Complex Coronal Mass Ejection Structures and Associated Geo-effectiveness

我们的社会正变得越来越依赖技术资产，而这些技术资产可能会直接受到这些所谓的太空天气事件的破坏。因此，预测此类事件的发生和详细性质对于将其损害降至最低至关重要。如果日冕物质抛射在穿过行星际介质的途中遇到其他大尺度结构，例如其他日冕物质抛射，那么决定其对地球影响的日冕物质抛射的特征可能会发生巨大变化。统计研究表明，相互作用的日冕物质抛射产生所谓的复杂抛射结构，是最强烈的空间天气事件的重要来源。该项目旨在调查这些相互作用可能发生的多种方式，并揭示由此产生的复杂喷发特征和空间天气影响。反过来，这将有助于更好地了解和预测一些最大的地磁风暴的形成。该项目包括重要的科学教育和公共宣传部分。PI和提案团队的其他成员是在线网站www.solarstormwatch.com的贡献者，这是一个有公民参与的实时预测网站。他们将继续这项工作，作为该项目的一部分，除其他外，通过开发用于公共传播的补充材料，包括三维可视化和多媒体材料。本科生参与研究项目的资金也包括在内。这将通过：(I)使用最先进的理想化情况的MHD代码进行3-D数值模拟，(2)结合3-D数值模拟和选定的真实研究的数据分析，以及(3)对现场测量进行分析。具体地说，生成白光图像和现场测量的能力将使在分析复杂事件时能够在研究中纳入观测效应，并通过模拟和观测之间的直接比较来验证数字结果。这项调查将解决以下科学问题：1)CME-CME相互作用的不同表现形式是什么？它们的起源是什么？2)连续的日冕物质抛射相互作用是如何压缩、加速、偏转和旋转日冕物质抛射的？3)CME-CME相互作用和CME-CIR相互作用有什么异同？4)是什么使复杂的喷流和复合流具有如此的地学效应？

The Sun is the ultimate driver of the physical properties of the entire Heliosphere, and can cause severe perturbations to the near-Earth space environment due to large-scale dynamic events taking place in the solar atmosphere, such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). Our society is becoming increasingly dependent on technological assets that can be directly damaged by these, so-called, space weather events. Consequently, predicting the occurrence and detailed nature of such events is of critical importance to minimizing their damage. The characteristics of CMEs that determine their impact at Earth can change drastically if the CMEs encounter other large-scale structures on their way through the interplanetary medium, such as other CMEs. Statistical studies indicate that interacting CMEs, creating so-called complex ejecta structures, are an important source for the most intense space weather events. This project aims to investigate a multitude of ways in which these interactions can happen and reveal the resulting complex ejecta characteristics and space weather impacts. In turn, this will contribute towards better understanding and predicting the formation of some of the largest geomagnetic storms.The project includes significant science education and public outreach components. The PI and other members of the proposal team are contributors to the online website www.solarstormwatch.com, a website for real-time prediction with citizen involvement. They will continue this engagement as part of this project, amongst other through the development of complementary materials for public dissemination, including 3-D visualizations and multimedia materials. Funding is also included for the participation of undergraduate students in the research project. The overarching goal of this project is to carry out an in-depth study of complex phenomena associated with multiple, interacting CMEs or CMEs interacting with other solar wind streams, focusing on the physics behind the observed effects, and their resulting geo-effective potential. This will be done through: (i) 3-D numerical simulations with a state-of-the-art MHD code of idealized situations, (ii) combined 3-D numerical simulations and data analysis of selected real studies, and, (iii) analysis of in-situ measurements. Specifically, the ability to generate white-light images and in situ measurements will enable the inclusion of observational effects in the study when analyzing complex events and the validation of the numerical findings by direct comparisons between simulations and observations. The investigation will address the following science questions: 1) What are the different manifestations of CME-CME interaction observed remotely and measured in-situ? and what is their origin? 2) How does the interaction of successive CMEs compress, accelerate, deflect and rotate the CMEs? 3) What are the similarities and differences between CME-CME interaction and CME-CIR interaction? 4) What makes complex ejecta and compound streams so geo-effective?