Periodicities in the Solar Wind

Tenative CSI 763 Research Project

Christina Henderson

Outline

● Discuss solar wind and solar rotation● Parker spiral, differential rotation rates

● Examine Ulysses spacecraft and data● Attempt to reproduce analysis from Roberts

and Goldstein paper● Additional topics

The Parker Spiral

Image Credit: J. Luhmann

Differential Rotation

Image Credit: SOHO's SOI/MDI

Theoretical Heliospheric Current Sheet

Image credit: NASA artist Werner "Gredoč" Heil

The Ulysses Spacecraft● Purpose: study heliosphere as a function of latitude● Achievements:

● Jupiter encounter: June 8, 1992● High Northern latitudes June through September 1995 (solar minimum)

● High Southern latitudes September through December 2001 (solar max.)

● Measures: magnetic field, particle density, plasma velocity, cosmic rays, X-rays/gamma rays, radio waves, plasma waves, dust

Trajectory

“Evidence for high-latitude origin of lower latitude high-speed wind”

- Roberts & Goldstein (NASA GSFC) performed statistical analyses on Ulysses density, velocity, and magnetic field data

- Data analysis exhibited harmonics of fundamental frequencies at 26 and 34 day periods

- Found that wind seen within 30° of the solar magnetic equator actually comes from greater than 60°, confirming previous current sheet configuration

Time series - 1992

Time series – 1993

Things to consider

- more data, less data?

- pre-whitening?

- linear interpolation suitable for gaps?

- error bars actually significant?

- F-test?

Additional Topics

● Geomagnetic effects on airline fares

● SWx big concern for airlines● Millions lost in rerouting of polar flights● Who pays for this? Likely the consumer● Need to build a data set - web-scraping

● Geomagnetivity and rate of heart attacks