Spatial variation of the background solar wind in the Inner Heliosphere

The importance of background solar wind is unquestionable as it carries information on the solar surface conditions and has a major role in space weather events. The current solar minimum is a perfect time period for investigations regarding this field, with several space probes providing in-situ measurements.

 

Our aim is to determine the spatial variations in the background solar wind through multi-spacecraft data analysis, including recent missions, such as Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter. We adjust for the radial and longitudinal time-lags between the different spacecraft, then compare their solar wind plasma measurements. The effects of latitudinal differences between the observations is then backmapped to coronagraph imagery. The results will be useful for further analysis of inner heliospheric structures, for the improvement of propagation models, and to support the analysis of out-of-ecliptic solar wind observations.