SIP-IFVM: An observation-based magnetohydrodynamic model of coronal mass ejection

TL;DR

This paper introduces an observation-based, numerically stable, and computationally efficient MHD model for simulating coronal mass ejections, capable of reproducing real CME events in the solar corona for space weather forecasting.

Contribution

It develops a new MHD coronal model integrating observational data and advanced numerical algorithms for realistic CME simulation.

Findings

Successfully reproduces CME evolution consistent with observations

Enables faster-than-real-time CME propagation simulations

Maintains numerical stability in low- regions

Abstract

Currently, achieving a balance between computational efficiency, accuracy, and numerical stability in CME simulations, particularly in the sub-Alfv{'e}nic coronal region, remains a significant challenge. This paper aims to address the challenge by integrating observational data and developing advanced numerical algorithms, focusing on reproducing large-scale CME evolutions that are consistent with observations in the coronal region. Based on the recently developed fully implicit thermodynamic MHD coronal model (Wang et al. 2025a), we further use an observation-based RBSL flux rope to trigger a CME event during CR 2111. Additionally, we improve the temporal accuracy using a 2nd-order accurate ESDIRK2 method, with the intermediate stage solutions computed by the 2nd-order accurate BDF2 pseudo-time marching method. To enhance the numerical stability of ESDIRK2, we apply approximate linearisation in the implicitly solved intermediate stages. Furthermore, we adjust the time-evolving magnetic field B1 to zero at the end of each physical time step to further validate the extended magnetic field decomposition approach proposed by (Wang et al. 2025a). It is noticed that the model successfully reproduces the CME evolution consistent with white-light coronagraph observations, enables faster-than-real-time CME propagation simulations from solar surface to 0.1 AU using only a few dozen CPU cores on approximately 1 million grid cells, and remains numerically stable in CME simulations involving low-\b{eta} regions. The simulation results show that this novel MHD coronal model, combined with an observation-based magnetic flux rope, is sufficiently numerically stable and computationally efficient to reproduce real CME events propagating through the sub-Alfv{\'e}nic coronal region. Thus, the observation-based CME model is well suited for practical applications in daily space weather forecasting.