Research Progress of Solar Corona and Interplanetary Physics in China: 2010-2012

The scientific objective of solar corona and interplanetary research is the understanding of the various phenomena related to solar activities and their effects on the space environments of the Earth. Great progress has been made in the study of solar corona and interplanetary physics by the Chinese space physics community during the past years. This paper will give a brief report about the latest progress of the corona and interplanetary research in China during the years of 2010?2012. The paper can be divided into the following parts: solar corona and solar wind, CMEICME, magnetic reconnection, energetic particles, space plasma, space weather numerical modeling by 3D SIP-CESE MHD model, space weather prediction methods, and proposed missions. They constitute the abundant content of study for the complicated phenomena that originate from the solar corona, propagate in interplanetary space, and produce geomagnetic disturbances. All these progresses are acquired by the Chinese space physicists, either independently or through international collaborations.      

Advance of interplanetary physics study in China: 2008—2010

Interplanetary physics study is an important ingredient in space weather research. Considerable progress this aspect has been achieved by the space physics community of China in recent years. This brief report summarizes the latest advances of the interplanetary physics research in China during the period of 2008--2010. This report includes solar corona and solar wind, interplanetary transients, energetic particles, MHD simulation, space plasma, and prediction methods for physical phenomena originating from both solar corona and interplanetary space.      

Research Progress of Interplanetary Physics in Mainland China

Significant progress has been made by Chinese scientists in research of interplanetary physics during the recent two years (2018-2020). These achievements are reflected at least in the following aspects:Activities in solar corona and lower solar atmosphere; solar wind and turbulence; filament/prominence, jets, flares, and radio bursts; active regions and solar eruptions; coronal mass ejections and their interplanetary counterparts; other interplanetary structures; space weather prediction methods; magnetic reconnection; Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical modeling; solar energetic particles, cosmic rays, and Forbush decreases; machine learning methods in space weather and other aspects. More than one hundred and forty papers in the academic journals have been published in these research directions. These fruitful achievements are obtained by Chinese scholars in solar physics and space physics either independently or through international collaborations. They greatly improve people's understanding of solar activities, solar eruptions, the corresponding space weather effects, and the Sun-Earth relations. Here we will give a very brief review on the research progress. However, it must be pointed out that this paper may not completely cover all achievements in this field due to our limited knowledge.      

Study of Solar Corona in China

Considerable progress for the study of solar corona physics has been achieved by China's space physics community. It involves the theoretical study of coronal process of solar active phenomena, solar wind origin, acceleration of solar wind and coronal mass ejections, observational and numerical study of these problems and prediction methods of solar eruptive activities (such as flares/CMEs). Here is a brief summary of the progress in this area. Main progress is put upon the following three topics: corona and solar wind, numerical method, prediction method.     

A statistical study of solar radio Type III bursts and space weather implication

Solar radio bursts (SRBs) are the signatures of various phenomenon that happen in the solar corona and interplanetary medium (IPM). In this article, we have studied occurrence of Type III bursts and their association with the Sunspot number. This study confirms that occurrence of Type III bursts correlate well with Sunspot number. Further, using the data obtained using e-CALLISTO network, we have investigated drift rates of isolated Type III bursts and duration of the group of Type III bursts. Since Type II, Type III and Type IV bursts are signatures of solar flares and/or CMEs, we can use the radio observations to predict space weather hazards. In this article, we have discussed two events that have caused near Earth radio blackouts. Since e-CALLISTO comprises more than 152 stations at different longitudes, we can use it to monitor the radio emissions from the solar corona 24 h a day. Such observations play a crucial role in monitoring and predicting space weather hazards within few minutes to hours of time.     

太阳极紫外多波段成像仪

在目前仪器特点和性能的基础上, 结合中国现有卫星特点和技术基础, 提出了一种新型太阳极紫外多波段成像仪, 采用小型化设计, 利用一台仪器实现对日冕和色球层4个不同波段的高分辨率成像, 不仅能有效利用卫星资源, 提高空间探测水平, 还能实现对日冕和色球的同时观测, 推动空间天气研究, 提高空间天气预报水平.      

一类TVD型组合差分方法及其在磁流体数值计算中的应用

根据太阳风数值模拟的特点，考虑到算法的质量（收敛速度、稳定性、精度等），结合磁流体数值计算的特性，对三维球坐标磁流体动力学（MHD）方程组中的流体部分采用一种修正Lax-Friedrichs差分法而对磁场部分采用MacComack格式，发展了一类快捷的具有TVD特性的组合数值新方法，作为格式的检验，在一维情况下，将其与PPM格式进行了比较，对一维快慢磁流体激波问题得到了与PPM格式精度相同的结果，然后将其诮到定态太阳风的数值模拟上，在不同等离子体β情形下，可得到理想的太阳风定态结构，为今后将此数值模式应用到具有复杂磁场位型或三维直实太阳风暴的数值模拟研究奠定了基础。     

Interplanetary Physics in Mainland China

During the past two years (2016-2018), great achievements have been made in the Chinese research of interplanetary physics, with nearly 100 papers published in the academic journals. The achievements are including but not limited to the following topics:solar corona; solar wind and turbulence; filament/prominence and jets; solar flare; radio bursts; particle acceleration at coronal shocks; magnetic flux ropes; instability; instrument; Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and their interplanetary counterparts; Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical modeling; solar energetic particles and cosmic rays. The progress further improves our understanding of the eruptions of solar activities, their evolutions and propagations in the heliosphere, and final geoeffects on our Earth. These results were achieved by the Chinese solar and space scientists independently or via international collaborations. This paper will give a brief review of these achievements.      

