Solar wind temperature–velocity relationship over the last five solar cycles and Forbush decreases associated with different types of interplanetary disturbance

ABSTRACT The behaviour of the solar wind (SW) proton temperature and velocity and their relationship during Forbush decreases (FDs) associated with various types of solar source – coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and coronal holes (CHs) – have been studied. Analysis of cosmic ray variations, SW temperature, velocity, density, plasma beta, and magnetic field (from 1965–2019) is carried out using three databases: the OMNI database, Variations of Cosmic Rays database (IZMIRAN) and Forbush Effects & Interplanetary Disturbances database (IZMIRAN). Comparison of the observed SW temperature (T) and velocity (V) for the undisturbed SW allows us to derive a formula for the expected SW temperature (Texp, the temperature given by a T–V formula, if V is the observed SW speed). The results reveal a power-law T–V dependence with a steeper slope for low speeds (V < 425 km s−1, exponent = 3.29 ± 0.02) and flatter slope for high speeds (V > 425 km s−1, exponent = 2.25 ± 0.02). A study of changes in the T–V dependence over the last five solar cycles finds that this dependence varies with solar activity. The calculated temperature index KT = T/Texp can be used as an indicator of interplanetary and solar sources of FDs. It usually has abnormally large values in interaction regions of different-speed SW streams and abnormally low values inside magnetic clouds (MCs). The results obtained help us to identify the different kinds of interplanetary disturbance: interplanetary CMEs, sheaths, MCs, corotating interaction regions, high-speed streams from CHs, and mixed events.

Coronal Mass Ejections travel time

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the main source of intense geomagnetic storms when they are earthward directed. Studying their travel time is a key-point to understand when the disturbance will be observed at Earth. In this work, we study the CME that originated the interplanetary disturbance observed on 2013/10/02. According to the observations, the CME that caused the interplanetary disturbance was ejected on 2013/09/29. We obtained the CME speed and estimate of the time of arrival at the Lagrangian Point L1 using the concept of expansion speed. We found that observed and estimated times of arrival of the shock differ between 2 and 23 hours depending on method used to estimate the radial speed.

Formation of a strong southward IMF near the solar maximum of cycle 23

We analyzed observations of the solar activities and the solar wind parameters associated with large geomagnetic storms near the maximum of solar cycle 23. This analysis showed that strong southward interplanetary magnetic fields (IMFs), formed through interaction between an interplanetary disturbance, and background solar wind or between interplanetary disturbances are an important factor in the occurrence of intense geomagnetic storms. Based on our analysis, we seek to improve our understanding of the physical processes in which large negative Bz's are created which will lead to improving predictions of space weather. Key words. Interplanetary physics (Flare and stream dynamics; Interplanetary magnetic fields; Interplanetary shocks)

On the character of cosmic ray variations at f>2x10<SUP>-5</SUP> Hz

We examine the time series of cosmic ray (CR) intensity recorded by two neutron monitors (NMs) at medium latitudes for scaling properties on time scales shorter than the diurnal variation. Scaling of the data with 10 sec as well as I min resolution is shown to be complicated, indicating that there is probably not a unique process governing the CR fluctuations in the whole interval studied. For T < 20 min the general characteristics are similar to those of white noise. Above 40-60 min the scaling characteristics are dependent on the level of interplanetary disturbance. This is consistent with the concept of scattering CRs by inhomogeneities of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). With increasing interplanetary turbulence the dimensionality of the CR time series decreases. The region of stable scaling is, however, narrow, only up to 6 hours. Multifractality signatures in the region 1-6 hours are similar to those in the IMF, however the deviations from monofractality are relatively small.