Statistical study on the kinematic classification of CMEs from 4 to 30 solar radii

In this study, we perform a statistical investigation on the kinematic classication of 4264 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from 1996 to 2015 observed by SOHO/LASCO C3. Using the constant acceleration model, we classify these CMEs into three groups; deceleration, constant velocity, and acceleration motion. For this, we devise four dierent classication methods by acceleration, fractional speed variation, height contribution, and visual inspection. Our major results are as follows. First, the fractions of three groups depend on the method used. Second, about half of the events belong to the groups of acceleration and deceleration. Third, the fractions of three motion groups as a function of CME speed classied by the last three methods are consistent with one another. Fourth, according to the last three methods, the fraction of acceleration motion decreases as CME speed increases, while the fractions of other motions increase with speed. In addition, the acceleration motions are dominant in low speed CMEs whereas the constant velocity motions are dominant in high speed CMEs.