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A test of source-surface model predictions of heliospheric current sheet inclinationThe orientation of the heliospheric current sheet predicted from a source surface model is compared with the orientation determined from minimum-variance analysis of International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) 3 magnetic field data at 1 AU near solar maximum. Of the 37 cases analyzed, 28 have minimum variance normals that lie orthogonal to the predicted Parker spiral direction. For these cases, the correlation coefficient between the predicted and measured inclinations is 0.6. However, for the subset of 14 cases for which transient signatures (either interplanetary shocks or bidirectional electrons) are absent, the agreement in inclinations improves dramatically, with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. These results validate not only the use of the source surface model as a predictor but also the previously questioned usefulness of minimum variance analysis across complex sector boundaries. In addition, the results imply that interplanetary dynamics have little effect on current sheet inclination at 1 AU. The dependence of the correlation on transient occurrence suggests that the leading edge of a coronal mass ejection (CME), where transient signatures are detected, disrupts the heliospheric current sheet but that the sheet re-forms between the trailing legs of the CME. In this way the global structure of the heliosphere, reflected both in the source surface maps and in the interplanetary sector structure, can be maintained even when the CME occurrence rate is high.
Document ID
19950038002
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Burton, M. E.
(Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA United States)
Crooker, N. U.
(University of California, Los Angeles, CA United States)
Siscoe, G. L.
(University of California, Los Angeles, CA United States)
Smith, E. J.
(Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: A1
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
95A69601
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-918
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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