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The results from a statistical analysis of solar wind data obtained near the Earth’s orbit by the DSCOVR spacecraft for the period of one year starting August 2016 are discussed. The distribution of the solar wind temperature T for this period was bimodal and exhibited two maxima at 15 × 103 and 190 × 103 K (with a standard deviation of the same order of magnitude, respectively). This distribution can be represented as the sum of two lognormal distributions. The first peak of the T distribution is caused by the slow-cold wind component, the distributions of which over speed V and density n (varying in wide ranges) are also close to lognormal. This component covers slightly more than a quarter of the entire time period. A fast hot wind (the distribution maximum is at 310 × 103 K) can be distinguished from the remainder; this component covers slightly less than a quarter of the period. Its T, V, and n distributions are also close to lognormal. The rest the wind, nearly half, exhibits a complex “jagged” distribution over speed and a double-peak distribution over density. The conclusion is that data averaging is of key importance in the classification of solar wind at the quantitative level. This is shown by the results of data averaging over a minute, hour, day, and week.

The paper considers the classification of solar wind streams in magnetohydrodynamic parameters (MHD-types); combinations of proton speed, density, temperature, and magnetic field strength, in addition to the classical solar wind separation into high-speed streams from coronal holes, transient streams of coronal mass ejections, and the slow solar wind from the streamer belt. Two classifications of solar wind properties were compared for the events in August 2010 and May 2011, when one could observe the interaction of two coronal mass ejections and a coronal mass ejection with a high-speed solar wind stream from the coronal hole, respectively. It is shown that the classical description of a large-scale structure of wind streams (the ion wind composition especially) in scales of hours and days allows one to determine the type and source of streams, whereas the MHD-parameters allow one to more accurately describe the small-scale structure (in minutes), especially in the cases of several streams interaction in the heliosphere. The detailed study of a small-scale structure of stream interaction regions provides the information required for developing MHD-models describing the processes of propagation and interaction of streams in the heliosphere and for predicting their geoefficiency.

At the present time, there is no generally accepted classification of the solar wind flows. There are various approaches to this problem depending on the goal of the study. In our paper, we propose the binary classification of the solar wind types by the main hydrodynamic parameters (velocity, temperature, and density) based on the statistical analysis of the solar wind. The analysis of the OMNIWeb one-minute data is performed for the period from 1996 to 2017, which encompasses solar cycle 23 and current solar cycle 24. Eight types of the solar wind are distinguished: fast-hot-dense, fast-hot-rarefied, fast-cold-dense, fast-cold-rarefied, slow-hot-dense, slow-hot-rarefied, slow-cold-dense, slow-cold-rarefied. These types occur with different frequency and are the consequences of different manifestations of solar activity. Of particular interest are the solar wind flows, the parameters of which deviate from the averages most significantly.

A binary classification of solar wind types is given according to three main hydrodynamic parameters—the proton speed, the proton temperature, and the proton density. Boundaries between the fast–hot–dense, fast–hot–rarefied, fast–cold–dense, fast–cold–rarefied, slow–hot–dense, slow–hot–rarefied, slow–cold–dense, and slow–cold–rarefied solar wind types are specified in the space of these variables. These types arise at different frequencies and originate from different sorts of solar activity. An analysis of 1-minute data from the OMNIWeb database is performed over the period from January 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017. In some cases, this classification scheme, which is quite simple and clear, allows one to identify the sources of the solar wind (coronal holes and coronal mass ejections), as well as to reveal long-term trends. The proposed scheme is compared with the methods used earlier in the literature to classify solar wind types.

This paper discussed whether 17th Century observers left historical records of the plasma tails of comets that would be adequate to enable us to extract the physical parameters of the solar wind. The size of the aberration angle between a comet’s tail and its radius-vector defines the type of the tail: plasma or dust. We considered Bredikhin’s calculations of the parameters for 10 comet tails observed during the Maunder minimum (1645 – 1715). For those comets the angle between the tail’s axis and the radius-vector on average exceeded the value of 10° that is typical for dust tails. It was noted that visual observations of the ion tails of comets are very difficult to make owing to the spectral composition of their radiation, confirming the conclusion that observations of comet tails made in the 17th Century are not suitable for deriving past values of the physical parameters of the solar wind.

We have considered the possible causes of discrepancies between the predicted and observed at 1 AU parameters of the recurrent solar wind (SW) streams in the maximum of the 24th solar cycle. These discrepancies have been observed in both the SW velocity profile and the SW stream arrival time, as well as in the absence of the expected high-speed SW stream. The degree of discrepancy depends on the model used for the SW prediction; however, in some cases, different prediction methods provide a similar discrepancy with the observed SW parameters at 1 AU. For several cases, we show that the probable cause of the discrepancies can be a deflection of the high-speed SW stream from the radial direction due to the interaction with the transient SW streams at certain configuration of the magnetic fields of high-speed and transient SW sources in the solar corona.

