Validation of the Alfvén Wave Solar atmosphere Model (AWSoM) with Observations from the Low Corona to 1 AU

Abstract

We perform a validation study of the latest version of the Alfvén Wave Solar atmosphere Model (AWSoM) within the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF). To do so, we compare the simulation results of the model with a comprehensive suite of observations for Carrington rotations representative of the solar minimum conditions extending from the solar corona to the heliosphere up to the Earth. In the low corona ($r<1.25$ \Rs), we compare with EUV images from both STEREO-A/EUVI and SDO/AIA and to three-dimensional (3-D) tomographic reconstructions of the electron temperature and density based on these same data. We also compare the model to tomographic reconstructions of the electron density from SOHO/LASCO observations ($2.55<r<6.0$\Rs). In the heliosphere, we compare model predictions of solar wind speed with velocity reconstructions from InterPlanetary Scintillation (IPS) observations. For comparison with observations near the Earth, we use OMNI data. Our results show that the improved AWSoM model performs well in quantitative agreement with the observations between the inner corona and 1 AU. The model now reproduces the fast solar wind speed in the polar regions. Near the Earth, our model shows good agreement with observations of solar wind velocity, proton temperature and density. AWSoM offers an extensive application to study the solar corona and larger heliosphere in concert with current and future solar missions as well as being well suited for space weather predictions.

References in corpus (8)

• Gravitational Waves and Gamma-rays from a Binary Neutron Star Merger: GW170817 and GRB 170817A
• The Open Flux Problem
• Advancements in the ADAPT Photospheric Flux Transport Model
• Imbalanced Strong MHD Turbulence
• Chromosphere to 1 AU Simulation of the 2011 March 7th Event: A Comprehensive Study of Coronal Mass Ejection Propagation
• Predictions for the First Parker Solar Probe Encounter
• Time-Dependent Tomographic Reconstruction of the Solar Corona
• Mass Loss Evolution in the EUV Low Corona from SDO/AIA Data

Cited by in corpus (22)

• What Sustained Multi-Disciplinary Research Can Achieve: The Space Weather Modeling Framework
• COCONUT, a novel fast-converging MHD model for solar corona simulations: I. Benchmarking and optimization of polytropic solutions
• Simulating the Space Weather in the AU Mic System: Stellar Winds and Extreme Coronal Mass Ejections
• Tuning the Exo-Space Weather Radio for Stellar Coronal Mass Ejections
• Assessing the Influence of Input Magnetic Maps on Global Modeling of the Solar Wind and CME-driven Shock in the 2013 April 11 Event
• Self-consistent propagation of flux ropes in realistic coronal simulations
• Validation of a wave heated 3D MHD coronal-wind model using Polarized Brightness and EUV observations
• The winds of young Solar-type stars in the Hyades
• Thermodynamic Structure of the Solar Corona: Tomographic Reconstructions and MHD Modeling
• The winds of young Solar-type stars in the Pleiades, AB Doradus, Columba and $\beta$ Pictoris
• Revisiting the space weather environment of Proxima Centauri b
• Numerical quantification of the wind properties of cool main sequence stars
• Solar wind modeling with the Alfven Wave Solar atmosphere Model driven by HMI-based Near-Real-Time maps by the National Solar Observatory
• Stellar Energetic Particle Transport in the Turbulent and CME-disrupted Stellar Wind of AU~Microscopii
• Exoplanet Radio Transits as a Probe for Exoplanetary Magnetic Fields -- Time-dependent MHD Simulations
• Physics-Based Simulation of the 2013 April 11 Solar Energetic Particle Event
• Evidence of Time-Dependent Diffusive Shock Acceleration in the 2022 September 5 Solar Energetic Particle Event
• Rotational evolution of young-to-old stars with data-driven three-dimensional wind models
• Modeling Polarized Radio Sounding Observations of a Coronal Mass Ejection
• Simulating the Solar Corona with Multiple Solar Photospheric Magnetic Maps during the 8 April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
• Comparing the Performance of a Solar Wind model from the Sun to 1 AU using Real and Synthetic Magnetograms
• Earth-affecting Solar Transients: A Review of Progresses in Solar Cycle 24