Comparative Solar Minima

Project Coordinator Sarah Gibson

A comparison of two solar minima, focussing on the Whole Sun Month (1996) and the Whole Heliosphere Interval. (2008), and considering how WHI fits in to the current solar minimum.

Overview: WHI vs WSM and in context of current solar minimum pdf (31 MB); ppt (32 MB); mov (5 MB)

"The Whole Heliosphere Interval in the Context of the Current Solar Minimum", Gibson et al., 2010.
"If the Sun is so quiet, why is the Earth ringing? A comparison of two solar minimum intervals", Gibson et al., 2009.

Synoptic maps

WSM side-by-side synoptic maps from Sun out into solar wind
"Synoptic Sun during the first Whole Sun Month Campaign: Augusgt 10 to September 8, 1996, Biesecker et al., 1998.
WHI side-by-side synoptic maps from Sun out into solar wind and down into Earth's upper atmosphere

Sun-earth connectionsWSM and WHI movies showing footpoint of Earth-intersecting field line as it moves across Carrington map of magnetic range of influence (MROI) and coronal current sheet. See the following paper for details:

How the solar wind ties to its photospheric origins, Leamon and McIntosh, 2009.

Coronal mass ejections during WHI and WSM (Cremades et al)

MHD global model results (Predictive Science)

WHI vs WSM overview of model results
Movie of heliospheric current sheet and solar wind structure, 1996-2009
The Sun continues to evolve! Comparison of magnetic structure

If you would like to add material to this project, please contact the project coordinator.