Associations beteen coronal mass ejections and solar energetic proton events

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA089iA11p09683· OSTI ID:5988314

Kahler, S W; Sheeley, Jr, N R; Howard, R A; Koomen, M J; Michels, D J; McGuire, R E; von Rosenvinge, T T; Reamies, D V

We have used data from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) white light coronograph on the P78-1 spacecraft and energetic (E>4 MeV) proton data from the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) detectors on the IMP 8 and ISEE 3 spacecraft to investigate the association between proton events originating in flares and coronal mass ejections (CME's). The primary data were 50 prompt proton events observed between April 1979 and February 1982 for which reduced coronograph data were available. H alpha flares could be confidently associated with 27 of these events, and in 26 of these 27 cases an associated CME was found, indicating a high but not perfect association of prompt proton events with CME's. Peak proton fluxes correlate with both the speeds and the angular sizes of the associated CME's. We show that the CME speeds do not significantly correlate with CME angular sizes, so that the peak proton fluxes are correlated with two independent CME parameters. With larger angular sizes, CME's are more likely to be loops and fans rather than jets and spikes and are more likely to intersect the ecliptic. Which of these factors is important to the peak proton flux correlation cannot be determined from the data. We find weak evidence that steeper proton spectra are associated with faster and wider CME's. Two of the 50 proton events of the study and two additional events, all with no associated CME's share common characteristics: relatively short duration (approx.1) day proton events with low fluxes, parent flares with short (approx.10 min) soft x ray duration, close magnetic connection to the earth, and gamma ray and metric type II emission.

• Research Organization: American Science and Engineering, Inc., Fort Washington, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 5988314
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 89:A11; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
BARYONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IMP SATELLITES
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MASS
MEV RANGE
NUCLEONS
PROTON SPECTRA
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR CORONA
SOLAR FLARES
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR RADIATION
SPACE
SPECTRA
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE
STELLAR RADIATION
SUN