The effects of the solar cycle variations on the solar wind properties at the heliospheric boundaries
Abstract
The propagation and evolution of fluctuations of the solar wind are studied in the frame of the two-dimensional non-stationary kinetic-gasdynamic model of the interaction of solar wind with the local interstellar medium (Izmodenov et al., 2005, 2008). For this purpose we analyzed how various types of waves in the solar wind pass through the termination shock and heliopause. Results show that solar wind fluctuations strongly influence the location of heliospheric boundaries. Using OMNI data for solar wind parameters at 1 a.u. for the last 3 solar cycles we investigate the variation of the distances to the termination shock and heliopause. Particularly we focus on the questions how the anomalously low solar wind dynamic pressure during 2008-2009 affects the locations of the termination shock and the heliopause at the present time and in the future.Voyager 2 has crossed the termination shock in August 2007 and now measures the plasma parameters in the inner heliosheath. In this work we estimate the time when Voyager 2 might cross the heliopause. Also the solar wind parameters along the trajectory of Voyager 2 obtained in the model are compared with experimental data obtained on the board of Voyager 2.
- Publication:
-
Solar Heliospheric and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE 2010)
- Pub Date:
- July 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010shin.confE...7P