In the context of studying the problem of simulation of magnetic fields on the Sun, the structure of the field in the vicinity of two circular current loops with different mutual arrangement in space is considered. When the symmetry in the arrangement is sufficient, a system of magnetic surfaces created by the closed field lines arises. With a reduction in symmetry, isolated closed lines may exist. For the case of two identical current loops coupled perpendicularly, it is shown that the subsystems of these lines may be ordered in space in a complex manner. At large distances, a system of loops is equivalent to a dipole with a high degree of accuracy, while an approximate winding of the lines on the deformed toroids, encircling each of the loops, occurs at small distances. At intermediate distances, there are regions of both ordered and chaotic behavior of field lines. Results were obtained with the use of the numerical simulation method.

The notion that Mercury modulates considerably the solar wind velocity at the orbit of the Earth (Nikulin, 2014) is erroneous. It is not grounded in experimental data. Quantitative estimates also suggest that this effect should be negligible at such large distances from a planet that small. The assertion that this effect may be used in practice to improve the accuracy of prediction of the solar wind velocity (Nikulin, 2014) is unfounded as well: no credible observational and theoretical evidence in favor of it has been offered.

This paper addresses the problem of the solar wind behaviour during the Maunder minimum. Records on plasma tails of comets can shed light on the physical parameters of the solar wind in the past. We analyse descriptions and drawings of comets between the eleventh and eighteenth century. To distinguish between dust and plasma tails, we address their colour, shape, and orientation. Based on the calculations made by F.A. Bredikhin, we found that cometary tails deviate from the antisolar direction on average by more than $10^{\circ }$, which is typical for dust tails. We also examined the catalogues of Hevelius and Lubieniecki. The first indication of a plasma tail was revealed only for the great comet C/1769 P1.

We analyzed statistics, solar sources and properties of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) in the solar wind. In comparison with the first eight years of Cycle 23, during the same period of Cycle 24 the yearly numbers of ICMEs were less correlated with the flare numbers (0.68 vs 0.78) and sunspot numbers (0.66 vs 0.81), whereas the ICME correlation with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) was higher (0.77 vs 0.70). For the period January 2010 -- August 2011, we identified solar sources of the ICMEs included in the Richardson and Cane list. The solar sources of ICME were determined from coronagraph observations of the Earth-directed CMEs supplemented by modeling of their propagation in the heliosphere using the kinematic models and the WSA Enlil Cone MHD-based model. A detailed analysis of the ICME solar sources in the period under study showed that in 11 cases out of 23 the observed ICME might be associated with two or more sources. In cases of multiple-source events, the resulting solar wind disturbances may be described as complex (merged) structures occurred due to the stream interactions with properties depending on the type of participating streams. As a reliable marker for identification of interacting streams and their sources, we used the plasma ion composition, as it becomes frozen in the low corona and remains unchanged in the heliosphere. According to the ion composition signatures, we classified these cases into three types: complex ejecta originating from weak and strong CME-CME interactions, as well as merged interaction regions originating from the CME-high-speed stream interactions. We described temporal profiles of the ion composition for the single-source and multi-source solar wind structures and compared them with the ICME signatures determined from the kinematic and magnetic field parameters of the solar wind., 27 pages, 6 figures

General principles of describing secondand higher-order null points of a potential magnetic field are formulated. The potential near a second-order null of the general form can be specified by a linear combination of four basic functions, the list of which is presented. Near secondand higher-order null points, field line equations often cannot be integrated analytically; however, in some cases, it is possible to present a qualitative description of the geometry of null vicinities with consideration of the behavior of field lines near rays outgoing from null, at which the field is radial or equals zero.

The most powerful coronal mass ejection of the 24th solar cycle took place on the opposite side of the Sun on July 23, 2012 and had no geomagnetic consequences. Nevertheless, as a result of passing of the ejection through the heliosphere, variations of galactic cosmic rays flux were observed on the Earth. These variations were registered by the muon hodoscope URAGAN (MEPhI, Moscow). Muon flux angular distributions on the Earth’s surface are reported and analyzed.

This work is a continuation of our previous articles (Yermolaev et al. in J. Geophys. Res. 120, 7094, 2015; Yermolaev et al. in Solar Phys. 292, 193, 2017; Yermolaev et al. in Solar Phys. 293, 91, 2018), which describe the average temporal profiles of interplanetary plasma and field parameters in large-scale solar-wind (SW) streams: corotating interaction regions (CIRs), interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs including both magnetic clouds (MCs) and ejecta), and sheaths as well as interplanetary shocks (ISs). In this work we analyze the average profile of helium abundance N{\alpha}/Np for interval of 1976-2016. Our results confirm main early obtained results: N{\alpha}/Np is higher in quasi-stationary fast streams than in slow ones; it slowly changes in compression regions CIRs and Sheaths from values in undisturbed solar wind to values in corresponding type of piston (HSS or ICME); in Ejecta it is closed to abundance in undisturbed streams and it is maximal in MCs. We obtained for first time that N{\alpha}/Np correlates with plasma {\beta}-parameter in compression regions CIRs and Sheaths and anti-correlates in ICMEs. The N{\alpha}/Np vs. {\beta} dependence is stronger in MCs than in Ejecta and may be used as an indicator of conditions in CME formation place on the Sun., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, calculations for new OMNI2 dataset version (without ACE helium measurements), results unchanged

