Skip to main content
Log in

First Simultaneous Views of the Axial and Lateral Perspectives of a Coronal Mass Ejection

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The different appearances exhibited by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are believed to be in part the result of different orientations of their main axis of symmetry, consistent with a flux-rope configuration. There are observational reports of CMEs seen along their main axis (axial perspective) and perpendicular to it (lateral perspective), but no simultaneous observations of both perspectives from the same CME have been reported to date. The stereoscopic views of the telescopes onboard the Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) twin spacecraft, in combination with the views from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), allow us to study the axial and lateral perspectives of a CME simultaneously for the first time. In addition, this study shows that the lateral angular extent (L) increases linearly with time, while the angular extent of the axial perspective (D) presents this behavior only from the low corona to \({\approx}\,5~\mbox{R}_{\odot}\), where it slows down. The ratio \(L/D \approx 1.6\) obtained here as the average over several points in time is consistent with measurements of L and D previously performed on events exhibiting only one of the perspectives from the single vantage point provided by SOHO.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amari, T., Luciani, J.F., Mikic, Z., Linker, J.: 2000, A twisted flux rope model for coronal mass ejections and two-ribbon flares. Astrophys. J. Lett. 529, L49. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Amari, T., Aly, J.J., Mikic, Z., Linker, J.: 2007, Coronal mass ejection initiation and complex topology configurations in the flux cancellation and breakout models. Astrophys. J. Lett. 671, L189. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antiochos, S.K., DeVore, C.R., Klimchuk, J.A.: 1999, A model for solar coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. 510, 485. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brueckner, G.E., Howard, R.A., Koomen, M.J., Korendyke, C.M., Michels, D.J., Moses, J.D., Socker, D.G., Dere, K.P., Lamy, P.L., Llebaria, A., Bout, M.V., Schwenn, R., Simnett, G.M., Bedford, D.K., Eyles, C.J.: 1995, The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO). Solar Phys. 162, 357. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J., Garren, D.A.: 1994, Initiation and propagation of eruptive solar flux loops: interplanetary consequences. In: Hunt, J.J. (ed.) Solar Dynamic Phenomena and Solar Wind Consequences, the Third SOHO Workshop, ESA Special Publication 373, 285. ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J., Howard, R.A., Brueckner, G.E., Santoro, R., Krall, J., Paswaters, S.E., St. Cyr, O.C., Schwenn, R., Lamy, P., Simnett, G.M.: 1997, Evidence of an erupting magnetic flux rope: LASCO coronal mass ejection of 1997 April 13. Astrophys. J. Lett. 490, L191. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cremades, H., Bothmer, V.: 2004, On the three-dimensional configuration of coronal mass ejections. Astron. Astrophys. 422, 307. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cremades, H., Bothmer, V.: 2005, Geometrical properties of coronal mass ejections. In: Dere, K., Wang, J., Yan, Y. (eds.) Coronal and Stellar Mass Ejections, IAU Symp. 226, 48. DOI .

