CISM

SOHO image animation (57k)
images from SOHO-EIT

Solar/Interplanetary Models
corona

The SAIC global 3D MHD coronal model is a keystone of the solar/interplanetary part of the integrated modeling effort as it allows solar observation-based boundary conditions, and can be run for both steady and time-dependent cases. At present, the model uses solar magnetograph-derived synoptic charts to specify the photospheric magnetic field.

Steady global MHD coronal models show how the solar wind distorts the coronal field, and give accurate boundaries for long-lived space weather features like coronal holes. The models also allow comparisons with the coronal streamer density structures observed with coronagraphs.

The top figures show field lines and line-of-sight densities computed from two different SAIC 3-D global MHD simulations of the corona and inner heliosphere. The computation of the line-of-sight densities is a key diagnostic for validation of this model against observations from NRL's LASCO instrument on SOHO, and the HAO's MLSO coronagraph. The bottom figure shows where the global model finds open field lines, and thus coronal hole solar wind streams, for a particular time, compared with an EUV image showing the coronal holes from the EIT on SOHO. The SAIC coronal model has been extensively compared with solar observations from both SOHO and the MLSO coronagraph for the period of the "Whole Sun Month" campaign study, with promising results.

Click on the images to the left to view the corresponding animation.

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