We investigate the case of disagreement between predicted and observed in-situ parameters of the recurrent high-speed solar wind streams (HSSs) existing for Carrington rotation (CR) 2118 (December 2011) in comparison with CRs 2117 and 2119. The HSSs originated at the Sun from a recurrent polar coronal hole (CH) expanding to mid-latitudes, and its area in the central part of the solar disk increased with the rotation number. This part of the CH was responsible for the equatorial flank of the HSS directed to the Earth. The time and speed of arrival for this part of the HSS to the Earth were predicted by the hierarchical empirical model based on EUV-imaging and the Wang-Sheeley-Arge ENLIL semi-empirical replace model and compared with the parameters measured in-situ by model. The predicted parameters were compared with those measured in-situ. It was found, that for CR 2117 and CR 2119, the predicted HSS speed values agreed with the measured ones within the typical accuracy of ±100 km s−1. During CR 2118, the measured speed was on 217 km s−1 less than the value predicted in accordance with the increased area of the CH. We suppose that at CR 2118, the HSS overtook and interacted with complex ejecta formed from three merged coronal mass ejections (CMEs) with a mean speed about 400 km s−1. According to simulations of the Drag-based model, this complex ejecta might be created by several CMEs starting from the Sun in the period between 25 and 27 December 2011 and arriving to the Earth simultaneously with the HSS. Due to its higher density and magnetic field strength, the complex ejecta became an obstacle for the equatorial flank of the HSS and slowed it down. During CR 2117 and CR 2119, the CMEs appeared before the arrival of the HSSs, so the CMEs did not influence on the HSSs kinematics.

We present study of the complex event consisting of several solar wind transients detected by Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) on 4 -- 7 August 2011, that caused a geomagnetic storm with Dst$=-$110 nT. The supposed coronal sources -- three flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) occurred on 2 -- 4 August 2011 in the active region (AR) 11261. To investigate the solar origin and formation of these transients we studied kinematic and thermodynamic properties of the expanding coronal structures using the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA) EUV images and the differential emission measure (DEM) diagnostics. The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetic field maps were used as the input data for the 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to describe the flux rope ejection. We characterize the early phase of the flux rope ejection in the corona, where the usual three-component CME structure formed. The flux rope ejected with a speed of about 200~km~s$^{-1}$ to the height of 0.25~R$_{\odot}$. The kinematics of the modeled CME front agrees well with the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) EUV measurements. Using the results of the plasma diagnostics and MHD modeling, we calculated the ion charge ratios of carbon and oxygen as well as the mean charge state of iron ions of the 2 August 2011 CME, taking into account the processes of heating, cooling, expansion, ionization, and recombination of the moving plasma in the corona up to the frozen-in region. We estimated a probable heating rate of the CME plasma in the low corona by matching the calculated ion composition parameters of the CME with those measured in situ for the solar wind transients. We also consider the similarities and discrepancies between the results of the MHD simulation and the observations., Comment: Title and abstract changed, figure 4c modified, figures' and tables' captions changed, Equations 5-7 modified, proofread was made, text revised (p.2,3,4,5,7,8,24,26). The final publication is available at Springer

The relativistic electron flux in the Earth’s outer radiation belt generally decreased by almost three orders of magnitude during the minimum of cycle 23 in 2009. Such a behavior was possibly caused by very low geomagnetic activity during an extremely weak interplanetary field in that period. This decrease was replaced by an increase in the relativistic electron flux by two orders of magnitude during several months after the sunspot minimum at the beginning of 2010.

A retrospective study of the asymmetry in the ionosphere during the solstices is made using the different geospace parameters in the North and South magnetic hemispheres. Data of total electron content (TEC) and global electron content (GEC) produced from global ionospheric maps, GIM-TEC for 1999–2013, the ionospheric electron content (IEC) measured by TOPEX-Jason 1 and 2 satellites for 2001–2012, the F2 layer critical frequency and peak height measured on board ISIS 1, ISIS 2, and IK19 satellites during 1969–1982, and the earthquakes M5+ occurrences for 1999–2013 are analyzed. Annual asymmetry is observed with GEC and IEC for the years of observation with asymmetry index, AI, showing January > July excess from 0.02 to 0.25. The coincident pattern of January-to-July asymmetry ratio of TEC and IEC colocated along the magnetic longitude sector of 270° ± 5°E in the Pacific Ocean is obtained varying with local time and magnetic latitude. The sea/land differences in the F2 layer peak electron density, NmF2, and the peak height, hmF2, gathered with topside sounding data exhibit tilted ionosphere along the seashores with denser electron population at greater peak heights over the sea. The topside peak electron density NmF2, TEC, IEC, and the hemisphere part of GEC are dominant in the South hemisphere which resembles the pattern for seismic activity with dominant earthquake occurrence in the South magnetic hemisphere. Though the study is made for the hemispheric and annual asymmetry during solstices in the ionosphere, the conclusions seem valid for other aspects of seismic-ionospheric associations with tectonic plate boundaries representing zones of enhanced risk for space weather.

