PSP SO and Groundbased Synoptic Observations from NSO
PSP, SO, and Ground-based Synoptic Observations from NSO Frank Hill Oct 5, 2017
A powerful combination • In-situ + remote sensing z understanding • Example: driving in traffic Driver X, an in-situ sensor, cannot make good decisions on route strategy without knowing the context Is there an accident? Where is it? Does the driver have an acceptable alternate route? The context is provided by the TV traffic reporter
So too for PSP and SO • PSP will provide in-situ sensing close in to the Sun • SO will provide in-situ and remote sensing at high latitudes • The goal is to understand how the in-situ measurements fit in to the solar and heliospheric system • For this we need to know: • The global magnetic configuration that is present at the time of the measurement • The connectivity of the magnetic field from the sun to the spacecraft – what field line is it on? • The characteristics of solar activity prior to and during the insitu measurement
The NSO Integrated Synoptic Program (NISP) • Provides the needed context • Comprises GONG and SOLIS • Long history of producing magnetic field, intensity images, and helioseismology observations • 43 years of magnetic field • 22 years of helioseismology • 7 years of H-α intensity • Many products already seen at this meeting
NISP Components - GONG • GONG=Global Oscillation Network Group • GONG is a six-site network of instruments located around the world to observe the sun as continuously as possible • Originally intended for helioseismology, now also supplies magnetic field measurements and H- intensity images • Important dates: • • 1995 operations start 2001 camera upgrade from 256 x 256 to 1 k x 1 k 2006 start of continual magnetic field measurements 2010 start of H- data
GONG Instrumentation • Two instruments: • Michelson Interferometer • • helioseismology Doppler velocity, intensity and LOS magnetic field 1 k x 1 k full-disk images in Ni I 676. 8 nm 60 -sec cadence 10 -min average magnetic field • Air Force-funded filter system • H- intensity • 2 k x 2 k full-disk images • 60 -sec cadence at a given site, 20 -sec cadence from network NSO/GONG Udaipur 2012/02/14 H Intensity
GONG derived data products • Non-helioseismology: • Hourly synoptic magnetic field maps • PFSS coronal field extrapolations • Solar wind speed (AFRL) from WSA • Geomagnetic storm forecasts (NOAA/SWPC) from WSA+ Enlil • H-α images and movies (AFWA) • Helioseismology: • Mode frequencies (108 day time series every 36 days) • Farside images • Ring diagram flow maps
Derived Magnetic fields • Synoptic maps every hour • PFSS extrapolations
Big challenge – combining multiinstrument magnetogram observations • GONG has 6 “identical” instruments measuring the solar magnetic field • However, the instrumental background (“zero-point”) is significantly different from site to site • Raw difference is as much as 1 to 3 G – mainly due to small differences in the state switching speed of the polarization modulators • Seeing also plays a role • Assuming simultaneous observations see the same solar field, and discarding the first 3 raw observing frames, we have achieved a background zero-point of 0. 1 G • This took a lot of effort, so DO NOT underestimate the difficulty of combining magnetic field observations.
H-α data • Provides location, time, brightness of flares • Provides filament observations
GONG Far-side Maps (October 7 – 21, 2014) Front-side AR 2192 is clearly visible in these maps.
NISP Components - SOLIS • SOLIS=Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun • SOLIS is composed of a single equatorial mount carrying three telescopes: • The 50 -cm Vector Spectromagnetograph (VSM) • Measures the solar magnetic field • The 14 -cm Full-Disk Patrol (FDP) • Provides intensity images in several wavelengths • The 0. 8 -cm Integrated Sunlight Spectrometer (ISS) • Obtains spectra of the sun as a star in nine wavelength regions • Continues the > 40 year record of synoptic data from NSO • Daily observing cadence for VSM full-disk magnetograms
SOLIS instrumentation on Kitt Peak FDP ISS VSM
SOLIS VSM data products
SOLIS VSM Vector full-disk observations
Many choices of SOLIS VSM synoptic maps • Photosphere or chromosphere • Near-real-time or Carrington rotation • Data or spatial variance • Longitudinal or vector • If vector, then radial, theta or phi • 1 or 0. 2 -degree resolution • Sine (latitude) or latitude
Photosphere Longitudinal synoptic maps Chromosphere
Spatial variance map - Photosphere
Vector synoptic maps - Photosphere
NISP status • SOLIS is moving from Tucson to Big Bear Solar Observatory as part of NSO relocation • • • Good consistent seeing 70% clear time County permits obtained Construction about to start 4 -month data gap (Nov. 2017 – Feb 2018) • GONG test/engineering site moving from Tucson to Boulder • Construction has started • Units to arrive in Boulder on 10/16 • GONG refurbishment is under way • Improved magnetic field measurements • H-α Doppler-shift observations will be provided – filament dynamics
Summary • PSP and SO need context/remote sensing to fully exploit science return of the missions • The NSO Integrated Synoptic Program (NISP) has many relevant context data products that are continually produced and freely available to the missions • Do not hesitate to contact NISP for technical issues, or if you have an idea for a new product
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