Magentic Solar Cycle Related Heliospheric Density Anomalies
Abstract
The periodic 22 year solar magnetic cycle starts with the rapid poleward extension of the heliospheric current sheet. The existing magnetic fields at the poles of the Sun are thereby carried to the opposite poles causing the magentic field reversal. It has been speculated that such reversals are responsible for causing density anomalies in the solar wind. Corraboration for this view comes from observations during the cycles 21 and 23 when unusual decreases from the average in the solar wind density were reported. We have made extensive interplanetary scintillation observations of the well known `Solar wind disappearance event' of May 1999 using the Ooty Radio Telescope in India at 327 MHz and have been able to delineate the spatial extent and morphology of the density anomaly in the heliospheric distance range 0.4 to 0.8 AU. These observations during the CR 1949 have also occurred during the polar field reversal in cycle 23. The observations and the results will be presented.
- Publication:
-
IAU Joint Discussion
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003IAUJD...7E..24A