Working Group 5
This page is a summary of the work of Working Group 5 (WG5) led by Spiros Patsourakos (Greece). WG5 is dedicated to predicting the southern magnetic field component of CMEs.
WG5 Statement
The presence of southward magnetic fields in ICMEs are the most important factor in producing geomagnetic storms. The challenge is that direct observations of magnetic fields near the Sun are extremely limited: currently possible only in the photosphere/chromosphere at the solar end and by in-situ observations at 1 AU. WG5 aims to understand and reconstruct the possible flux rope magnetic structure of CMEs/ICMEs from observations and models. It also aims to predict the intensity and the duration of of the Bs in ICMEs upon arriving at the Earth.
Methodology
- Deduce near-Sun |B| of CMEs (e.g., radio, flux-rope model, magnetic helicity, CME-driven shocks)
- Deduce near-Sun orientation of CMEs (e.g., geometrical CME modeling)
- Propagate near-Sun |B| to 1 AU (theoretical/observational scaling-laws, MHD modeling)
- Propagate near-Sun orientation to 1 AU (MHD modeling)
- Compare predictions with observations at 1 AU (MC fitting)
Preliminary Work Plan
- Find suitable datasets for near-Sun |B| field calculations applicable to as many of the available methods as possible --- start with events already analysed by the various team members ----coordinate w/ the data and campaign WGs (yrs 1-2)
- Assess the pros & cons of the various methods of near-Sun |B| determination -- coordinate w/ the theory and modeling WGs (yrs 1-2)
- Apply methods (existing or improved) to a sample of CMEs and determine near-Sun |B| -> paper and list of events/data (yrs 2-3)
- Extrapolate near-Sun |B| & orientation to 1 AU and compare w/ in-situ measurements and MC fittings ->paper and tables of pertinent data (yrs 3-4)
Current Action Items
- Prepare a list of CMEs of which their near-Sun magnetic field has been already been deduced, by at least one method.
Please fill in the table below by end of January 2015. Events that you also plan to analyze their magnetic fields could be also included in the table. List of CMEs for WG5 Analysis
