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Graduate Student Research Forum: Project abstract for potential grad student project.
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Quantitative Mapping and Tracking of Coronal Mass Ejection Origins,
Trajectories, and Properties
Solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most powerful geoeffective phenomena
observed. Unfortunately, research has shown that not all Earth-directed CMEs are
observable by coronagraph, such as the LASCO instrument aboard the Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). However, there is evidence that these "missing"
CMEs do appear in Earth^?s Kp index as geomagnetic storms, giving us reason to believe
that knowledge of the origins and properties of such CMEs might impact our predictive
capabilities, and hence, their geoeffectiveness. As a means to this end, we will use
coronal dimming regions as proxies for CMEs and geomagnetic storms.
Since previous research has demonstrated that coronal dimming regions are the solar
origins of CMEs, some statistical relationship must exist between these events. By
developing and using automated methods, we will determine physical and dynamic
properties of both coronal dimming regions and CMEs. By comparing these properties,
we will establish levels of statistical correlation. We will perform this same correlation
with the Earth^?s Kp index.
By developing such proxies, we can better understand the physical relationship between
coronal dimming regions and CMEs/geomagnetic storms. We will also provide
statistically significant quantities of important physical parameters hitherto considered
mainly on small scales. Additionally, such proxies are anticipated to give us some level
of predictive capability for otherwise unobservable geoeffective CMEs.
If interested, please contact Meredith J. Wills-Davey at 5-7852 or mwills-davey@cfa.harvard.edu.
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