Morphology Indicators of the Three-Dimensional Size of Flux Rope CMEs: A Prediction for STEREO

O. C. ST. CYR; H. CREMADES; V. BOTHMER; J. KRALL; J. T. BURKEPILE

San Francisco, CA

Conferencia; American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004; 2004

AGU

We provide a new estimate of the three-dimensional sizes of flux rope coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We base our estimate on the interpretation of two CME morphologies that have previously been considered distinct. We believe these morphologies represent two perspectives of the same large scale cylindrical structure (a magnetic flux rope) seen axially versus broadside. This distinction has not been previously recognized because both morphologies have been classified as "three-part structures". Our preliminary study based on 21 events (13 axial and 8 broadside) indicated an average diameter of 46° and an average length of 76° for these flux rope CMEs. We compare our statistical results to those obtained using an elliptical flux rope model, and we present the current status of this work-in-progress. This result will be tested in the future by observations of individual CMEs from different locations by NASA´s STEREO mission.