The severe geomagnetic effects of solar storms or coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are to a large degree determined by their propagation direction with respect to Earth. There is a lack of understanding of the processes that determine their non-radial propagation. Here we present a synthesis of data from seven different space missions of a fast CME, which originated in an active region near the disk centre and, hence, a significant geomagnetic impact was forecasted. However, the CME is demonstrated to be channelled during eruption into a direction + 37+/-10 degree (longitude) away from its source region, leading only to minimal geomagnetic effects. In situ observations near Earth and Mars confirm the channelled CME motion, and are consistent with an ellipse shape of the CME-driven shock provided by the new Ellipse Evolution model, presented here. The results enhance our understanding of CME propagation and shape, which can help to improve space weather forecasts.
@article{arxiv.1506.02842,
title = {Strong coronal channelling and interplanetary evolution of a solar storm up to Earth and Mars},
author = {Christian Möstl and Tanja Rollett and Rudy A. Frahm and Ying D. Liu and David M. Long and Robin C. Colaninno and Martin A. Reiss and Manuela Temmer and Charles J. Farrugia and Arik Posner and Mateja Dumbović and Miho Janvier and Pascal Démoulin and Peter Boakes and Andy Devos and Emil Kraaikamp and Mona L. Mays and Bojan Vrsnak},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1506.02842},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
6 figures, published in Nature Communications as open access