The Global Electron Content, GEC, represents the total number of electrons in the spherical layer over the Earth restricted by orbit of Global Positioning Satellite system (20,200 km). GEC is produced from Global Ionospheric Map of Total Electron Content, GIM-TEC, transformed to the electron density varying with height using the International Reference Ionosphere and Plasmasphere model, IRI-Plas. The climatologic GEC model is developed from GIM-TEC maps for a period 1999–2012 including the solar activity, annual and semiannual cycles as the most important factors affecting daily GEC variation. The proxy Rzp of the international sunspot numbers, Ri, is used as a measure of solar activity composed of 3 day smoothed Ri, 7 day and 81 day backwards mean of Ri scaled to the range of 1–40 proxy units, p.u. The root mean square error of the GEC climatologic model is found to vary from 8% to 13% of GEC. Taking advantage of a long history of sunspot numbers, the climatologic GEC model is applied for GEC reconstruction backwards in time for more than 160 years ago since 1850. The extended set of GEC values provides the numerical representation of the ionosphere and plasmasphere electron content coherent with variations of solar activity as a potential proxy index driving the ionosphere models.

Dynamics of the dayside magnetosphere and proton radiation belt was analyzed during unusual magnetic storm on 21 January 2005. We have found that during the storm from 1712 to 2400 UT, the subsolar magnetopause was continuously located inside geosynchronous orbit due to strong compression. The compression was found to be extremely strong from 1846 to 2035 UT when the dense plasma of fast erupting filament produced the solar wind dynamic pressure Pd peaked up to >100 nPa and, in the first time, the upstream solar wind was observed at geosynchronous orbit during almost 2 hours. Under the extreme compression, the outer magnetosphere at L > 5 was pushed inward and the outer radiation belt particles with energies of several tens of keV moved earthward, became adiabatically accelerated and accumulated in the inner magnetosphere at L 20%, which is well appropriate for erupting filaments and which is in agreement with the upper 27% threshold for the He/H ratio obtained from Cluster measurements.

The development of geomagnetic storms is mainly controlled by external heliospheric factors, which in turn depend on the conditions on the Sun. Magnetospheric disturbances can be isolated, repeated, multiple, or turbulent, depending on these conditions. Most geomagnetic storms develop complexly and are characterized by the existence of one or several side extrema before or after the main one. This is mainly related to the superposition of individual disturbances that follow immediately one after another from the Sun into the heliosphere or to the internal structure and dynamics of disturbances in the corona. The geomagnetic storms from the APEV extensive database for cycle 23 of solar activity, which were combined into 227 events, were analyzed in order to reveal the statistics based on single and multiple magnetospheric disturbances. The results are presented as histograms, graphs, tables, and empirical formulas for the total number of intensifications in all events and depending on different geomagnetic storm development phases, amplitude, and duration.

[1] Detailed tracing of an exhaust plume from a rocket's initial trajectory is a scientifically and diagnostically useful technique. It can provide detailed information on the atmosphere's mean winds, wind shears, turbulent regime, and physical state over a wide altitude range from 50 to 200 km. We analyze Soyuz rocket exhaust plumes from Plesetsk on 21 May 2009 and 27 June 2011, which uncovered significantly different atmospheric states and underlying dynamics. The first case showed highly dynamical conditions in the mesosphere, characterized by vortex structures, wind shears, and small-scale turbulent eddies. The estimated turbulent energy dissipation rates ranged 330–460 mW kg−1. A characteristic balloon-shaped trail was observed at altitudes between 105 and 160 km, having rapid expansion rates of 500–800 m s−1 over the time period of 2 min which can be explained by complex gas dynamic processes in the rocket wake involving the collision of shock waves. In the second case, we show evidence that the rocket exhaust trail persisted without any changes during its motion from Plesetsk via Denmark to the UK for 9 h, indicating extremely stable atmospheric conditions. This case introduces a new state of the summer mesosphere—remarkably quiet conditions, probably never observed before. The rocket plumes studied, related to the initial rocket trajectory, are essentially twilight phenomena as seen from the ground using wideband spectrum cameras, that is, the Sun should be below the horizon by 6°. For the first time, we analyze the dynamics of rocket exhaust products at the initial trajectory in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere using detailed photographic imaging taken from the ground.

This paper analyzes variations of flux of relativistic and subrelativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt of the Earth caused by the arrival of recurrent high-speed streams of solar wind during three consecutive solar rotations. The period from April to July 2010 is covered. During this time, an increase in fluxes of relativistic electrons was observed after they had reached a minimum in November 2009–January 2010. Two coronal holes of different polarity, geometry, and location relative to the solar equator were the source of high-speed solar wind streams. The relationship between the efficiency of acceleration of electrons of subrelativistic energies and the amplitude, duration of high-speed streams of solar wind and geomagnetic disturbances, as well as the wave activity in the range of 2–7 mHz, characterized by the ULF index, is confirmed. Significant increases of the flux of relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt of the Earth were observed during the considered period with an hourly average speed of solar wind streams above 550 km/s and a duration of more than seven days. It is found that the spectrum of electrons in the Earth’s outer radiation belt over the considered period of time was softer during the observation of solar wind streams from the positive polarity coronal hole, even given the amplitude of the solar wind velocity higher than 550 km/s.

