure in interplanetary space (through observations and state-of-the-art solar wind models as well as improvements to the observations/data used to drive such models) is critical to improving our understanding and prediction of multiple space weather phenomena including CMEs, SEPs, and their impacts at Earth and other locations in the heliosphere (linked to H2 and H4).

 

Objectives:

To improve our understanding of the background solar wind structures and improve the background heliospheric modelling to allow for better space weather predictions/forecasts.

 

Essential Space Environment Quantities / Forecasting Goals:  

  • Background solar wind plasma and magnetic field properties at Sun-Earth L1 and/or other locations in the heliosphere (linked to H4)
  • HSSs/SIRs/CIRs arrival times and duration at Sun-Earth L1 and/or other locations in the heliosphere (linked to H4)
  • HSSs/SIRs/CIRs plasma and magnetic-field properties at Sun-Earth L1 and/or other locations in the heliosphere (linked to H4)

 

Action topics:

For list of action topics please click "Read more":