Adv. Space Res. Vol. 23, No. 3, pp.

567-579, 1999
) Pergamon © 1999 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Printed in Great Britain
0273-1177/99 $20.00 + 0.00
www.elsevier.nl/locate/asr PII: S0273-1177(99)00123-4

COROTATING INTERACTION REGIONS

B. Heber 1,2, T. R. Sanderson 3, and M. Zhang 4

1 CEA, DSM/DAPNIA/Service d'Astrophysique, C.E.Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

2Institut fiir Exp. und Angew. Physik, Universiti~t Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
3Space Science Department of ESA, ESTEC, NL-2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
4LASR, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA

ABSTRACT

Corotating Interaction Regions are long lasting large-scale plasma structures generated in low and middle latitude
regions of the heliosphere by the interaction of a stable fast solar wind stream with the surrounding slow solar wind.
Associated with these plasma structures are recurrent MeV-ion events and recurrent decreases of the galactic and
anomalous cosmic ray intensities. Prior to the Ulysses-mission the effect of corotating interaction regions could only
be observed at low or moderate heliographic latitudes. The three-dimensional extent and their role in structuring
the quiet heliosphere became clear after Ulysses high latitude observations had became available. Corotating inter-
action regions possibly play a role in determining solar modulation of galactic and anomalous cosmic rays during
periods of low to moderate solar activity. In March 1996, April 1997, and June 1998 two workshops on Develop-
ment and Effects of Corotating Interaction Regions were held at Elmau Castle, Germany, and at the International
Space Science Institute in Bern, Switzerland, primarily based on new high latitude observations from Ulysses and
considering as well in-ecliptic and outer-heliospheric spacecraft result. In this paper MeV-particle, galactic and
anomalous cosmic ray as well as plasma observations from spacecraft in the inner heliosphere will be presented.
© 1999 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

INTRODUCTION

Since Parker's (1963) explanation of the expansion of the solar atmosphere into the solar wind its basic features have
been verified by in situ measurements. From a radial distance of a few solar radii, the magnetic field is "frozen"
in into the radially outward flowing solar wind. Because of the rotation of the Sun, magnetic field lines form
Archimedean spirals (Parker, 1965). Essentially two different solar wind speed regimes have been observed:
Fast solar wind: The measured wind speed is typically ~800 km/s and the temperatures is close to 106 K. The
fluctuation of these quantities are ,-~10%. The areas emitting the fast solar wind can be associated with dark areas
in e.g. images of the Sun in the light of Fe XII. During low solar activity conditions the polar region of each hemi-
sphere is covered by "coronal holes". As shown by Fig. 1 (a), these coronal holes can extend to the heliographic
equator or even beyond. The magnetic field lines originating from these areas are open structures.
Slow solar wind: The typical wind speeds varies around -.~400 km/s, and the temperatures falls within (1.5 -
2) x 106 K. The slow wind is much more variable. Located near the heliospheric equator, above the solar streamer
belt, closed magnetic fields are observed. In contrast to the fast solar wind its origin is still debated (see e.g.
Schwenn, 1990).
From Helios and Pioneer measurements it became evident that regions of fast and slow solar wind are separated
by sharp boundaries, leading to strong longitudinal speed gradients (Schwenn, 1990, Smith and Wolfe, 1976, and
Hundhausen and Gosling 1976). When a fast solar wind rams into a slower flowing wind ahead an interaction
regions is formed. If the structure is stable for several rotations these interaction region is repeatedly observed in
space and therefore called a Corotating Interaction Region (CIR).

567
568 B, Heber et al.

FR
10 ~ F---HISCALE ~: ~5-1MeV
-- 10 k i ,,z:
~ 10 I -:i::
~2':i"%-,, LET p: 8-19 MeV

~ ~ 1 ~'............
0 1 .;.:,'!:,~,,,i
0 1 " ";- . . ,.f. - , ~, , ',~, .'.~. . , ,, ,

10 5

104

10 3
(a) (b)
0.3
KET p: 25~.2.2D0 MeV
0.25 ~,.~ t- ~

0.2 , ,,,, .... ,[,i.,i .... i .... i ....

g 4
2

>

500
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Event # 9, r = 5.0AU, 0 = -24.1", Day of year 1993

Fig. 1: (a) SOHO EIT image at 195 A. (b) From top to bottom: count rate of 0.5-1 MeV (dashed line) and 8-19 MeV
protons, ,-~50 keV electrons, ,,~1 GeV GCR protons, magnetic field strength and solar wind speed.

