Journal
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
Volume 697, Issue 1, Pages L28-L32Publisher
IOP PUBLISHING LTD
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/697/1/L28
Keywords
solar wind; Sun: corona; Sun: magnetic fields; Sun: transition region
Categories
Funding
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNH08CC02C, NNX08AU30G]
- National Science Foundation
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We present a new method of visualizing the solar photospheric magnetic field based on the Magnetic Range of Influence (MRoI). The MRoI is a simple realization of the magnetic environment in the photosphere, reflecting the distance required to balance the integrated magnetic field contained in any magnetogram pixel. It provides a new perspective on where subterrestrial field lines in a Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) model connect to the photosphere, and thus the source of Earth-directed solar wind ( within the limitations of PFSS models), something that is not usually obvious from a regular synoptic magnetogram. In each of three sample solar rotations, at different phases of the solar cycle, the PFSS footpoint either jumps between isolated areas of high MRoI or moves slowly within one such area. Footpoint motions are consistent with Fisk's interchange reconnection model.
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