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