Formation of a CIR

Fast solar wind from a coronal hole extending to low heliographic latitudes rotates with the solar sidereal rotation
period of ,-,25.4 days accompanied by slow solar wind. A stationary observer close to the Sun will note recurrent
fast and slow solar wind streams. If (1) the pressure gradient becomes sufficiently strong and (2) the speed difference
exceeds the local magnetosonic speed shocks can be formed. This happens typically at a distance of >~1.5 AU.
Because these shocks are moving quasi radially outward and the magnetic field follows the Archemedian spiral the
shocks are quasi-perpendicular waves. As shown in Figure 1 (b) an observer close to the ecliptic at such distances
(2-6 AU) will measure a:
FS: Forward Shock, which is moving into the slow wind ahead. Typical signatures are step like increases of the
solar wind speed, density, magnetic field strength.
Sh Stream Interface, which is the surface along the two solar wind streams interacts with each other, Typical
signatures are the change in entropy, density and abundance ratio of different solar wind elements (Wimmer-
Schweingruber et al., 1997).
RS: Reverse Shock, which is moving backward into the fast stream. Typical signatures are step like increase of the
solar wind velocity and decrease of magnetic field strength.
Gosling et al. (1993) pointed out that the FS/RS is not only deflected west/east but also equator/poleward. At greater
radial distances the Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS), which separates north and south magnetic fields throughout
the heliosphere, is often observed close to a CIR. However, normally the HCS is well separated from the SI close to
the Sun.

CIRs and their influence on Cosmic Rays

Measurements of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) by ionisation chambers in the 1930's and by neutron monitors in
the 1940-1950's showed a 27-day intensity variation. Already at that time Forbush (in Van Allen, 1998) pointed
out a correlation of recurrent cosmic ray decreases with the Bartels M regions. In the 1960's, when interplanetary
 Corotating Interaction Regions 569

15
80
10 ~ 1-1l(1978) P1075 60
o
x~ 40
4 5
~ 20
°~ 0 ........ ........ i

~x0 ~ -20
-5 O

(D y: -40
launch 72
-10 -60
-80
-15 i i i ,hill i i i i illll

-1
10 1 10 1 10 102
Heliocentric radius [AU] Heliocentricradius [AU]

Fig. 2: Left panel: Heliolatitude as function of radial distance for Helios 1 & 2 in 1978, and P10 (left) and of
Ulysses, Voyager 1 & 2, and P10 in 1993-1997, right panel. Note the different scales in both panels. The histogram
on the right shows the evolution of the tilt angle c~ of the current sheet during the time period from 1993 to 1997.

space-probes became accessible, Bryant et al. (1963) and Fan et al. (1965) found also a correlation of recurrent
energetic particle events with these regions. Since the 1970's Bartels M regions are called coronal holes (for a recent
review see Simpson 1998a, 1998b). Figure 1 (b) displays in the upper panel recurrent particle events and cosmic ray
decreases as measured by the COsmic and Solar Particle INvestigation Kiel Electron Telescope and Low Energy
Telescope (COSPIN/KET and COSPIN/LET) as well as the Heliospheric Instrument for Spectra, Composition and
Anisotropy at Low Energies (HISCALE) on board Ulysses (Simpson et al., 1992, and Lanzerotti et al., 1992).

CIR OBSERVATION

The Helios and Pioneer spacecraft had scanned the inner, and intermediate heliosphere in the 1970's during time
periods when stable long lasting CIRs were observed. These measurements led to an understanding of recurrent
interplanetary modulation and acceleration of nucleons with energies of a few MeV by CIRs close to the streamer
belt (McDonald et al., 1976, Barnes and Simpson, 1976, and Marshall and Stone, 1978). Some 20 years later in
the same phase of the solar magnetic cycle, Ulysses made its unique measurements at different latitudes in the in-
ner/intermediate heliosphere. The trajectories of the different space-probes are shown in Figure 2. Note that the
latitude range in the left panel is only 30 ° compared to 180° and the radial range is --~20 AU compared to 100 AU
in the right panel. Unfortunately, for the 1990's no measurements within 0.5 AU and at ,-~10 AU are available.
Comparing results from the 1970's with results in the 1990's could be influenced by different heliospheric condi-
tions. Comparing Ulysses with outer heliosphere measurements the spatial evolution of CIRs have to be taken into
account, which are not known. Therefore we will concentrate on the findings in the 1990's using Ulysses and 1 AU
measurements. It should be noticed that some conclusions in this section can only be made because of the Pioneer,
Voyager, Helios, and 1 AU measurements in the 1970's.

Ulysses was launched in October 1990 during the declining phase of solar cycle 22 and reached its highest heli-
ographic latitude 0 of 80 ° S in September 1994 and 80 ° N in August 1995 at a radial distance of ,-~1.5 AU (see
Figure 2). Observations from mid 1992 (0 > 15° S, RN5 AU) to the beginning of 1995 (0 < 10° S) during moderate
to low solar activity are presented. The scientific payload is ideally suited to investigate the solar wind and its frozen
in magnetic field (Bame et al., 1992, B alogh et al., 1992, Gloeckler e t al., 1992) as well as the supra-thermal particle
component (HISCALE, Lanzerotti et al., 1992, EPAC, Keppler et al., 1992, COSPIN, Simpson et al., 1992).

Figure 3 displays from top to bottom the dally averaged count rate of ,-~50 keV electrons and ,,~2 MeV protons,
250-2200 MeV GCR protons and their long term detrended variation as well as the solar wind speed. Below the
figure, Ulysses radial distance and heliographic latitude are shown. From the solar wind speed time profile three
570 B. Heber et al.

