A Study of Coronal-Interplanetary Coupling Mechanisms
Abstract
It is understood that the operations of military, as well as civilian, satellite and systems for communications, tracking and surveillance can be interrupted, degraded or even endangered as a result of powerful explosions on the surface of the sun called solar flares. These spectacular eruptions release shock waves, hot plasma clouds, highly accelerated atomic nuclei and burst of x-rays, ultra-violet and visible-band electromagnetic radiation into interplanetary space. When the path of propagation of these high- energy emissions intersects the Earth's magnetosphere, our terrestrial environment is impacted in various ways that may produce deleterious effects on military systems, both on the ground and in space. This investigation conducted a theoretical study of the dynamics of coronal-interplanetary coupling. It was demonstrated that photospheric shear motion could be a viable physical mechanism to understand the occurrence of solar flares. This study has laid the groundwork for solar flare prediction and their consequences on the geomagnetic storm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 30, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA238706
Entities
People
- S. T. Wu
Organizations
- University of Alabama in Huntsville