    Google Scholar 

  • Crifo, F., Picat, J.P., Cailloux, M.: 1983, Coronal transients – Loop or bubble. Solar Phys. 83, 143. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dere, K.P., Brueckner, G.E., Howard, R.A., Michels, D.J., Delaboudiniere, J.P.: 1999, LASCO and EIT observations of helical structure in coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. 516, 465. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Domingo, V., Fleck, B., Poland, A.I.: 1995, The SOHO mission: An overview. Solar Phys. 162, 1. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dryer, M., Smart, D.F.: 1984, Dynamical models of coronal transients and interplanetary disturbances. Adv. Space Res. 4, 291. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, L., Inhester, B., Mierla, M.: 2013, Comparisons of CME morphological characteristics derived from five 3D reconstruction methods. Solar Phys. 282, 221. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry, C.D., Sun, W., Deehr, C.S., Dryer, M., Smith, Z., Akasofu, S.-I., Tokumaru, M., Kojima, M.: 2001, Improvements to the HAF solar wind model for space weather predictions. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 20985. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, S.E., Low, B.C.: 1998, A time-dependent three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model of the coronal mass ejection. Astrophys. J. 493, 460. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Lara, A., Lepping, R.P., Kaiser, M.L., Berdichevsky, D., St. Cyr, O.C.: 2000, Interplanetary acceleration of coronal mass ejections. Geophys. Res. Lett. 27, 145. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Lara, A., Yashiro, S., Kaiser, M.L., Howard, R.A.: 2001, Predicting the 1-AU arrival times of coronal mass ejections. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 29207. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Lara, A., Manoharan, P.K., Howard, R.A.: 2005a, An empirical model to predict the 1-AU arrival of interplanetary shocks. Adv. Space Res. 36, 2289. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Yashiro, S., Liu, Y., Michalek, G., Vourlidas, A., Kaiser, M.L., Howard, R.A.: 2005b, Coronal mass ejections and other extreme characteristics of the 2003 October–November solar eruptions. J. Geophys. Res. 110, 9. DOI . ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • Gopalswamy, N., Makela, P., Yashiro, S., Davila, J.M.: 2012, The relationship between the expansion speed and radial speed of CMEs confirmed using quadrature observations of the 2011 February 15 CME. Sun Geosph. 7, 7. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gosling, J.T., Birn, J., Hesse, M.: 1995, Three-dimensional magnetic reconnection and the magnetic topology of coronal mass ejection events. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 869. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Halain, J.-P., Berghmans, D., Seaton, D.B., Nicula, B., De Groof, A., Mierla, M., Mazzoli, A., Defise, J.-M., Rochus, P.: 2013, The SWAP EUV imaging telescope. Part II: In-flight performance and calibration. Solar Phys. 286, 67. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R.A., Moses, J.D., Vourlidas, A., Newmark, J.S., Socker, D.G., Plunkett, S.P., Korendyke, C.M., Cook, J.W., Hurley, A., Davila, J.M., Thompson, W.T., St Cyr, O.C., Mentzell, E., Mehalick, K., Lemen, J.R., Wuelser, J.P., Duncan, D.W., Tarbell, T.D., Wolfson, C.J., Moore, A., Harrison, R.A., Waltham, N.R., Lang, J., Davis, C.J., Eyles, C.J., Mapson-Menard, H., Simnett, G.M., Halain, J.P., Defise, J.M., Mazy, E., Rochus, P., Mercier, R., Ravet, M.F., Delmotte, F., Auchere, F., Delaboudiniere, J.P., Bothmer, V., Deutsch, W., Wang, D., Rich, N., Cooper, S., Stephens, V., Maahs, G., Baugh, R., McMullin, D., Carter, T.: 2008, Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI). Space Sci. Rev. 136, 67. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Illing, R.M.E., Hundhausen, A.J.: 1985, Observation of a coronal transient from 1.2 to 6 solar radii. J. Geophys. Res. 90, 275. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, M.L., Kucera, T.A., Davila, J.M., St. Cyr, O.C., Guhathakurta, M., Christian, E.: 2008, The STEREO mission: An introduction. Space Sci. Rev. 136, 5. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kilpua, E.K.J., Liewer, P.C., Farrugia, C., Luhmann, J.G., Möstl, C., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Lynch, B.J., Russell, C.T., Vourlidas, A., Acuna, M.H., Galvin, A.B., Larson, D., Sauvaud, J.A.: 2009, Multispacecraft observations of magnetic clouds and their solar origins between 19 and 23 May 2007. Solar Phys. 254, 325. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lanzerotti, L.J.: 2009, Public Awareness of Space Weather. Space Weather 7, 8003. DOI . ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemen, J.R., Title, A.M., Akin, D.J., Boerner, P.F., Chou, C., Drake, J.F., Duncan, D.W., Edwards, C.G., Friedlaender, F.M., Heyman, G.F., Hurlburt, N.E., Katz, N.L., Kushner, G.D., Levay, M., Lindgren, R.W., Mathur, D.P., McFeaters, E.L., Mitchell, S., Rehse, R.A., Schrijver, C.J., Springer, L.A., Stern, R.A., Tarbell, T.D., Wuelser, J.-P., Wolfson, C.J., Yanari, C., Bookbinder, J.A., Cheimets, P.N., Caldwell, D., Deluca, E.E., Gates, R., Golub, L., Park, S., Podgorski, W.A., Bush, R.I., Scherrer, P.H., Gummin, M.A., Smith, P., Auker, G., Jerram, P., Pool, P., Soufli, R., Windt, D.L., Beardsley, S., Clapp, M., Lang, J., Waltham, N.: 2012, The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Solar Phys. 275, 17. