Characterizing the Dynamics of CME-Driven Coronal Bright Fronts Using The SPREAdFAST Framework

In this work, we present a full characterization of over 50 historical Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)-driven compressive waves in the low solar corona, related to solar energetic particle events near Earth, using the Solar Particle Radiation Environment Analysis and Forecasting - Acceleration and Scattering Transport (SPREAdFAST) framework. SPREAdFAST is a physics-based, operational heliospheric solar energetic particle (SEP) forecasting system, which incorporates a chain of data-driven analytic and numerical models for estimating: a) coronal magnetic field from Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) and Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD); b) dynamics of large-scale coronal (CME-driven) shock waves; c) energetic particle acceleration; d) scatter-based, time-dependent SEP propagation in the heliosphere to specific time-dependent positions. SPREAdFAST allows for producing predictions of SEP fluxes at multiple locations in the inner heliosphere, by modeling their acceleration at CMEs near the Sun, and their subsequent interplanetary transport. We used sequences of base-difference images obtained from the AIA instrument on board the SDO satellite, with 24-second cadence. We calculated time-dependent speeds in both the radial and lateral (parallel to the solar limb) directions, mean intensities and thicknesses of the fronts, and major and minor axes. This is essential for characterizing the SEP spectra near the Sun. The kinematics measurements were used to generate time-dependent 3D geometric models of the wave fronts and time-dependent plasma diagnostics using MHD and DEM model results.