Comparison of 3-D structures of Halo CMEs using cone models

  • Na, Hyeon-Ock (School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Moon, Y.J. (School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Jang, Soo-Jeong (School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Kyoung-Sun (Department of Astronomy and Space Science, Kyung Hee University)
  • Published : 2012.04.03

Abstract

Halo coronal mass ejections (HCMEs) are major cause of geomagnetic storms and their three dimensional structures are important for space weather. In this study, we compare three cone models: an elliptical cone model, an ice-cream cone model, and an asymmetric cone model. These models allow us to determine the three dimensional parameters of HCMEs such as radial speed, angular width, and the angle (${\gamma}$) between sky plane and cone axis. We compare these parameters obtained from three models using 62 well-observed HCMEs from 2001 to 2002. Then we obtain the root mean square error (RMS error) between maximum measured projection speeds and their calculated projection speeds from the cone models. As a result, we find that the radial speeds obtained from the models are well correlated with one another (R > 0.84). The correlation coefficients between angular widths are less than 0.53 and those between ${\gamma}$ values are less than 0.47, which are much smaller than expected. The reason may be due to different assumptions and methods. The RMS errors of the elliptical cone model, the ice-cream cone model, and the asymmetric cone model are 213 km/s, 254 km/s, and 267 km/s, respectively. Finally, we discuss their strengths and weaknesses in terms of space weather application.

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