The proton energy spectra I(E, t) as functions of time were obtained and analyzed in the energy range of a few tens of MeV on the basis of GOES observations of proton enhancements during solar cycle 23. The energy spectra were approximated by power-law functions. We found a wide variety of functions I(E, t) for studied events. The spectra cannot be described by a universal function of time, although three groups of proton events seem to have some common features. This allows us to outline an approach to their empirical classification in future using a number of dimensionless scaling parameters. The regularities we observe may be partly due to the dynamical processes occurring on the Sun, in the heliosphere, and magnetosphere.

On the basis of experimental results from the Ulysses spacecraft, a model is proposed for calculating the magnetic field in the corona and the heliosphere in the potential approximation, which is a modification of the potential-field source-surface model. In addition to the photospheric surface and the source surface, a new demarcated spherical surface (leveling surface) is introduced in this model. The magnitude of the radial component of the magnetic field on this surface is assumed to be constant, and its sign abruptly changes from one hemisphere to another. General analytical formulas are given to calculate the potential and field for this model. Calculations are described in detail using the dipole and quadrupole harmonics as examples. Expressions are obtained for the surface currents. The results of visualization of the magnetic field for an axial dipole are discussed.

Charged particle fluxes on the trajectory of future Russian space research mission to Jupiter and its satellite Europa are investigated. The existing experimental data and models of Jupiter’s main magnetic field and radiation belts are summarized. Preliminary results of computations of energetic particle fluxes and radiation doses for each stage of the flight are given. Special attention is paid to estimation of radiation conditions in Europa’s orbit and on its surface; influence of the satellite on spatial distribution of the fluxes of charged particles of various energies is studied.

Statistical studies of properties of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field, based on an extended database for the period 1963–2007 including four solar cycles, show that the Gaussian approximation well suites for some parameters as the probability distribution of their numerical values, while for others the lognormal law is preferred. This paper gives an interpretation of these results as associated with predominance of linear or nonlinear processes in composition and interaction of various disturbances and irregularities propagating and originating in the interior of the Sun and its atmosphere, including the solar corona and the solar wind running away from it. Summation of independent random components of disturbances leads, according to the central limit theorem of the probability theory, to the normal (Gaussian) distributions of quantities proper, while their multiplication leads to the normal distributions of logarithms. Thus, one can discuss the algebra of events and associate observed statistical distinctions with one or another process of formation of irregularities in the solar wind. Among them there are impossible events (having null probability) and reliable events (occurring with 100% probability). For better understanding of the relationship between algebra and statistics of events in the solar wind further investigations are necessary.

Based on the results of plasma and magnetic measurements at three different points of the heliosphere and telescopic observations of the Sun from these points we study simultaneously high-speed streams (HSS) of the solar wind (SW) near the Earths’s orbit and coronal holes (CH) that have generated them. The data from spacecraft STEREO-A, STEREO-B, ACE, and SOHO are used together with ground-based observations from March 2007 to May 2008. In this period there existed HSS whose sources represented CH of various polarity, geometry, and location relative to the heliographic and heliomagnetic equators. Dependence of SW parameters on mutual positions of spacecraft with respect to CH and heliospheric current sheet, and also on heliolatitude and geometry of the CH is revealed. A difference of more than 5° in locations of spacecraft with respect to the heliospheric current sheet in November 2007 allowed us to discover a heliolatitude velocity gradient of the SW streams between the STEREO-A and STEREO-B spacecraft. On the average this gradient at that time was equal to 20 km/s per degree. Substantial variations in SW streams associated with variations of the HSS SW sources during a few hours or days were also observed. This variability makes it difficult to use the data of spacecraft STEREO-B for sufficiently accurate prediction of SW properties in the near-Earth space by the method of simple advanced ti me shift due to heliolongitude difference between a spacecraft and the Earth even in solar activity minimum.

