Sains Malaysiana 53(9)(2024): 3173-3181

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5309-21

Kinematic Differences between Gradual and Impulsive Coronal Mass Ejections: The Role of Flares

(Perbezaan Kinematik antara Lentingan Jisim Korona Berperingkat dan Impulsif: Peranan Nyalaan)

Z.S. HAMIDI^1,2,*, N. MOHAMAD ANSOR^1,2 & N.N.M. SHARIFF^2,3

¹School of Physics and Material Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

²Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

³Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies (ACIS), Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 15 May 2024/Accepted: 13 August 2024

Abstract

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are significant solar events that involve intense explosions of magnetic fields and mass particles out from the corona. These events are known to be the main driver of space weather and other disturbances experienced by the Earth. Generally, there are two types of CMEs – gradual and impulsive, and each type has different properties which is important to be studied on as they have potential to cause breakdowns in our systems. This study is aimed to analyze and differentiate the kinematic behavior of gradual and impulsive CME with the association of weak and strong flares. Data collection is made through SOHO LASCO catalogues and STEREO database which include velocity, acceleration and angular width as well as images. At the end of this study, it can be deduced that impulsive CME (specifically associated with strong flare) is the most prominent event that has greatest angular width and average velocity. The associated flare has contributed more heat energy to speed up the magnetic energy conversion which results to high velocity of plasma discharge. Since fast CME carries huge amount of momentum during the ejection, impulsive CMEs also experience decelerations due to loss of momentum that has been transferred to background solar wind.

Keywords: Coronal Mass Ejections; gradual CME; impulsive CME; solar flare

Abstrak

Letusan Jisim Korona (CME) ialah peristiwa suria yang ketara yang melibatkan letupan kuat medan magnet dan zarah jisim keluar daripada korona. Peristiwa ini diketahui sebagai pemacu utama cuaca angkasa dan gangguan lain yang dialami oleh Bumi. Secara umumnya, terdapat dua jenis CME – beransur-ansur dan impulsif, dan setiap jenis mempunyai sifat berbeza yang penting untuk dikaji kerana ia berpotensi menyebabkan kerosakan dalam sistem Bumi kita. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan membezakan tingkah laku kinematik CME beransur-ansur dan impulsif dengan perkaitan suar lemah dan kuat. Pengumpulan data dibuat melalui katalog SOHO LASCO dan pangkalan data STEREO yang merangkumi halaju, pecutan dan lebar sudut serta imej. Pada akhir kajian ini, dapat disimpulkan bahawa CME impulsif (khususnya dikaitkan dengan suar kuat) adalah peristiwa paling menonjol yang mempunyai lebar sudut dan halaju purata yang paling besar. Nyalaan yang berkaitan telah menyumbangkan lebih banyak tenaga haba untuk mempercepatkan penukaran tenaga magnetik yang menghasilkan halaju tinggi nyahcas plasma. Memandangkan CME pantas membawa jumlah momentum yang besar semasa lonjakan, CME impulsif juga mengalami nyahpecutan akibat kehilangan momentum yang telah dipindahkan ke angin suria latar belakang.

Kata kunci: CME beransur-ansur; CME impulsif; Letusan Jisim Korona; suar suria

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 *Corresponding author; email: zetysh@uitm.edu.my