Modeling Solar Wind Connectivity from Origin to Detection
Abstract
Accurate knowledge of the magnetic connectivity linking a spacecraft to the Sun is critical for advancing our understanding of the solar wind. This is especially true for understanding a plasma parcel's life cycle from its origin in the solar atmosphere, to its release, propagation and acceleration, and eventual detection out in the heliosphere. While some observables are conserved during propagation (e.g. charge states, abundances), these measurements alone cannot fully resolve the solar source region. We present work from several studies using the Wang-Sheeley-Arge (WSA) model driven by Air Force Data Assimilative Photospheric Flux Transport (ADAPT) ensemble model maps to connect solar wind observations from various spacecraft to their source regions at 1 Rs. The methodologies used to accomplish this will be reviewed, as well as current and future capabilities, uncertainties, limitations, and output products of ADAPT-WSA, including all spacecraft currently integrated into the model. Specifically, we showcase the effort to integrate Parker Solar Probe (PSP) into ADAPT-WSA and the resulting predicted connectivity from the first few solar encounters. We also discuss the importance of multi-messenger science in validating and interpreting the model results, and list observations critical to improving the accuracy of both the ADAPT-WSA coronal field solution and the mapping of PSP observations back to their solar sources.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSH31B..12W
- Keywords:
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- 7509 Corona;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY;
- 7859 Transport processes;
- SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS