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Berdichevsky et al. 2000
Berdichevsky, D.B., Szabo, A., Lepping, R.P., Viñas, A.F. and Mariani, F. (2000). Interplanetary fast shocks and associated drivers observed through the 23rd solar minimum by Wind over its first 2.5 years. Journal of Geophysical Research 105: doi: 10.1029/1999JA000367. issn: 0148-0227.

A list of the interplanetary shocks observed by Wind from its launch (in Nov 1994) to May 1997 is presented. The magnetohydrodynamic nature of the shocks is investigated, and the associated shock parameters and their uncertainties are accurately computed using two techniques. These are: 1) a combination of the preaveraged magnetic-coplanarity, velocity-coplanarity, and the Abraham-Schrauner-mixed methods, and 2) the Vi¿as and Scudder [1986> technique for solving the nonlinear least squares Rankine-Hugoniot equations. Within acceptable limits these two techniques generally gave the same results, with some exceptions. The reasons for the exceptions are discussed. The mean strength and rate of occurrence of the shocks appear to correlate with the solar cycle. Both showed a decrease in 1996 coincident with the time of the lowest ultraviolet solar radiance, indicative of solar minimum and the beginning of solar cycle 23. Eighteen shocks appeared to be associated with corotating interaction regions (CIRs). The shock normal distribution showed a mean direction peaking in the ecliptic plane and with a longitude of ~200¿ (GSE coordinates). Another 16 shocks were determined to be driven by solar transients, including magnetic clouds. These had a broader distribution of normal directions than those of the CIR cases with a mean direction close to the Sun-Earth line. Eight shocks of unknown origin had normal orientations far off the ecliptic plane. No shock propagated with longitude &phgr;n≥220¿10¿, i.e. against the average Parker spiral direction. Examination of the obliquity angle &thgr;Bn (i.e., between the shock normal and the upstream interplanetary magnetic field) for the full set of shocks revealed that about 58% were quasi-perpendicular, and about 32% of the shocks oblique, and the rest quasi-parallel. Small uncertainty in the estimated angle &thgr;Bn was obtained for about 10 shocks with magnetosonic Mach numbers between 1 and 2. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union

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Abstract

Keywords
Interplanetary Physics, Interplanetary shocks, Interplanetary Physics, Solar cycle variations, Space Plasma Physics, Shock waves
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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