A Study on Origin of Coronal Mass Ejections

George Mason University, Fairfax VA

Investigators

Abstract

This study makes use of SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (SOHO/LASCO) and Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) data to identify coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) soft X-ray data to determine any associated flares. The major objectives are: (1) to study the initiation and acceleration of the CMEs focusing on those that are well-observed in the inner C1 coronagraph, (2) to investigate the temporal relationship between CMEs and flares, (3) to test the validity of a proposed three-type classification scheme for CMEs based on their time-height velocity profiles, and (4) to test CME models based on a matrix of observable parameters developed at the 2000/2001 SHINE workshops. This observational study will reveal properties of CMEs and related flares, especially their origins and near-Sun evolution, and should better enable one to identify coronal environments that are propitious for their occurrence.