EGU2020-18502
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18502
EGU General Assembly 2020
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Radial Evolution of Inverted Heliospheric Magnetic Field Between 0.3 and 1 AU

Allan Macneil1, Mathew Owens2,3, Robert Wicks1, Mike Lockwood1, Matthew Lang1, and Sarah Bentley1
Allan Macneil et al.
  • 1Meteorology Department, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a.r.macneil@reading.ac.uk)
  • 2Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, United Kingdom
  • 3Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London, United Kingdom

Local inversions, or ‘switchbacks’, in the heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) have recently been identified as prominent features in the inner heliosphere through observations by Parker Solar Probe. These inversions coincide with spikes in radial velocity, and have been interpreted as possibly being the result of jets originating in the corona. While magnetic inversions with similar properties to these jets have also been observed by Helios around its perihelion of ~0.3 AU, inversions with a range of properties and scales have long been studied at distances of 1 AU and beyond. The processes which form the inversions seen outside of 0.3 AU, and whether they are a result of solar wind formation in the solar corona or the transport of solar wind through the heliosphere, are not clear. We present a statistical study on the occurrence of inverted heliospheric magnetic field using Helios 1 observations spanning heliocentric distances 0.3—1 AU. The evolution of inversion occurrence allows us to identify probable locations in the heliosphere where inversions may be produced. Based on these results, we make suggestions as to which processes are most likely responsible for inverted HMF observed between 0.3 and 1 AU.

How to cite: Macneil, A., Owens, M., Wicks, R., Lockwood, M., Lang, M., and Bentley, S.: Radial Evolution of Inverted Heliospheric Magnetic Field Between 0.3 and 1 AU, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-18502, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18502, 2020.

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