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Project

Multiwavelength observations of the interaction between CMEs and the glonetic field.

The solar corona, i.e. the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere, is a magnetically dominated environment where open field magnetic regions, referred as coronal holes (CH), and closed field regions, such as active regions (AR), coexist. However, it is not so uncommon that closed magnetic field regions open up, eventually resulting in eruptive events such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares. These events, when directed towards the Earth, can interact with the Earths magnetic field eventually resulting in a geomagnetic storm. Apart the small scale magnetic field, also the global surrounding magnetic field has an important influence on the initiation and evolution of CMEs, including their geo-effectiveness. Hence, the mutual relation between local/global magnetic field need to be further clarified and quantified and also need to be confirmed or validated by observations. With the present project we aim to extend and eventually validate the research on CME initiation and evolution carried out during the PhD project, by means of a detailed observational study using state-of-the-art solar imaging instruments. The interpretation of the results of the observational study in terms of the theoretical CME initiation models investigated during the PhD project will definitely improve our understanding of the physical mechanisms that are responsible of the observed CME dynamics and enable science-based models with a much higher predictive value than the current empirical models.
Date:19 Nov 2012 →  18 Nov 2013
Keywords:STEREO, Observational, SDO, PROBA2, Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), Corona - methods
Disciplines:Astronomy and space sciences