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, J., Raymond, J.C., van Ballegooijen, A.A.: 2004, The role of magnetic reconnection in the observable features of solar eruptions. Astrophys. J. 602, 422. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lugaz, N., Farrugia, C.J., Al-Haddad, N.: 2014, Complex evolution of coronal mass ejections in the inner heliosphere as revealed by numerical simulations and STEREO observations: A review. In: Schmieder, B., Malherbe, J.-M., Wu, S.T. (eds.) Nature of Prominences and their role in Space Weather, IAU Symposium 300, 255. DOI . ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • MacQueen, R.M.: 1993, The three-dimensional structure of ‘loop-like’ coronal mass ejections. Solar Phys. 145, 169. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Manchester, W.B., Gombosi, T.I., Roussev, I., de Zeeuw, D.L., Sokolov, I.V., Powell, K.G., Tóth, G., Opher, M.: 2004, Three-dimensional MHD simulation of a flux rope driven CME. J. Geophys. Res. 109, 1102. DOI . ADS .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manoharan, P.K.: 2006, Evolution of coronal mass ejections in the inner heliosphere: A study using white-light and scintillation images. Solar Phys. 235, 345. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Michałek, G., Gopalswamy, N., Yashiro, S.: 2003, A new method for estimating widths, velocities, and source location of halo coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. 584, 472. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mierla, M., Inhester, B., Marqué, C., Rodriguez, L., Gissot, S., Zhukov, A.N., Berghmans, D., Davila, J.: 2009, On 3D reconstruction of coronal mass ejections: I. Method description and application to SECCHI-COR data. Solar Phys. 259, 123. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mierla, M., Inhester, B., Antunes, A., Boursier, Y., Byrne, J.P., Colaninno, R., Davila, J., de Koning, C.A., Gallagher, P.T., Gissot, S., Howard, R.A., Howard, T.A., Kramar, M., Lamy, P., Liewer, P.C., Maloney, S., Marqué, C., McAteer, R.T.J., Moran, T., Rodriguez, L., Srivastava, N., St. Cyr, O.C., Stenborg, G., Temmer, M., Thernisien, A., Vourlidas, A., West, M.J., Wood, B.E., Zhukov, A.N.: 2010, On the 3-D reconstruction of coronal mass ejections using coronagraph data. Ann. Geophys. 28, 203. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mierla, M., Inhester, B., Rodriguez, L., Gissot, S., Zhukov, A., Srivastava, N.: 2011, On 3D reconstruction of coronal mass ejections: II. Longitudinal and latitudinal width analysis of 31 August 2007 event. J. Atmos. Solar-Terr. Phys. 73, 1166. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Moran, T.G., Davila, J.M.: 2004, Three-dimensional polarimetric imaging of coronal mass ejections. Science 305, 66. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Möstl, C., Davies, J.A.: 2013, Speeds and arrival times of solar transients approximated by self-similar expanding circular fronts. Solar Phys. 285, 411. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Odstrcil, D., Pizzo, V.J., Arge, C.N.: 2005, Propagation of the 12 May 1997 interplanetary coronal mass ejection in evolving solar wind structures. J. Geophys. Res. 110, 2106. DOI . ADS .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pesnell, W.D., Thompson, B.J., Chamberlin, P.C.: 2012, The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Solar Phys. 275, 3. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Plunkett, S.P., Vourlidas, A., Šimberová, S., Karlický, M., Kotrč, P., Heinzel, P., Kupryakov, Y.A., Guo, W.P., Wu, S.T.: 2000, Simultaneous SOHO and ground-based observations of a large eruptive prominence and coronal mass ejection. Solar Phys. 194, 371. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Robbrecht, E., Patsourakos, S., Vourlidas, A.: 2009, No trace left behind: STEREO observation of a coronal mass ejection without low coronal signatures. Astrophys. J. 701, 283. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwenn, R.: 1986, Relationship of coronal transients to interplanetary shocks 3D aspects. Space Sci. Rev. 44, 139. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwenn, R., dal Lago, A., Huttunen, E., Gonzalez, W.D.: 2005, The association of coronal mass ejections with their effects near the Earth. Ann. Geophys. 23, 1033. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Seaton, D.B., Berghmans, D., Nicula, B., Halain, J.-P., De Groof, A., Thibert, T., Bloomfield, D.S., Raftery, C.L., Gallagher, P.T., Auchère, F., Defise, J.-M., D’Huys, E., Lecat, J.-H., Mazy, E., Rochus, P., Rossi, L., Schühle, U., Slemzin, V., Yalim, M.S., Zender, J.: 2013, The SWAP EUV imaging telescope part I: Instrument overview and pre-flight testing. Solar Phys. 286, 43. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Z., Murtagh, W., Detman, T., Dryer, M., Fry, C.D., Wu, C.-C.: 2003, Study of solar-based inputs into space weather models that predict interplanetary shock-arrivals at Earth. In: Wilson, A. (ed.) Solar Variability as an Input to the Earth’s Environment, ESA Special Publication 535, 547. ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian, P., Arunbabu, K.P., Vourlidas, A., Mauriya, A.: 2014, Self-similar expansion of solar coronal mass ejections: Implications for Lorentz self-force driving. Astrophys. J. 790, 125. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Taktakishvili, A., Kuznetsova, M., MacNeice, P., Hesse, M., Rastätter, L., Pulkkinen, A., Chulaki, A., Odstrcil, D.: 2009, Validation of the coronal mass ejection predictions at the Earth orbit estimated by ENLIL heliosphere cone model. Space Weather 7, 3004. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Thernisien, A.: 2011, Implementation of the graduated cylindrical shell model for the three-dimensional reconstruction of coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 194, 33. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Thernisien, A.F.R., Howard, R.A., Vourlidas, A.: 2006, Modeling of flux rope coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. 652, 763. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Thernisien, A., Vourlidas, A., Howard, R.A.: 2009, Forward modeling of coronal mass ejections using STEREO/SECCHI data. Solar Phys. 256, 111. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W.T.: 2006, Coordinate systems for solar image data. Astron. Astrophys. 449, 791. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W.T., Wei, K., Burkepile, J.T., Davila, J.M., St. Cyr, O.C.: 2010, Background subtraction for the SECCHI/COR1 telescope aboard STEREO. Solar Phys. 262, 213. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokman, M., Bellan, P.M.: 2002, Three-dimensional model of the structure and evolution of coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. 567, 1202. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Török, T., Kliem, B.: 2005, Confined and ejective eruptions of kink-unstable flux ropes. Astrophys. J. Lett. 630, L97. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vourlidas, A., Subramanian, P., Dere, K.P., Howard, R.A.: 2000, Large-angle spectrometric coronagraph measurements of the energetics of coronal mass ejections. Astrophys. J. 534, 456. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vourlidas, A., Lynch, B.J., Howard, R.A., Li, Y.: 2013, How many CMEs have flux ropes? Deciphering the signatures of shocks, flux ropes, and prominences in coronagraph observations of CMEs. Solar Phys. 284, 179. DOI .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D.F.: 1988, Erupting prominences and the geometry of coronal mass ejections. J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1749. DOI .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D.F.: 2015, Eruptive prominences and their association with coronal mass ejections. In: Vial, J.-C., Engvold, O. (eds.) Solar Prominences, Astrophysics and Space Science Library 415, 411. DOI . ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D.F., Howard, T.A., Fry, C.D., Kuchar, T.A., Odstrcil, D., Jackson, B.V., Bisi, M.M., Harrison, R.A., Morrill, J.S., Howard, R.A., Johnston, J.C.: 2009, Study of CME propagation in the inner heliosphere: SOHO LASCO, SMEI and STEREO HI observations of the January 2007 events. Solar Phys. 256, 239. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B.E., Howard, R.A., Socker, D.G.: 2010, Reconstructing the morphology of an evolving coronal mass ejection. Astrophys. J. 715, 1524. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B.E., Karovska, M., Chen, J., Brueckner, G.E., Cook, J.W., Howard, R.A.: 1999, Comparison of two coronal mass ejections observed by EIT and LASCO with a model of an erupting magnetic flux rope. Astrophys. J. 512, 484. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, H., Ofman, L., Lawrence, G.: 2004, Cone model for halo CMEs: Application to space weather forecasting. J. Geophys. Res. 109, 3109. DOI .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, H., St. Cyr, O.C., Gopalswamy, N., Odstrcil, D., Cremades, H.: 2013, Understanding shock dynamics in the inner heliosphere with modeling and type II radio data: A statistical study. J. Geophys. Res. 118, 4711. DOI . ADS .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yashiro, S., Gopalswamy, N., Michalek, G., St. Cyr, O.C., Plunkett, S.P., Rich, N.B., Howard, R.A.: 2004, A catalog of white light coronal mass ejections observed by the SOHO spacecraft. J. Geophys. Res. 109, 7105. DOI .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X.P., Plunkett, S.P., Liu, W.: 2002, Determination of geometrical and kinematical properties of halo coronal mass ejections using the cone model. J. Geophys. Res. 107, 1223. DOI .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuccarello, F.P., Jacobs, C., Soenen, A., Poedts, S., van der Holst, B., Zuccarello, F.: 2009, Modelling the initiation of coronal mass ejections: Magnetic flux emergence versus shearing motions. Astron. Astrophys. 507, 441. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I. Cabello acknowledges a postdoctoral fellowship from CONICET. H. Cremades and L. Balmaceda are members of the Carrera del Investigador Científico (CONICET). The authors acknowledge funding from UTN project PID UTI2218 and thank the anonymous referee for valuable suggestions. The SOHO/LASCO data are produced by an international consortium of the NRL (USA), MPI für Sonnensystemforschung (Germany), Laboratoire d’Astronomie (France), and the University of Birmingham (UK). SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. The STEREO/SECCHI project is an international consortium of the NRL, LMSAL and NASA/GSFC (USA), RAL and Univ. Bham (UK), MPS (Germany), CSL (Belgium), IOTA and IAS (France). SDO/AIA data are courtesy of the NASA/SDO and the AIA Science Teams. This article uses data from the SOHO/LASCO CME catalog generated and maintained at the CDAW Data Center by NASA and the CUA in cooperation with NRL.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. Cabello.

Ethics declarations

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cabello, I., Cremades, H., Balmaceda, L. et al. First Simultaneous Views of the Axial and Lateral Perspectives of a Coronal Mass Ejection. Sol Phys 291, 1799–1817 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-016-0941-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-016-0941-y

Keywords

Navigation