At what evolutionary stage of the Sun as a star the accumulation of its matter from the interstellar medium ended and the dominant outflow of solar wind (SW) streams started is one of the main outstanding questions in the astrophysical aspect of the problem of SW origin. It is unknown when and how this happened in detail, although the onset of thermonuclear reactions in the solar interior undoubtedly played a crucial role in the energetics and dynamics of the star, which could lead to such a change of the regimes. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the accretion or plasma outflow from the star was determined by the preceding evolution, i.e., by the “memory“ and not just by the distribution of instantaneous density, temperature, magnetic field, and other macroscopic parameters of the system that consists of this star, its nearest stellar environment, and interstellar gas. Depending on this, neighboring stars can serve as donors or acceptors of interstellar gas. Some of them can simultaneously or alternately play both roles. The polytropic solution for centrally symmetric flows obtained by Bondi is degenerate in the sign of the radial velocity. It is suitable for describing the quasi-stationary regimes of both types. However, the theory of transient processes has not been developed. Hence, the question of whether there exist stars similar in their internal structure and parameters to the present-day Sun but without stellar wind emission or even with interstellar gas accretion can be answered only observationally. The possibility that such stars exist is not ruled out; it does not contradict any laws of nature. The plasma-physical aspect of the problem of SW origin concerns much shorter time intervals than the main evolutionary time scale measured in billions of years. Hence, this aspect of the problem has been studied much better, although it is also fairly complex and has not yet been solved in much detail due to the multi-scale character of the flow formation processes. The SW as a permanent supermagnetosonic plasma outflow in the radial direction appears against the background of much more powerful nonequilibrium and unsteady motions, which are ordered only partially in the upper solar atmosphere and corona (turbosphere). The instantaneous SW state is controlled by the fluxes of free energy, matter, and momentum that enter the corona from the convection zone and underlying solar atmospheric layers. Although the main physical mechanisms of the transport of free energy of the electromagnetic field and plasma are generally well known, they need a quantitative analysis as applied to specific realizations in frequent and rare particle collisions in the solar corona to ascertain the nonlocal processes of the formation of fields and plasma flows, including the SW.

Geomagnetic disturbances in the Canadian region are compared with their solar and heliospheric sources during the decline phase of solar activity, when recurrent solar wind streams from low-latitude coronal holes were clearly defined. A linear correlation analysis has been performed using the following data: the daily and hourly indices of geomagnetic activity, solar wind velocity, and coronal hole area. The obtained correlation coefficients were rather low between the coronal hole areas and geomagnetic activity (0.17–0.48), intermediate between the coronal hole areas and the solar wind velocity (0.40–0.65), and rather high between the solar wind velocity and geomagnetic activity (0.50–0.70). It has been indicated that the correlation coefficient values can be considerably increased (by tens of percent in the first case and about twice in the second case) if variations in the studied parameters related to changes in the ionosphere (different illumination during a year) and variations in the heliolatitudinal shift of the coordinate system between the Earth, the Sun, and a spacecraft are more accurately taken into account.

Radiation conditions in Jupiter’s environment and the plasma environment in interplanetary space during a Jupiter-Europa mission are estimated. The numerical modeling results can be used when planning the mission.

A retrospective analysis of the Russian magnetic observations of the Carrington event that occurred on September 2–3, 1859, has been performed. The conclusion has been made that this event was caused by the series of three recurrent eruptive solar flares during ∼40 h. The characteristics of the geomagnetic crochet, related to a considerable flux of the ionizing electromagnetic radiation during this flare, have been studied. The value and direction of a magnetic field disturbance, registered during the maximum of the geomagnetic storm of September 2, unambiguously indicate that all Russian stations were in the auroral oval zone, which was strongly expanded southward from its average position. The disturbance dependence on the station longitude—the absence of magnetometer pinning in Nerchinsk—is interpreted as the possible manifestation of a strong asymmetry in the effective contour of the current system, which was connected to the heliosphere and covered the disturbed magnetosphere and ionosphere during the short period that lasted only 1–3 h.

The dissimilarity of the results of solar and galactic proton flux measurements made on different spacecraft is pointed out. It is caused, in addition to instrument errors, by differences in the temporal and spatial conditions of the measurements. We suggest using statistical analysis of proton fluences calculated for different long time intervals, from half a year to 10 years, for the optimization of the interplanetary proton database. An example of such analysis is presented and a probabilistic model of total proton fluences at the Earth’s orbit outside the magnetosphere, constructed using the analysis, is described. A formalized method for separating proton fluxes in solar proton events from protons of galactic cosmic rays is suggested. A conclusion is made that sources of cosmic ray protons with energies of less than 4 MeV should be examined in more detail.

Based on an analysis of the available archived data from the Russian network of geomagnetic stations, it has been indicated that the known event of August–September 1859 was the first and the greatest event in the series of the recurrent geomagnetic storms. Similar series were repeatedly observed in the next years. These series are caused by the processes on the Sun and in the heliosphere related to the superposition of the solar wind flows. The sporadic and regular components in joint activity of the complex, including active regions and coronal holes on the rotating Sun, play the role of the Bartels M regions responsible for initiation and development of geomagnetic storms. Neither coronal holes nor active regions can separately explain observations. During interpretation, active regions and coronal holes should be considered as a unified complex.

