Tracking the momentum flux of a CME and quantifying its influence on geomagnetically induced currents at Earth

TL;DR

This study tracks a specific CME's momentum flux from solar observations to its impact on Earth's magnetosphere, demonstrating how remote sensing data can inform space weather predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a method to use remote sensing mass measurements as inputs for magnetospheric simulations to predict ground-level magnetic disturbances caused by CMEs.

Findings

Mass measurements from STEREO closely match in situ density data.

Simulations predict magnetospheric compression consistent with ground observations.

Remote sensing data can effectively inform space weather models.

Abstract

We investigate a CME propagating towards Earth on 29 March 2011. This event is specifically chosen for its predominately northward directed magnetic field, so that the influence from the momentum flux onto Earth can be isolated. We focus our study on understanding how a small Earth-directed segment propagates. Mass images are created from the white-light cameras onboard STEREO which are also converted into mass height-time maps (mass J-maps). The mass tracks on these J-maps correspond to the sheath region between the CME and its associated shock front as detected by in situ measurements at L1. A time-series of mass measurements from the STEREO COR-2A instrument are made along the Earth propagation direction. Qualitatively, this mass time-series shows a remarkable resemblance to the L1 in situ density series. The in situ measurements are used as inputs into a 3D magnetospheric space weather simulation from CCMC. These simulations display a sudden compression of the magnetosphere from the large momentum flux at the leading edge of the CME and predictions are made for the time-derivative of the magnetic field (dB/dt) on the ground. The predicted dB/dt were then compared with observations from specific equatorially-located ground stations and show notable similarity. This study of the momentum of a CME from the Sun down to its influence on magnetic ground stations on Earth is presented as preliminary proof of concept, such that future attempts may try to use remote sensing to create density and velocity time-series as inputs to magnetospheric simulations.