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Abstract Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and high speed streams (HSSs) are large‐scale transient structures that routinely propagate away from the Sun. Individually, they can cause space weather effects at the Earth, or elsewhere in space, but many of the largest events occur when these structures interact during their interplanetary propagation. We present the initial coupling of Open Solar Physics Rapid Ensemble Information (OSPREI), a model for CME evolution, with Mostly Empirical Operational Wind with a High Speed Stream, a time‐dependent HSS model that can serve as a background for the OSPREI CME. We present several improvements made to OSPREI in order to take advantage of the new time‐dependent, higher‐dimension background. This includes an update in the drag calculation and the ability to determine the rotation of a yaw‐like angle. We present several theoretical case studies, describing the difference in the CME behavior between a HSS background and a quiescent one. This behavior includes interplanetary CME propagation, expansion, deformation, and rotation, as well as the formation of a CME‐driven sheath. We also determine how the CME behavior changes with the HSS size and initial front distance. Generally, for a fast CME, we see that the drag is greatly reduced within the HSS, leading to faster CMEs and shorter travel times. The drag reappears stronger if the CME reaches the stream interaction region or upstream solar wind, leading to a stronger shock with more compression until the CME sufficiently decelerates. We model a CME–HSS interaction event observed by Parker Solar Probe in January 2022. The model improvements create a better match to the observed in situ profiles.more » « less
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Abstract The search for life in the Universe is a fundamental problem of astrobiology and modern science. The current progress in the detection of terrestrial-type exoplanets has opened a new avenue in the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres and in the search for biosignatures of life with the upcoming ground-based and space missions. To specify the conditions favourable for the origin, development and sustainment of life as we know it in other worlds, we need to understand the nature of global (astrospheric), and local (atmospheric and surface) environments of exoplanets in the habitable zones (HZs) around G-K-M dwarf stars including our young Sun. Global environment is formed by propagated disturbances from the planet-hosting stars in the form of stellar flares, coronal mass ejections, energetic particles and winds collectively known as astrospheric space weather. Its characterization will help in understanding how an exoplanetary ecosystem interacts with its host star, as well as in the specification of the physical, chemical and biochemical conditions that can create favourable and/or detrimental conditions for planetary climate and habitability along with evolution of planetary internal dynamics over geological timescales. A key linkage of (astro)physical, chemical and geological processes can only be understood in the framework of interdisciplinary studies with the incorporation of progress in heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary and Earth sciences. The assessment of the impacts of host stars on the climate and habitability of terrestrial (exo)planets will significantly expand the current definition of the HZ to the biogenic zone and provide new observational strategies for searching for signatures of life. The major goal of this paper is to describe and discuss the current status and recent progress in this interdisciplinary field in light of presentations and discussions during the NASA Nexus for Exoplanetary System Science funded workshop ‘Exoplanetary Space Weather, Climate and Habitability’ and to provide a new roadmap for the future development of the emerging field of exoplanetary science and astrobiology.more » « less
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