A Brief Review of Interplanetary Investigations in China from 2014 to 2016

Great progress has been made in the research of solar corona and interplanetary physics by the Chinese scientists during the past two years (2014-2016). Nearly 100 papers were published in this area. In this report, we will give a brief review to these progresses. The investigations include:solar corona, solar wind and turbulence, superhalo electron and energetic particle in the inner heliosphere, solar flares and radio bursts, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and their interplanetary counterparts, Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical modeling, CME/shock arrival time prediction, magnetic reconnection, solar variability and its impact on climate. These achievements help us to better understand the evolution of solar activities, solar eruptions, their propagations in the heliosphere, and potential geoeffectiveness. They were achieved by the Chinese solar and space scientists independently or via international collaborations.      

Development of New Capabilities Using Machine Learning for Space Weather Prediction

With the development of space exploration and space environment measurements, the numerous observations of solar, solar wind, and near Earth space environment have been obtained in last 20 years. The accumulation of multiple data makes it possible to better use machine learning technique, which has achieved unforeseen results in industrial applications in last decades, for developing new approaches and models in space weather investigation and prediction. In this paper, the efforts on the forecasting methods for space weather indices, events, and parameters using machine learning are briefly introduced based on the study works in recent years. These investigations indicate that machine learning, especially deep learning technique can be used in automatic characteristic identification, solar eruption prediction, space weather forecasting for solar and geomagnetic indices, and modeling of space environment parameters.      

天基X射线掠入射式成像望远镜发展现状

阐述了太阳X射线成像观测在空间天气预报中的地位和作用，叙述了掠入射式X射线聚焦成像的基本原理，简要介绍了在轨成功运行的天体X射线成像望远镜和太阳X射线成像望远镜的基本设计和技术指标，并介绍了国内正开发研制的专门服务于空间天气预报的太阳X射线成像望远镜基本设计和主要特点．     

Development of Operational Space Weather Prediction Models

In this report, we summarize the needs of space weather models, and recommend that developing operational prediction models, rather than transitioning from research to operation, is a more feasible and critical way for space weather services in the near future. Operational models for solar wind speed, geomagnetic indices, magnetopause, plasma sheet energetic electrons, inner boundary of ion plasma sheet, energetic electrons in outer radiation belt, and thermospheric density at low Earth orbit, have been developed and will be introduced briefly here. Their applications made a big progress in space weather services during the past two years in China.      

太阳质子事件预报和射电Ⅰ型噪暴

太阳是一个异常活跃的天体,其爆发过程会对地球周围空间环境产生重要影响. 通常,单个高能质子即足以引起飞行器中微电子器件出现异常,因此太阳质子事件预报是空间天气预报的重要内容. 关于预报模型的参数选择尚有值得改进之处. 研究认为,Ⅰ型噪暴与日冕加热磁重联具有密切关系,可以作为预报参数. 通过两个典型太阳爆发事件的详细资料分析,说明了Ⅰ型噪暴与质子事件及CME的相关性.      

太阳空间探测进展与展望

摘要：为了探索太阳空间探测活动的发展方向,在广泛调研太阳空间探测任务的基础上,综合考虑任务实施年代、轨道设计、探测要素、技术特点和成果影响力,选取了10个典型空间太阳探测器,对其科学目标、有效载荷、卫星平台特性和科学发现进行了分析,提炼总结了太阳空间探测的进展和发展趋势。总体而言,太阳探测器运行轨道逐步多样化,有效载荷探测要素更加丰富,探测精度、时空分辨率等显著提升,但仍存在大量问题待解决。在分析现阶段成果和待解决问题的基础上,提出了太阳空间探测的发展展望,指出了全方位、多要素探测是破解太阳物理和空间天气预报发展瓶颈的可行途径。     

太阳爆发抵近探测——“触碰计划”

本文旨在介绍一项具有重大科学意义和应用价值的深空探测任务构想.该任务将对驱动恒星大尺度爆发过程的中心结构（即磁重联电流片）进行抵近（原位）探测,主要目的是详细研究发生在离地球最近的恒星-太阳上的大尺度磁重联过程的精细物理特征,揭示太阳系中最为剧烈的能量释放过程（即太阳爆发或太阳风暴）的奥秘.该任务的科学目标:磁重联过程是发生在宇宙磁化等离子体中的能量转换和释放的核心过程,其一直是太阳物理、等离子体物理、空间科学研究领域内的一个极为重要的研究课题及研究方向.通过抵近观测可以将同样设备的分辨能力提高5~20倍,将提供在地球附近无法获得的太阳超清晰图像以及相应的物理信息,让人类在一个前所未有的平台上来研究、认识和了解太阳,从而解决太阳爆发核心驱动过程的精细物理性质与日冕加热等长期困扰太阳物理研究领域的难题.      

