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Smith, Z. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Smith, Z. K..

15 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

The February 1986 solar activity - A comparison of Giotto, Vega-1, and IMP-8 solar wind measurements with MHD simulations

Large disturbances in the interplanetary medium were observed by several spacecraft during a period of enhanced solar activity in early February 1986. The locations of six solar flares and the spacecraft considered here encompassed more than 100 deg of heliolongitude. These flares during the minimum of cycle 21 set the stage for an extensive multispacecraft comparison performed with a two-dimensional, MHD numerical experiment. The plasma instruments on the Giotto spacecraft, on its way to encounter Comet Halley in March 1986, made measurements of the solar wind for up to 8 hours/day during February. Solar wind measurements from the Johnstone Plasma Analyzer experiment on Giotto are compared with the MHD simulation of the interplanetary medium throughout these events. Using plasma data obtained by the IMP-8 satellite in addition, it appears that an extended period of high solar wind speed is required as well as the simulated flares to represent the interplanetary medium in this case. The plasma and magnetometer data from Vega-1 is compared with the MHD simulation. This comparison tends to support an interpretation that the major solar wind changes at both Giotto and Vega-1 on February 8, 1986 were due to a shock from a W 05 deg solar flare on February 6, 1986 (06:25 UT). The numerical experiment is considered, qualitatively, to resemble the observations at the former spacecraft, but it has less success at the latter one.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Multi-spacecraft testing of time-dependent interplanetary MHD models for operational forecasting of geomagnetic storms

An MHD 2-1/2D, time-dependent model is used, together with observations of six solar flares during February 3-7, 1986, to demonstrate global, large-scale, compound disturbances in the solar wind over a wide range of heliolongitudes. This scenario is one that is likely to occur many times during the cruise, possibly even encounter, phases of the Multi-Comet Mission. It is suggested that a model such as this one should be tested with multi-spacecraft data (such as the MCM and earth-based probes) with several goals in view: (1) utility of the model for operational real-time forecasting of geomagnetic storms, and (2) scientific interpretation of certain forms of cometary activities and their possible association with solar-generated activity.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Interplanetary shock collisions - Forward with reverse shocks

When one interplanetary shock overtakes another, the structure that results depends upon the nature of the interacting shocks. The results of collisions of forward with reverse shocks, in two dimensions, are numerically examined, and it is shown that the results depend primarily upon shock strength. It is also noted that such interactions could explain why many energy outburst on the sun that would be expected to cause geomagnetic effects at the earth, do not.

Smith, Z. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

MHD simulation of the 'geoeffectiveness' of interplanetary disturbances

A series of examples is used to evaluate the 'geoeffectiveness' prediction technique that is based on the classical, initial boundary value problem of MHD. For the nonplanar simulation of a corotating stream, it is shown that the technique can compute relevant solar wind parameters at the earth's location. For the nonplanar simulation of a complex series of events, qualitative agreement is found for large-scale structures, but the phasing and amplitudes are not satisfactory. Preliminary work with a fully three-dimensional, time-dependent simulation of a flare-generated interplanetary shock wave shows that the effect of the latitudinal variation produces attenuation of the heliolongitudinal component of the IMF and of the radial velocity.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Study of the formation, evolution, and decay of shocks in the heliosphere between 0.5 and 30.0 AU

The spatial and temporal evolution of corotating interaction regions is examined between 0.5 and 30 AU using a solar-wind simulation with a continuous sinusoidally varying velocity, density, and temperature input pulse train. The well-known formation of forward-reverse MHD shock ensembles is followed by their interaction, which results in a highly nonlinear 'pressure' wave that eventually reforms into a new but more irregular set of forward-reverse shock pairs. As a result of these compound interactions, the overall temperature decays much more slowly than the classical steady-state adiabatic radial dependency of R BXP -4/3.

Smith, Z. K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Magnetohydrodynamic modelling of interplanetary disturbances between the sun and earth

A time-dependent, nonplanar, two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic computer model is used to simulate a series, separately examined, of solar flare-generated shock waves and their subsequent disturbances in interplanetary space between the sun and the earth's magnetosphere. The 'canonical' or ansatz series of shock waves include initial velocities near the sun over the range 500 to 3500 km/s. The ambient solar wind, through which they propagate, is taken to be a steady state homogeneous plasma (that is, independent of heliolongitude) with a representative set of plasma and magnetic field parameters. Complete sets of solar wind plasma and magnetic field parameters are presented and discussed. Particular attention is addressed to the MHD model's ability to address fundamental operational questions vis-a-vis the long-range forecasting of geomagnetic disturbances. These questions are: (1) will a disturbance (such as the present canonical series of solar flare shock waves) produce a magnetospheric and ionospheric disturbance, and, if so, (2) when will it start, (3) how severe will it be, and (4) how long will it last? The model's output is used to compute various solar wind indices of current interest as a demonstration of the model's potential for providing 'answers' to these questions.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Numerical study of two-dimensional non-plane MHD wave propagation in a supersonic, superalfvenic magnetohydrodynamic flow

The features of a 2.5-dimensional time-dependent MHD numerical code used to simulate the propagation of finite amplitude MHD waves through an inhomogeneous, supersonic superalfvenic medium are described. Basic equations for conservation of mass, momentum, and free energy in a unit volume plasma gas and for magnetic induction are defined. Initial conditions are functions of the radial coordinates and disturbances are introduced at the lower boundary. A set of finite difference equations based on a Lax-Wendroff scheme is used for the simulation. The model is applied to analyzing a solar flare shock wave in steady-state and global transient conditions while propagating at 1 AU heliolongitude.

