Large-scale structure of the fast solar wind

Breen, Andrew; Bisi, M.M.; Fallows, R.A.; Habbal, S.R., (2007) 'Large-scale structure of the fast solar wind', Journal of Geophysical Research 112(A6) pp.A06101 RAE2008

We present the results of a comprehensive study of the fast solar wind near solar minimum conditions using interplanetary scintillation (IPS) data taken with the EISCAT system in northern Scandinavia, and a recent extremely long baseline observation using both EISCAT and MERLIN systems. The results from IPS observations suggest that the fast wind inside 100 solar radii (R ) can be represented by a two-mode model in some cases but this distinction is much less clear by in situ distances beyond 1 astronomical unit (215 R ). Two distinct fast streams are seen in the extremely long baseline IPS observation; comparison of the IPS line of sight with a synoptic map of white light indicates the faster mode overlies the polar crown and the slower fast mode overlies an equatorial extension of the polar coronal hole.

Peer reviewed