Projects per year
Abstract
Active regions are the source of the majority of magnetic flux rope ejections that become coronal mass ejections (CMEs). To identify in advance which active regions will produce an ejection is key for both space weather prediction tools and future science missions such as Solar Orbiter. The aim of this study is to develop a new technique to identify which active regions are more likely to generate magnetic flux rope ejections. The new technique will aim to (i) produce timely space weather warnings and (ii) open the way to a qualified selection of observational targets for space-borne instruments. We use a data-driven nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) model to describe the 3D evolution of the magnetic field of a set of active regions. We determine a metric to distinguish eruptive from noneruptive active regions based on the Lorentz force. Furthermore, using a subset of the observed magnetograms, we run a series of simulations to test whether the time evolution of the metric can be predicted. The identified metric successfully differentiates active regions observed to produce eruptions from the noneruptive ones in our data sample. A meaningful prediction of the metric can be made between 6 and 16 hr in advance. This initial study presents an interesting first step in the prediction of CME onset using only line-of-sight magnetogram observations combined with NLFFF modeling. Future studies will address how to generalize the model such that it can be used in a more operational sense and for a variety of simulation approaches.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 112 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 883 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Sept 2019 |
Keywords
- Solar activity
- Solar magnetic fields
- Space weather
- Solar active regions
- Solar active region magnetic fields
- Solar coronal mass ejections
- Solar corona
- Solar flares
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WholeSun ERC Project: H2020 ERC Synergy Grant Whole Sun Project
Archontis, V. (PI), Archontis, V. (PI), Hood, A. W. (Researcher), Mackay, D. H. (Researcher) & Syntelis, P. (Researcher)
1/05/19 → 30/04/25
Project: Standard
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S2WARM : St Andrews Space Weather Active: S2WARM : St Andrews Space Weather Active Region Monitor
Mackay, D. H. (PI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/10/19 → 30/06/20
Project: Standard
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Solar and Magnetospheric: Solar and Magnetospheric Magnetohydrodynamics and Plasmas: Theory and Application
Hood, A. W. (PI), Archontis, V. (CoI), De Moortel, I. (CoI), Mackay, D. H. (CoI), Neukirch, T. (CoI), Parnell, C. E. (CoI) & Wright, A. N. (CoI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/04/19 → 31/03/22
Project: Standard