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Observations of an extreme storm in interplanetary space caused by successive coronal mass ejections

Author

Listed:
  • Ying D. Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Space Weather, National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Janet G. Luhmann

    (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California)

  • Primož Kajdič

    (Université de Toulouse, UPS-OMP, IRAP
    CNRS, IRAP, 9 Av. colonel Roche, BP 44346)

  • Emilia K.J. Kilpua

    (University of Helsinki)

  • Noé Lugaz

    (Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire)

  • Nariaki V. Nitta

    (Lockheed-Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory)

  • Christian Möstl

    (Institute of Physics, University of Graz
    Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences)

  • Benoit Lavraud

    (Université de Toulouse, UPS-OMP, IRAP
    CNRS, IRAP, 9 Av. colonel Roche, BP 44346)

  • Stuart D. Bale

    (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California)

  • Charles J. Farrugia

    (Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire)

  • Antoinette B. Galvin

    (Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire)

Abstract

Space weather refers to dynamic conditions on the Sun and in the space environment of the Earth, which are often driven by solar eruptions and their subsequent interplanetary disturbances. It has been unclear how an extreme space weather storm forms and how severe it can be. Here we report and investigate an extreme event with multi-point remote-sensing and in situ observations. The formation of the extreme storm showed striking novel features. We suggest that the in-transit interaction between two closely launched coronal mass ejections resulted in the extreme enhancement of the ejecta magnetic field observed near 1 AU at STEREO A. The fast transit to STEREO A (in only 18.6 h), or the unusually weak deceleration of the event, was caused by the preconditioning of the upstream solar wind by an earlier solar eruption. These results provide a new view crucial to solar physics and space weather as to how an extreme space weather event can arise from a combination of solar eruptions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying D. Liu & Janet G. Luhmann & Primož Kajdič & Emilia K.J. Kilpua & Noé Lugaz & Nariaki V. Nitta & Christian Möstl & Benoit Lavraud & Stuart D. Bale & Charles J. Farrugia & Antoinette B. Galvin, 2014. "Observations of an extreme storm in interplanetary space caused by successive coronal mass ejections," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4481
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4481
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