We present and discuss here the first version of a data base of extreme solar and heliospheric events. The data base contains now 87 extreme events mostly since 1940. An event is classified as extreme if one of the three critical parameters passed a lower limit. The critical parameters were the X-ray flux (parameter R ), solar proton flux (parameter S ) and geomagnetic disturbance level (parameter G ). We find that the five strongest extreme events based on four variables (X-rays SEP, Dst, Ap) are completely separate except for the October 2003 event which is one the five most extreme events according to SEP, Dst and Ap. This underlines the special character of the October 2003 event, making it unique within 35 years. We also find that the events based on R and G are rather separate, indicating that the location of even extreme flares on the solar disk is important for geomagnetic effects. We also find that S = 3 events are not extreme in the same sense as R > 3 and G > 3 events, while S = 5 events are missing so far. This suggests that it might be useful to rescale the classification of SEP fluxes.

We briefly present the selected results obtained up to now by the Russian scientific groups regarding powerful solar ejections as main causes of large geomagnetic storms in the near-Earth space. Strongest perturbations on the Sun and in the near-Earth space responsible for large geomagnetic storms were well registered and analyzed during the 23rd solar cycle. Open issues and perspectives are discussed.

The results of the statistical analysis of the GOES data related to the length of the period, during which the X-ray emission of solar flares increases, provide reliable grounds for the objective distinction of different types, sometimes referred to in the literature as typical and nontypical for bimodal classification. The events may be also partitioned into three (“impulsive”, “typical”, and “long duration”) or more “types”. These “types” should be separated from statistical fluctuations in the case of rare events. When the number of analyzed events increases, these fluctuations are gradually smoothed and become less significant, and the distribution of flares according to the duration of their growth is, on the whole, well described by the single lognormal law.

The character of statistical distributions of the intensity of energetic charged particles, solar wind flux, and the interplanetary magnetic field strength is analyzed using the data obtained by the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft in the distant heliosphere. A comparison of the distributions in the region of crossings of shock wave fronts in 1991 and in 2004 is carried out, and their similarities and differences are discussed.

Observations of the low solar corona in the extreme ultraviolet and in soft X-rays evidence a close relationship of coronal dimmings and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Dimmings are usually interpreted as places of plasma evacuation during a CME. We characterize a CME by the apparent angular extent of associated dimmings above the solar limb and define a global CME as a CME with the total apparent extent of limb dimmings of more than 180°. Several examples of global CMEs are discussed. All the global CMEs identified up to now are fast full-halo CMEs associated with X-class flares (if they originate on the front side of the Sun). We demonstrate that global CMEs involve an eruption of several magnetic flux systems distributed on a large spatial scale comparable to one-half of the solar disk (true angular width around 180°). We discuss possible interpretations of the global CME phenomenon and challenges it presents to CME modeling. Our results suggest a nonlocal nature of the CME eruption mechanism.

The paper presents the review of dimensionless parameters met in solar and heliospheric plasma physics. Kinetic and macroscopic regimes are delimited mainly by the values of large (small) Knudsen numbers correspondingly. The magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) description with dissipation and radiation generates well-known parameters like Mach ( M ), Mach-Alfven ( M A ), Strouhal ( S ) and several other numbers. They play the important role and often used in literature, but others, like ‘velocity-emission’ ratios ( V e ), Trieste ( T ) and Faraday ( F ) numbers are still not so common and remain poorly evaluated quantities. We demonstrate several examples when these ‘new’ parameters, respectively, allow clear quantitative delimitation and classification of flare-like and CME-like events on the Sun, physically open and closed systems against the energy, momentum and mass transports in the case of quiescent and eruptive prominences, inductive and Coulomb dominated plasma regimes in electric and magnetic fields. Dimensionless scaling is very helpful in complicated turbulent situations, when the application of other analytical methods is difficult.

The solar wind velocity and polarity of the B x-component of the interplanetary magnetic field have been analyzed for the first eight months of 2005. The interplanetary magnetic field had a four-sector structure, which persisted during nine Carrington rotations. Three stable clusters of a high-speed solar wind stream and one cluster of a low-speed stream were observed during one solar rotation. These clusters were associated with the interplanetary magnetic field sectors. The predicted solar wind velocity was calculated since July 2005 one month ahead as an average over several preceding Carrington rotations. The polarity of the B x-component of the interplanetary magnetic field was predicted in a similar way based on the concept of the sector structure of the magnetic field and its relation to maxima of the solar wind velocity. The results indicate a satisfactory agreement of the forecast for two rotations ahead in July–August 2005 and pronounced violation of agreement for the next rotation due to a sudden reconfiguration of the solar corona and strong sporadic processes in September 2005.

An empirical formula was found to describe the dependence V(S) of the daily average solar-wind velocity V on the coronal-hole area S on the visible side of the Sun in the form of first-and second-order Taylor expansions. The results can be used for approximate evaluation of the solar-wind velocity at the Earth’s orbit from coronal-hole observations.

A method for visualization of the solar magnetic field is suggested and implemented. The harmonic expansion coefficients obtained in the potential approximation from magnetic-field observations at the photospheric level are used as an input. Three-dimensional equations for field lines are numerically integrated, and the results are presented in the form of projections onto the picture plane. The density of the line number is assumed to be proportional to the magnetic flux density. The lines of different topological connectedness are differently colored and show areas with open and closed configurations, thus mapping the information about the field direction and magnitude. This method is useful for research and applied studies related to investigation and forecasting of space weather.

