WHPI Synoptic Coronal Hole Maps and Solar Wind Studies

Abstract:

Ian Hewins(1), Sarah Gibson (1), Barbara Emery-Geiger (1)

1 = HAO/NCAR

In support of the Whole Heliosphere and Planetary Interactions (WHPI) effort and to highlight solar structure near solar minimum we are producing solar synoptic maps featuring coronal hole boundaries for the WHPI period (December 2018 – February 2020 or CR’s 2212 – 2226). These maps, made in the manner established by Patrick McIntosh and used in the McIntosh Archive of Synoptic maps, enable studies of solar features and their relation to structures in the solar wind and space environment of the earth and other planets. Patrick McIntosh contributed three maps to the initial Whole Sun Months (WSM; 1996), and Robert McFadden, McIntosh’s primary cartographer for Solar Cycle 23, similarly contributed three maps to the Whole Heliospheric Interval (WHI; 2008). Hewins, who was trained by McIntosh and McFadden will be producing these maps with a focus on coronal hole data using EUV data from SDO (AIA 193 and 304) although some maps will utilize Hα and photospheric magnetic field to represent filaments, filament channels, and the large scale distribution of the dominant magnetic polarity, as well. In addition, synoptic maps for CR’s 2212 – 2226 are being made from the STEREO perspective withEUVI 195 in order to study coronal hole evolution over time. In some cases, STEREO’s alignment is similar to the position of Mars. We hope to compare the positions of coronal holes to stream structure in solar wind data using MAVEN and OMNI data as well as solar wind tracking tools.