Forecasting Heliospheric Structure Using the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI)
Abstract
Solar disturbances produce major effects in the corona, its extension into the interplanetary medium, and ultimately, the Earth's environment. The ability to forecast the arrival at Earth of these disturbances and to determine their effects on the geospace environment is of primary interest to the Air Force, which communicates through and maintains satellites within this environment. We have developed imaging and other techniques for use in mapping these disturbances (mainly coronal mass ejections or CMEs) as they move away from the Sun. This capability has begun to revolutionize the study of large-scale heliospheric space plasma interactions. The Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI), now being developed and constructed, will have an angular and temporal resolution far better than the data sets (interplanetary scintillation and Thomson scattering observations from the HELIOS photometers) for which our imaging techniques were originally developed. SMEI will produce a thousand times as much data as previously available, exceeding our current data analysis capabilities. The development of adequate analysis and modeling techniques for SMEI data is a serious challenge, which must be addressed in order to maximize the scientific return from the SMEI mission, in articular with respect to our ability to accurately forecast the arrival of heliospheric disturbances at Earth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA400244
Entities
People
- A. Buffington
- B. V. Jackson
- David F. Webb
- P. P. Hick
Organizations
- University of California, San Diego