Impact of Inner Heliospheric Boundary Conditions on Solar Wind Predictions at Earth Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • AbstractPredictions of the physical parameters of the solar wind at Earth are at the core of operational space weather forecasts. Such predictions typically use line‐of‐sight observations of the photospheric magnetic field to drive a heliospheric model. The models Wang‐Sheeley‐Arge (WSA) and ENLIL for the transport in the heliosphere are commonly used for these respective tasks. Here we analyze the impact of replacing the potential field coronal boundary conditions from WSA with two alternative approaches. The first approach uses a more realistic nonpotential rather than potential approach, based on the Durham Magneto Frictional Code (DUMFRIC) model. In the second approach the ENLIL inner boundary conditions are based on Inter Planetary Scintillation observations (IPS). We compare predicted solar wind speed, plasma density, and magnetic field magnitude with observations from the WIND spacecraft for two 6‐month intervals in 2014 and 2016. Results show that all models tested produce fairly similar output when compared to the observed time series. This is not only reflected in fairly low correlation coefficients (<0.3) but also large biases. For example, for solar wind speed some models have average biases of more than 150 km/s. On a positive note, the choice of coronal magnetic field model has a clear influence on the model results when compared to the other models in this study. Simulations driven by IPS data have a high success rate with regard to detection of the high speed solar wind. Our results also indicate that model forecasts do not degrade for longer forecast times.

publication date

  • January 1, 2021

has restriction

  • green

Date in CU Experts

  • July 21, 2021 1:09 AM

Full Author List

  • Gonzi S; Weinzierl M; Bocquet F; Bisi MM; Odstrcil D; Jackson BV; Yeates AR; Jackson DR; Henney CJ; Nick Arge C

author count

  • 10

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1542-7390

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1542-7390

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 19

issue

  • 1