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Title: ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERISTIC PARAMETERS OF LARGE-SCALE CORONAL WAVES OBSERVED BY THE SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL RELATIONS OBSERVATORY/EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET IMAGER

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. IGAM - Institute of Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology, Institute of Physics, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 5, A-8010 Graz (Austria)
  2. Hvar Observatory, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Kaciceva 26, HR-10000 Zagreb (Croatia)

The kinematical evolution of four extreme ultraviolet waves, well observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager on board the Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), is studied by visually tracking wave fronts as well as by a semi-automatized perturbation profile method, which leads to results matching each other within the error limits. The derived mean velocities of the events under study lie in the range of 220-350 km s{sup -1}. The fastest of the events (2007 May 19) reveals a significant deceleration of {approx} - 190 m s{sup -2}, while the others are consistent with a constant velocity during wave propagation. The evolution of maximum-intensity values reveals initial intensification of 20%-70% and decays to original levels within 40-60 minutes, while the widths at half-maximum and full-maximum of the perturbation profiles broaden by a factor of two to four. The integral below the perturbation profile remains basically constant in two cases, while it shows a decrease by a factor of three to four in the other two cases. From the peak perturbation amplitudes, we estimate the corresponding magnetosonic Mach numbers M{sub ms}, which range from 1.08-1.21. The perturbation profiles reveal three distinct features behind the propagating wave fronts: coronal dimmings, stationary brightenings, and rarefaction regions. All features appear after the wave passage and only slowly fade away. Our findings indicate that the events under study are weak-shock fast-mode magnetohydrodynamic waves initiated by the CME lateral expansion.

OSTI ID:
21587460
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 739, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/739/2/89; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English