Han, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Compression of Jupiter's magnetosphere by the solar wind - Reexamination via MHD simulation of evolving corotating interaction regions

Major changes in the solar wind before, during and after the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions' encounter with the Jovian magnetosphere are considered. A numerical simulation of the multiple corotating interaction region (CIR) evolutions from one spacecraft to its sister spacecraft is shown to have confirmed the suggestion by Smith et al (1978) that Jupiter's magnetosphere was compressed by interplanetary CIRs during three out of four of the observed events. The MHD simulation presented suggests that the Jupiter magnetosphere reacts to solar wind rarefactions by expanding. A pair of previously unexplained magnetopause crossings of the Pioneer 11 outbound pass may be due to a delayed reexpansion of the Jupiter magnetosphere from a compression that occurred during the inbound pass.

Smith, Z. K.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Dynamic MHD modeling of solar wind corotating stream interaction regions observed by Pioneer 10 and 11

The use of the Pioneer 10 and 11 projects to test an MHD one-dimensional time-dependent model of corotating solar wind streams during the period from Sept. 30 to Nov. 25, 1973 is described. During this period, five or six corotating interaction regions streamed past the two spacecraft, and, as a result of multiple-spacecraft radial alignment and temporally varying conditions at the solar wind source, the pattern predicted by the Steinolfson et al. (1975) model could be compared with observations. The results, in general, support the validity of the model, although the neglect of thermal energy exchange leads to incorrect values for the proton temperature. A detailed analysis of a stream is discussed.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Dynamic MHD modeling of the solar wind disturbances during the August 1972 events

A time-dependent one-dimensional MHD theoretical model is tested by using plasma and magnetic field observations of Pioneer 9 and Pioneer 10 during the August 1972 events on the sun and in the interplanetary medium. These spacecraft were nearly aligned along a common heliocentric radius during these events, considered now to be the most spectacular and best-documented events during solar cycle 20. The observations of Pioneer 9 at 0.78 AU were used as input for the theoretical model. The plasma and magnetic field forcing functions were superimposed upon a preexisting ambient solar wind at this inner boundary, and the response was simulated as far as 8 AU. The simulated output at 2.2 AU is compared directly with the Pioneer 10 observations at 2.2 AU. Qualitative comparison is good, although several limitations of the one-dimensional theory are noted.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Interplanetary disturbances caused by the August 1972 solar flares as observed by Pioneer 9

Pioneer 9 plasma and field observations at 0.78 AU were used as the basis of the analysis of the dynamic behavior of the interplanetary medium during early August, 1972. The following investigations were carried out: (1) energy and mass estimates for the solar flares of Aug. 2, 4, and 7; (2) shock wave characteristics; and (3) a numerical simulation of the first two flare-generated disturbances on Aug. 2, 4, and 7.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Pioneer 9 and OGO 5 observations of an interplanetary multiple shock ensemble on February 2, 1969

A multiple shock system was observed upstream (0.13 AU) of the earth by Pioneer 9 on February 2, 1969. The same system was observed at earth by Ogo 5 and was reported separately in the literature. This paper compares the two sets of observations in still further detail. Both magnetic-field and plasma data are used in a least-squares best-fit method to compute the characteristics of the fast forward shock wave (Pioneer 9 only) and two fast reverse shock waves. Nearly all major features (shock, piston, and tangential discontinuity) retained their characteristics during the transit of the shock ensemble from Pioneer 9 to Ogo 5. The genesis of the ensemble is believed to be due to a complex stream-stream interaction. A substantial density increase (including a large rise of alpha/proton abundance) at Ogo 5, but unobserved at Pioneer 9, is explained by a sudden meridional shift to a flow from below the ecliptic plane while the streams were en route to earth. This study demonstrates a spatial and temporal plasma inhomogeneity which is superimposed on the persistent major features.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Pioneer 7 observations of the August 29, 1966, interplanetary shock-wave ensemble.

The detailed plasma (except for electrons) and magnetic field data from Pioneer 7 are presented for a proposed double-shock ensemble. The Ames Research Center plasma probe data are compared with that of the MIT probe. These data are compared with MHD theory to show that the discontinuities themselves satisfy the magnetic Hugoniot equations. The data are also compared with the theoretical predictions for the double-shock structure. The theory requires as input only the forward shock velocity, the original ambient solar wind conditions, and a reasonable assumption regarding the density and azimuthal magnetic field in the 'new' solar wind which is detected after passage of the reverse shock. A unique solution is then obtained for the theoretical piston and reverse shock positions as well as for the temporal plasma behavior for both infinite and finite electrical conductivities.

Dryer, M.↗