Interaction of interplanetary shocks with nonuniform ambient solar wind

Three interplanetary shock wave events are selected from the plasma and magnetic field data of Helios 1 and 2, IMP-8, and Voyagers 1 and 2 for study of the interactions of a weak interplantary shock with a nonuniform ambient solar wind. These events occurred during the periods 22-26 November 1977, 1-7 January 1978, and 2-5 April 1979, respectively. It is found that the shock surfaces of these events are highly distorted. In addition, a portion of the shock surface may be degenerated into a disturbance which does not satisfy the Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions.