EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Wang & Richardson 2003
Wang, C. and Richardson, J.D. (2003). Determination of the solar wind slowdown near solar maximum. Journal of Geophysical Research 108: doi: 10.1029/2002JA009322. issn: 0148-0227.

The magnitude of the solar wind speed decrease from the inner to the outer heliosphere provides important information about the interaction of the heliosphere with the local interstellar medium (LISM), leading to better estimates of the size and shape of the heliosphere and of the LISM density. In this study we combine observations from multiple spacecraft (ACE, Ulysses, and Voyager 2) near solar maximum with a multifluid one-dimensional numerical model to examine the solar wind slowdown. We find a decrease in speed of 53--62 km s-1 at Voyager 2 (~60 AU) with respect to ACE and Ulysses measurements or a 12--14% slowdown, the largest yet reported. The model results agree well with observations if we assume an interstellar neutral hydrogen density of 0.09 cm-3 at the termination shock.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Interplanetary Physics, Solar wind plasma, Interplanetary Physics, Interstellar gas, Interplanetary Physics, Pickup ions, Interplanetary Physics, Neutral particles
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit