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Detailed Reference Information
Riley et al. 2003
Riley, P., Linker, J.A., Mikic, Z., Odstrcil, D., Zurbuchen, T.H., Lario, D. and Lepping, R.P. (2003). Using an MHD simulation to interpret the global context of a coronal mass ejection observed by two spacecraft. Journal of Geophysical Research 108: doi: 10.1029/2002JA009760. issn: 0148-0227.

In late February 1999 the ACE spacecraft observed a coronal mass ejection (CME) at 1 AU, in the ecliptic plane. Thirteen days later, Ulysses observed a CME at 5 AU and 22¿S. We present a detailed analysis of the plasma, magnetic field, and composition signatures of these two events. On the basis of this comparison alone, it is not clear that the two spacecraft observed the same solar event. However, using a generic MHD simulation of a fast CME initiated at the Sun by magnetic flux cancellation and propagated out into the solar wind, together with additional evidence, we argue that indeed the same CME was observed by both spacecraft. Although force-free models appear to fit the observed events well, our simulation results suggest that the ejecta underwent significant distortion during its passage through the solar wind, indicating that care should be taken when interpreting the results of force-free models. Comparison of composition measurements at the two spacecraft suggests that significant spatial inhomogeneities can exist within a single CME.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Solar Physics, Astrophysics, and Astronomy, Coronal mass ejections, Space Plasma Physics, Numerical simulation studies, Interplanetary Physics, Ejecta, driver gases, and magnetic clouds, Interplanetary Physics, Solar wind plasma, Interplanetary Physics, Sources of the solar wind
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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