Backmapping of the High- and Low-latitude Solar Wind under Multiple Heliospheric and Coronal Magnetic Field Configurations

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Main Authors: Ma, Xinyi, Yang, Liping, Feng, Xueshang, Tian, Hui, Wu, Honghong, Shen, Fang, Zhang, Wangning, Ma, Mengxuan, Zhang, Xiao, Wang, Ziwei
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ma, Xinyi
Yang, Liping
Feng, Xueshang
Tian, Hui
Wu, Honghong
Shen, Fang
Zhang, Wangning
Ma, Mengxuan
Zhang, Xiao
Wang, Ziwei
author_facet Ma, Xinyi
Yang, Liping
Feng, Xueshang
Tian, Hui
Wu, Honghong
Shen, Fang
Zhang, Wangning
Ma, Mengxuan
Zhang, Xiao
Wang, Ziwei
contents Solar wind backmapping is a critical technique for analyzing the origin of the solar wind and space weather events by correlating in situ measurements with solar remote-sensing observations. This technique typically traces magnetic field lines using a heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) model coupled with a coronal magnetic field (CMF). However, the impact of different HMF and CMF configurations on backmapping uncentainty-particularly regarding high-latitude solar wind-remains inadequately quantified. This study comprehensively evaluates solar wind backmapping by combining two HMF models (Parker spiral, Fisk-type) with three CMF models (Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS), Potential Field Current Sheet (PFCS), Current Sheet Source Surface (CSSS)). Our analysis primarily uses in situ measurements from Ulysses and remote-sensing data from STEREO-A. Key findings are that: (1) while both Fisk and Parker HMF models show comparable consistency with measured magnetic field strength and polarity, they produce certain longitudinal displacements in their back-mapped footpoints on the source surface (2.5$R_{\odot}$); (2) For CMF models (PFSS, PFCS, CSSS), predicted photospheric footpoints exhibit minor variations for high/mid-latitude solar wind but some divergences for ecliptic/low-latitude wind; (3) All three CMF models link high/mid-latitude wind to active regions or coronal holes, yet associate a fraction of ecliptic/low-latitude wind with quiet-Sun regions; (4) Ecliptic/low-latitude sources show significantly stronger dependence on the PFSS source surface height compared to high-latitude wind. These results demonstrate that simpler models (PFSS + Parker) appear reasonably adequate for polar coronal hole wind studies, while low-latitude/ecliptic solar wind exhibits the heightened sensitivity to model choices.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_21076
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Backmapping of the High- and Low-latitude Solar Wind under Multiple Heliospheric and Coronal Magnetic Field Configurations
Ma, Xinyi
Yang, Liping
Feng, Xueshang
Tian, Hui
Wu, Honghong
Shen, Fang
Zhang, Wangning
Ma, Mengxuan
Zhang, Xiao
Wang, Ziwei
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Solar wind backmapping is a critical technique for analyzing the origin of the solar wind and space weather events by correlating in situ measurements with solar remote-sensing observations. This technique typically traces magnetic field lines using a heliospheric magnetic field (HMF) model coupled with a coronal magnetic field (CMF). However, the impact of different HMF and CMF configurations on backmapping uncentainty-particularly regarding high-latitude solar wind-remains inadequately quantified. This study comprehensively evaluates solar wind backmapping by combining two HMF models (Parker spiral, Fisk-type) with three CMF models (Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS), Potential Field Current Sheet (PFCS), Current Sheet Source Surface (CSSS)). Our analysis primarily uses in situ measurements from Ulysses and remote-sensing data from STEREO-A. Key findings are that: (1) while both Fisk and Parker HMF models show comparable consistency with measured magnetic field strength and polarity, they produce certain longitudinal displacements in their back-mapped footpoints on the source surface (2.5$R_{\odot}$); (2) For CMF models (PFSS, PFCS, CSSS), predicted photospheric footpoints exhibit minor variations for high/mid-latitude solar wind but some divergences for ecliptic/low-latitude wind; (3) All three CMF models link high/mid-latitude wind to active regions or coronal holes, yet associate a fraction of ecliptic/low-latitude wind with quiet-Sun regions; (4) Ecliptic/low-latitude sources show significantly stronger dependence on the PFSS source surface height compared to high-latitude wind. These results demonstrate that simpler models (PFSS + Parker) appear reasonably adequate for polar coronal hole wind studies, while low-latitude/ecliptic solar wind exhibits the heightened sensitivity to model choices.
title Backmapping of the High- and Low-latitude Solar Wind under Multiple Heliospheric and Coronal Magnetic Field Configurations
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21076