| Title | An integrated data-driven solar wind - CME numerical framework for space weather forecasting |
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| Author | Narechania, N M; Nikolic, L; Freret, L; De Sterck, H; Groth, C P T |
| Source | Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate vol. 11, 8, 2021 p. 1-25, https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2020068  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2021 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20200733 |
| Publisher | EDP Sciences |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf; html |
| Subjects | geophysics; extraterrestrial geology; Science and Technology; Nature and Environment; Health and Safety; solar variations; magnetic field; geomagnetism; geomagnetic fields; geomagnetic variations;
modelling; computer simulations; Forecasting; Methodology |
| Illustrations | schematic cross-sections; 3-D diagrams; schematic diagrams; sketch maps; plots; 3-D models; models; time series |
| Program | Public Safety Geoscience Assessing space weather hazards |
| Released | 2021 01 28 |
| Abstract | The development of numerical models and tools which have operational space weather potential is an increasingly important area of research. This study presents recent Canadian efforts toward the
development of a numerical framework for Sun-to-Earth simulations of solar wind disturbances. This modular three-dimensional (3D) simulation framework is based on a semi-empirical data-driven approach to describe the solar corona and an MHD-based
description of the heliosphere. In the present configuration, the semi-empirical component uses the potential field source surface (PFSS) and Schatten current sheet (SCS) models to derive the coronal magnetic field based on observed magnetogram data.
Using empirical relations, solar wind properties are associated with this coronal magnetic field. Together with a coronal mass ejection (CME) model, this provides inner boundary conditions for a global MHD model which is used to describe
interplanetary propagation of the solar wind and CMEs. The proposed MHD numerical approach makes use of advanced numerical techniques. The 3D MHD code employs a finite-volume discretization procedure with limited piecewise linear reconstruction to
solve the governing partial-differential equations. The equations are solved on a body-fitted hexahedral multi-block cubed-sphere mesh and an efficient iterative Newton method is used for time-invariant simulations and an explicit time-marching
scheme is applied for unsteady cases. Additionally, an efficient anisotropic block-based refinement technique provides significant reductions in the size of the computational mesh by locally refining the grid in selected directions as dictated by the
flow physics. The capabilities of the framework for accurately capturing solar wind structures and forecasting solar wind properties at Earth are demonstrated. Furthermore, a comparison with previously reported results and future space weather
forecasting challenges are discussed. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
Space weather refers to the dynamic conditions on the Sun and in the space environment, in particular, in the near-Earth environment, that can affect
critical infrastructure. NRCan operates the Canadian Space Weather Forecast Centre and conducts research into space weather effects on power systems, pipelines, radio communications and GNSS positioning to help Canadian industry understand and
mitigate the effects of space weather. This study presents Canadian efforts toward the development of a numerical framework for Sun-to-Earth simulations of solar wind disturbances. The capabilities of the framework for accurately capturing solar wind
structures and forecasting solar wind properties at Earth are demonstrated. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 328054 |
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