弓激波模型的对比

使用Cluster卫星的弓激波穿越数据，比较了Peredo弓激波模型、Merka弓激波模型、Chao弓激波模型和Lu弓激波模型在极端太阳风条件、偶极倾角较大和平静太阳风条件下的预测精度.结果表明:Peredo模型在极端太阳风条件和平静太阳风条件下的预测误差均较大；Merka模型在极端太阳风条件下的预测误差较大；Chao模型可以较为准确地描述平静太阳风条件下的弓激波位型，但不能准确描述偶极倾角较大时的弓激波位型；Lu模型可以同时准确描述极端太阳风条件和平静太阳风条件下的弓激波位型.      

Space Weather Service for Chinese Space Science Satellites

Strategic Priority Research Program on Space Science has gained remarkable achievements. Space Environment Prediction Center (SEPC) affiliated with the National Space Science Center (NSSC) has been providing space weather services and helps secure space missions. Presently, SEPC is capable to offer a variety of space weather services covering many phases of space science missions including planning, design, launch, and orbital operation. The service packages consist of space weather forecasts, warnings, and effect analysis that can be utilized to avoid potential space weather hazard or reduce the damage caused by space storms, space radiation exposure for example. Extensive solar storms that occurred over Chinese Ghost Festival (CGF) in September 2017 led to a large enhancement of the solar energetic particle flux at 1 AU, which affected the near Earth radiation environment and brought great threat to orbiting satellites. Based on the space weather service by SEPC, satellite ground support groups collaborating with the space Tracking, Telemetering and Command system (TT&C) team were able to take immediate measures to react to the CGF solar storm event.      

太阳高能电子束通过空间振荡轴向场产生的电磁不稳定性

本文基于太阳高能电子和日冕区开放场及行星际磁场特征，建立了相对论电子束与伴有空间变化（空间周期变化）的轴向场相互作用模型，用数值方法研究了该体系产生的电磁不稳定性，结果指出只有当太阳高能电子束速度和空间振荡场波数大到一定程度时，该体系才可激发在旋电磁模不稳定性，当太阳高能电子束逐一通过日冕和行星际空间时，激发具有波频向低频漂移特征的电磁波．     

Fuzzy energy-based dual contours model for automated coronal hole detection in SDO/AIA solar disk images

The presence of coronal holes in solar disk plays an important role in influencing the space weather and generation of the solar wind. As such there lies a requirement in proper study and prediction of coronal holes occurs in the solar disk. This, in turn, arises the necessity of detection of coronal holes present in the solar disk. In this work, a Hough transformed inspired fuzzy-energy simulated dual contours-based segmentation technique has been proposed for the detection and extraction of holes in solar disk. In the proposed method Hough transform has been induced to initialize the contour for the contour-based method of segmentation. In the algorithm, two contours (active and static) have been initiated and made to evolve based on the energy function by incorporating the gray-scale intensity. Here in the work one contour is made to deform its shape while the other contour is kept static for the coronal holes detection purpose. The experiment has been carried out on few benchmark datasets and the corresponding outcomes have been compared with the results of other existing algorithms. The comparison results highlight the performance of the proposed technique in detection of coronal holes in solar disk.     

Towards a scientific understanding of the risk from extreme space weather

Like all natural hazards, space weather exhibits occasional extreme events over timescales of decades to centuries. Historical events provoked much interest, and sometimes alarm, because bright aurora becomes visible at mid-latitudes. However, they had little economic impact because the major technologies of those eras were not sensitive to space weather. This is no longer true. The widespread adoption of advanced technological infrastructures over the past 40 years has created significant sensitivity. So these events now have the potential to disrupt those infrastructures – and thus have profound economic and societal impact. However, like all extreme hazards, such events are rare, so we have limited data on which to build our understanding of the events. This limitation is uniquely serious for space weather since it is a global phenomenon. Many other natural hazards (e.g. flash floods) are highly localised, so statistically significant datasets can be assembled by combining data from independent instances of the hazard recorded over a few decades. Such datasets are the foundation on which reliable risk assessment methodologies are built. But we have a single instance of space weather so we would have to make observations for many centuries in order to build a statistically significant dataset. We show that it is not practicable to assess the risk from extreme events using simple statistical methods. Instead we must exploit our knowledge of solar-terrestrial physics to find other ways to assess these risks. We discuss three alternative approaches: (a) use of proxy data, (b) studies of other solar systems, and (c) use of physics-based modelling. We note that the proxy data approach is already well-established as a technique for assessing the long-term risk from radiation storms, but does not yet provide any means to assess the risk from severe geomagnetic storms. This latter risk is more suited to the other approaches, but significant research is needed to make progress. We need to develop and expand techniques to monitoring key space weather features in other solar systems (stellar flares, radio emissions from planetary aurorae). And to make progress in modelling severe space weather, we need to focus on the physics that controls severe geomagnetic storms, e.g. how can dayside and tail reconnection be modulated to expand the region of open flux to envelop mid-latitudes?