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Title: Morphological and kinematic evolution of three interacting coronal mass ejections of 2011 February 13-15

Abstract

During 2011 February 13-15, three Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched in succession were recorded as limb CMEs by STEREO/SECCHI coronagraphs (COR). These CMEs provided an opportunity to study their geometrical and kinematic evolution from multiple vantage points. In this paper, we examine the differences in geometrical evolution of slow and fast CMEs during their propagation in the heliosphere. We also study their interaction and collision using STEREO/SECCHI COR and Heliospheric Imager (HI) observations. We have found evidence of interaction and collision between the CMEs of February 15 and 14 in the COR2 and HI1 field of view (FOV), respectively, while the CME of February 14 caught up with the CME of February 13 in the HI2 FOV. By estimating the true mass of these CMEs and using their pre- and post-collision dynamics, the momentum and energy exchange between them during the collision phase are studied. We classify the nature of the observed collision between the CMEs of February 14 and 15 as inelastic, reaching close to the elastic regime. Relating imaging observations with in situ WIND measurements at L1, we find that the CMEs move adjacent to each other after their collision in the heliosphere and are recognized asmore » distinct structures in in situ observations. Our results highlight the significance of HI observations in studying CME-CME collision for the purpose of improved space weather forecasting.« less

Authors:
;  [1]
  1. Udaipur Solar Observatory, Physical Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 198, Badi Road, Udaipur 313001 (India)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22370462
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 794; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; COLLISIONS; ENERGY TRANSFER; EVOLUTION; FORECASTING; HELIOSPHERE; IMAGES; INTERACTIONS; MASS; SHOCK WAVES; SPACE; STELLAR CORONAE; SUN

Citation Formats

Mishra, Wageesh, and Srivastava, Nandita. Morphological and kinematic evolution of three interacting coronal mass ejections of 2011 February 13-15. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/64.
Mishra, Wageesh, & Srivastava, Nandita. Morphological and kinematic evolution of three interacting coronal mass ejections of 2011 February 13-15. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/64
Mishra, Wageesh, and Srivastava, Nandita. 2014. "Morphological and kinematic evolution of three interacting coronal mass ejections of 2011 February 13-15". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/64.
@article{osti_22370462,
title = {Morphological and kinematic evolution of three interacting coronal mass ejections of 2011 February 13-15},
author = {Mishra, Wageesh and Srivastava, Nandita},
abstractNote = {During 2011 February 13-15, three Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched in succession were recorded as limb CMEs by STEREO/SECCHI coronagraphs (COR). These CMEs provided an opportunity to study their geometrical and kinematic evolution from multiple vantage points. In this paper, we examine the differences in geometrical evolution of slow and fast CMEs during their propagation in the heliosphere. We also study their interaction and collision using STEREO/SECCHI COR and Heliospheric Imager (HI) observations. We have found evidence of interaction and collision between the CMEs of February 15 and 14 in the COR2 and HI1 field of view (FOV), respectively, while the CME of February 14 caught up with the CME of February 13 in the HI2 FOV. By estimating the true mass of these CMEs and using their pre- and post-collision dynamics, the momentum and energy exchange between them during the collision phase are studied. We classify the nature of the observed collision between the CMEs of February 14 and 15 as inelastic, reaching close to the elastic regime. Relating imaging observations with in situ WIND measurements at L1, we find that the CMEs move adjacent to each other after their collision in the heliosphere and are recognized as distinct structures in in situ observations. Our results highlight the significance of HI observations in studying CME-CME collision for the purpose of improved space weather forecasting.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/64},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22370462}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 794,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}