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Rotating solar coronal holes and periodic modulation of the upper atmosphere
Author(s) -
Lei Jiuhou,
Thayer Jeffrey P.,
Forbes Jeffrey M.,
Sutton Eric K.,
Nerem R. Steven
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2008gl033875
Subject(s) - thermosphere , coronal mass ejection , solar wind , coronal hole , physics , coronal loop , solar minimum , atmosphere (unit) , earth's magnetic field , atmospheric sciences , space weather , solar physics , predictability , ionosphere , astrobiology , astronomy , meteorology , solar cycle , plasma , magnetic field , quantum mechanics
We report discovery of a solar‐terrestrial connection between rotating solar coronal holes and density variations in Earth's thermosphere. Specifically, during 2005, a 9‐day recurrence of fast streams in the solar wind exists due to solar coronal holes distributed roughly 120 degrees apart in longitude; this periodicity is transmitted to the geospace environment where it modulates geomagnetic activity and thermospheric densities derived from accelerometer measurements on the CHAMP satellite. Our discovery demonstrates a solar‐terrestrial connection that has not been appreciated before, and by its nature is characterized by an element of predictability. Its potential predictability has practical relevance for collision avoidance and other applications affected by density variability in the terrestrial space environment.