Propagation of Interplanetary Shocks in the Heliosphere

Abstract

Interplanetary shocks are one of the crucial dynamic phenomena in the Heliosphere. They accelerate particles to high energies, generate plasma waves, and can trigger geomagnetic storms in the terrestrial magnetosphere disturbing significantly our technological infrastructures. In this study, two IP shock events are selected to study the temporal variations of the shock parameters using magnetometer and ion plasma measurements of the STEREO$-$A and B, the Wind, Cluster fleet, and the ACE spacecraft. The shock normal vectors are determined using the minimum variance analysis (MVA) and the magnetic coplanarity methods. During the May 7, 2007 event, the shock parameters and the shock normal direction are consistent. The shock surface appears to be tilted almost the same degree as the Parker spiral, and the driver could be a Co--Rotating Interacting Region (CIR). During the April 23, 2007 event, the shock parameters do not change significantly except for the shock $\theta_{Bn}$ angle, however, the shape of the IP shock appears to be twisted along the perpendicular direction to the Sun-Earth line as well. The driver of this rippled shock is Stream Interaction Regions (SIRs)/CISs as well.