Interplanetary Shocks: Occurrence Frequency, Characteristics, and Geoeffectiveness

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

This project will identify all the shocks in 1 AU spacecraft data from IMP 8 (1973-2001), WIND (1994-2001), and ACE (1997-end of grant) and characterize their strength and orientation. Comparisons of multi-spacecraft data for the same shock will be used to determine the scale size of the events. These long data sets will then be employed to document the solar-cycle variations in shock frequency and characteristics. A cross-correlation of the determined shock characteristics with geomagnetic activity indices will be carried out in order to determine if knowledge of upstream shock characteristics is useful in predicting the duration and severity of geomagnetic storms.