Improving Understanding and Assessment of the Ambient Solar Wind
Abstract
The Sun's magnetic field drives the evolving ambient solar wind flow and the magnetic field embedded within it. Thus, studying the magnetic field configuration in the solar atmosphere is of crucial importance for improving our understanding of and ultimately predicting space weather from Sun to Earth. Coronal holes are regions of low intensity emission in EUV and X-ray images. Coronal holes are closely associated with open magnetic field lines, along which the solar wind accelerates to supersonic speeds. Therefore, they play a central role in shaping the structure of the heliosphere and defining key properties in interplanetary space, such as the solar wind bulk speed, magnetic field strength, and field orientation. Answering vital research questions related to the ambient solar wind requires an interdisciplinary strategy and the coordinated collaboration of international partners. Here we present the COSPAR ISWAT activities for improving the understanding and assessment of the evolving ambient solar wind flow embedded in the 'Coronal Hole Boundary Working Team' and the 'Ambient Solar Wind Validation Team'. Specifically, we present our progress in evaluating the uncertainty of coronal hole boundary locations in solar observations, and our progress in establishing an online hub for validation of ambient solar wind models. In context, we demonstrate the first application of a new online platform enabling developers and end-users to directly assess the quality of state-of-the-art solar wind model solutions. To conclude, we present the objectives, current status and roadmaps of both action teams, and discuss the main challenges we face in the realization of our objectives.
- Publication:
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43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2398R