Analyzing the large-scale curvature of interplanetary shocks

The 3-dimensional structure of interplanetary shock surfaces are analyzed using observations from the Wind and ACE spacecraft. Events seen by both spacecraft were selected from the available data and used to calculate the radius of curvature R, of the shock surface. The surface structure was examined within the ecliptic plane, and evidence of large-scale curvature was seen when the spacecraft separation was sufficiently large. A simulation was run to test the effects of small errors in the shock normal, and showed that these errors could affect R, calculations at small separation. The radius of curvature was studied as a function of shock strength to look for evidence of ripples on the shock surface, though no correlation was found.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Vogt, Marissa Farland

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Justin C. Kasper.

• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/114134

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/114134