Recent satellite data have given a better insight into the possible nature of extremely strong disturbances on the Sun and in the heliosphere by relating them to processes in the solar interior. The energy, momentum, and mass transfer on various spatiotemporal scales are organized in the Sun into a hierarchy of coupled nonlinear processes. Confirmation has been given to the fact that coronal mass ejections and solar flares are not linked causally but merely reflect the existence of two channels of free-energy dissipation in the solar atmosphere in the form of plasma motion and plasma emission; their relative role can be described by a corresponding nondimensional parameter. Information on the global asymmetry of the solar emission and active processes has been gained. A great diversity in the geometry of eruptive events (not necessarily associated with magnetic reconnection) has been revealed. In our opinion, the basic unresolved problems in the investigation of solar activity dictate the necessity of carrying out more accurate, absolutely calibrated measurements of the whitelight solar emission at appropriately high spatiotemporal resolutions. The development of direct and indirect techniques of measuring the electric fields and currents with the aim of reconstructing the solar and heliospheric current system remains a challenging task.

Absolutely calibrated telescopic observations of the Sun in white-light with a sufficiently high space–time resolution from space have not been regularly performed. They are needed to resolve several important problems in the solar physics. Contributions of different morphological features to the total solar irradiance variations in the broad range of time scales from seconds up to many years can be definitely established in this manner for the first time. The quantitative role of the white-light emission in the overall energy balance of flares and eruptions on the Sun can be evaluated. More adequate theoretical models of corresponding processes on the Sun can be constructed using this new data.

Theoretical aspects of the energetic ion motions in the magnetic dip between travelling heliospheric magnetic field perturbations and the termination boundaries of the heliosphere are considered. The group of ions under appropriate initial conditions perform here several bouncing oscillations and could be accelerated along the strongly inclined magnetic fields pointed nearly perpendicular to the radial direction. Accelerating ions are partially confined between the converging magnetic mirrors at the periphery of the heliosphere before escaping in the interstellar medium. We develop a tentative model of these Fermi-type processes which might be useful for the interpretation of recent Voyager 1, 2 observations. The model is capable to reproduce qualitatively the following observed features: (1) the reappearance of MeV proton increases several times during 2000–2004 at both spacecraft because of the solar and heliospheric magnetic field “breathing” due to variations of the solar activity; (2) the time delays between corresponding Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 increases for 3–4 months due to the solar wind propagation; (3) the moderate anisotropy of MeV ion fluxes directed mainly along the magnetic field spirals away from the Sun; (4) the possibility of stronger increases of MeV fluxes at larger heliospheric distances, as was observed in 2003 and 2004, due to the combination of the local acceleration, partial trapping and propagation effects in the variable electric and magnetic fields.

We demonstrate that spurious three-dimensional re-constructions from two-dimensional images and movies of solar flares and coronal mass ejections can arise as a result of viewing conditions and projection effects, which are not always properly taken into account in the current literature. Theory and observations indicate that eruptions can proceed with or without large-scale topological changes of prominences and coronal magnetic fields. Electric currents and plasma drifts in crossed electric and magnetic fields play not negligible, but important role. This means that large-scale magnetic reconnections understood as topological transitions in the magnetic field are not always necessary for eruptions. The scenario of expanding and rising non-planar systems of preexisting loops and arcades, which are deforming when shearing at bottom parts, twisting and rotating at summits, satisfactory fits available observations. Movies are presented demonstrating this type of behavior with a preserved magnetic connectivity.

In the solar atmosphere a new phenomenon is discovered, namely, the formation, growth, and disappearance of mushrooms as a consequence of eruptive processes. This phenomenon gives an insight into many geometric and physical properties of coronal mass ejections (CME).

The data of the Coronas F satellite and other spacecraft were used to show that, in October–November 2003, global variations in brightness occurred in all spectral regions of the solar electromagnetic radiation. The variations were asymmetric in heliolongitude. This phenomenon was accompanied by an extremely strong energy release in the form of coronal-mass ejections and solar flares. The most powerful of them took place on the solar side that was characterized by an enhanced brightness even before these events. As a result, superimposed corotating and sporadic disturbances, which are partly correlated, can be traced in parameters of the solar atmospheric radiation, flows of the solar-wind plasma, and heliospheric magnetic field.

Times of sustained strong northward IMF can interrupt the magnetic storm development and lead to lower levels of geomagnetic activity for many hours. During 1997–2000 we have found two events of this kind observed on November 8, 1998 and October 13, 2000. In both cases, the storms started as usual after arrival of ejecta with a southward IMF component from the Sun to the Earth, but ceased after several hours due to the onset of sustained northward IMF leading to the faster recovery process. After the passage of this so-called positive domain, the storm development started again. The heliospheric magnetic field intensity remained enhanced and nearly constant. The solar origins of the geomagnetic storm interruptions have been investigated. Tentatively they may be related to strong nonlinear Alfvйn type solitary waves excited by non-stationary coronal current variations with a characteristic time-scale of about a day.