Publication detail
Predicting the corona for the 21 August 2017 total solar eclipse
MIKIČ, Z. COOPER, D. LINKER, J. MACKAY, D. UPTON, L. RILEY, P. LIONELLO, R. TOROK, T. TITOV, V. JANVIER, W. DRUCKMÜLLER, M. PASACHOFF, J. CARLOS, W.
English title
Predicting the corona for the 21 August 2017 total solar eclipse
Type
journal article in Web of Science
Language
en
Original abstract
The total solar eclipse that occurred on 21 August 2017 across the United States provided an opportunity to test a magnetohydrodynamic model of the solar corona driven by measured magnetic fields. We used a new heating model based on the dissipation of Alfven waves, and a new energization mechanism to twist the magnetic field in filament channels. We predicted what the corona would look like one week before the eclipse. Here, we describe how this prediction was accomplished, and show that it compared favourably with observations of the eclipse in white light and extreme ultraviolet. The model allows us to understand the relationship of observed features, including streamers, corona! holes, prominences, polar plumes and thin rays, to the magnetic field. We show that the discrepancies between the model and observations arise from limitations in our ability to observe the Sun's magnetic field. Predictions of this kind provide opportunities to improve the models, forging the path to improved space weather prediction.
English abstract
The total solar eclipse that occurred on 21 August 2017 across the United States provided an opportunity to test a magnetohydrodynamic model of the solar corona driven by measured magnetic fields. We used a new heating model based on the dissipation of Alfven waves, and a new energization mechanism to twist the magnetic field in filament channels. We predicted what the corona would look like one week before the eclipse. Here, we describe how this prediction was accomplished, and show that it compared favourably with observations of the eclipse in white light and extreme ultraviolet. The model allows us to understand the relationship of observed features, including streamers, corona! holes, prominences, polar plumes and thin rays, to the magnetic field. We show that the discrepancies between the model and observations arise from limitations in our ability to observe the Sun's magnetic field. Predictions of this kind provide opportunities to improve the models, forging the path to improved space weather prediction.
Keywords in English
MAGNETIC-FIELD; ALFVEN WAVES; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC TURBULENCE; MHD TURBULENCE;
Released
01.11.2018
Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Location
MACMILLAN BUILDING, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND
ISSN
2397-3366
Volume
2
Number
11
Pages from–to
913–921
Pages count
9
BIBTEX
@article{BUT153206,
author="Zoran {Mikič} and Downs {Cooper} and J.A. {Linker} and Duncan H. {Mackay} and Lisa A. {Upton} and P. {Riley} and R. {Lionello} and Tibor {Torok} and V.S. {Titov} and Wijaya {Janvier} and Miloslav {Druckmüller} and Jay {Pasachoff} and Wendi {Carlos},
title="Predicting the corona for the 21 August 2017 total solar eclipse",
year="2018",
volume="2",
number="11",
month="November",
pages="913--921",
publisher="NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP",
address="MACMILLAN BUILDING, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND",
issn="2397-3366"
}