9 18 SPP
10 4 E i . . . . . . . . ~' ':~nis.~.~tE: ~: ( ~ 0 ~;V.:.: ~ ' ~ ' ~ ~5".k~W~...j . . . . .
~[P, i :: :: i ::t--i LET:p:::(I.2MeV!<!E<3::MeV) i :: :: i ::-
lO ° : i i i i i i i i i i i ! i i i i i i i ! i i i i i i~
10 2 ~ ~ i ii i :: i :: : i i i i_--

~ 101-11!~'~~ ~ i~~ii! - {i ~ i~
10 2 i : : ' : i : i i
10 3
10- ~/ i - i : ii~ i ' i '; , ! i' 111
!'i
, 'i *! i' i' !i li ;i i' i' i 'i li ! i' i ' i 'i~!-,_ 0.6
i iii ii ii ili! i i! :: ii ii i ii i ii i ii i !i ii !i i !: ii i ii
5 i i ~iii il~~.~ii:iiiiiii::::::ii::i: 0.5

0.4
-5
0.3
-15 i i i i i i' '"..V:" ..'" ! i ! i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i
0.2

800

600

• 400

1993.0 1993.3 1993.6 1993.9 1994.2 1994.5 1994.8 1995.1

JtAUII I
4.5 4I I
3.5 3I I
2.5 2, '
1.5

I [ I I I I I I I
~ ["] -25 -30 -35 -40 -50 -60 -70 -80 -70 -40

Fig. 3: Daily averaged count rate of ,-~50 keV electrons (upper curve in the first panel),,-,2 MeV protons,
,,,1 GeV GCR protons, and hourly means of the solar wind speed. The shaded region with numbers "9" and
"18' mark typical CIR events observed in region 1) and 2). SPP marks the time period when Ulysses is above 70 ° S
(South Polar Passage).
 Corotating Interaction Regions 571

KET: p: (~.4 M e ~ < E < 25 MeV) I

= 10 2 [ IKE'r: e:i~2 MeW < E < I O MeV) I
~ 10

~ 1 i / ~ij
8 10 -l
i i~
-2
.~ 10
, , , I , , , , I , -uu
1992.6 1992.7 1992.8 1992.9 1993 1993.1 1993.2 1993.3

Fig. 4: Daily averaged count rates of ,,~10 MeV protons (upper curve), and ,~7 MeV electrons. CME mark the
time-period in Nov. 1992, when a major solar event and a interplanetary disturbance was observed. Marked by
shading is the influence of CIRs on the ,-~7 MeV electrons.

different regions can be identified: 1) The findings within the streamer belt (up to Spring 1993) confirm the obser-
vations by the Pioneer spacecraft (Event Nr. 9). FS and RS are observed during the passage of the CIRs. 2) When
the spacecraft left the streamer belt in mid 1993 it encountered for a few month a transition region (Event Nr. 18),
where only the RS of the CIR is observed. 3) From fall 1993 to the beginning of 1995, the spacecraft was immersed
into thefast solar wind of the southern coronal hole (SPP). Neither the FS nor the RS were observed.

In the beginning of 1993 in correlation with the solar wind, recurrent energetic particle events of several keV elec-
trons and few MeV protons are observed. Anti-correlated to these events recurrent GCR decreases occurs. In what
follows, recurrent events and recurrent decreases will be used for recurrent energetic particle events and recurrent
GCR decreases. With increasing latitude the solar wind becomes more and more uniform, whereas recurrent events
and decreases persists to highest heliographic latitudes. In this paper we summarise the principal observations
through 1995, and the challenges for understanding in three dimensions the recurrent modulation of cosmic rays,
and acceleration of MeV nucleons.

REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF CIR OBSERVATIONS BEFORE 1993

Figure 4 shows the count rate of ,,~10 MeV protons and ~7 MeV electrons from mid 1992 to March 1993. Up
to March 1993, Ulysses is embedded in the streamer belt and long lasting CIRs are observed. At the position of
Ulysses the last major solar event of solar cycle 22 was observed in November 1992. It is indicated by CME in
Figure 4. The dashed lines are separated by 26 days (approximately one solar rotation).

Jupiter is besides the sun the other dominant source for el .ectrons in the energy range up to ~25 MeV. Ulysses
encountered in Feb. 1992 Jupiter. Early 1993 the spacecraft was at a distance of ,~3 AU to the planet and at a heli-
olatitude of ,-~30° S. The propagation of Jovian electrons in the inner heliosphere has been studied since the 1970's
(Chenette et al., 1977). In agreement with earlier observations Rastoin (1995) found that when the N10 MeV proton
flux is increasing due to CIRs, the electron flux is decreasing to its background level. The recurrent variation in the
electron flux (marked by shading in Figure 4) can be interpreted by a changing magnetic connection of the source -
Jupiter - and the observer (see also Chenette et al., 1977).

In January 1993, Ulysses observed a "classical" CIR structure (9 in Figure 3 and 4). Figure 1 (b) shows from top
to bottom the count rate of several hundred keV, ,-~10 MeV protons, ,,~50 keV electrons and ,-~1 GeV GCR protons
as well as magnetic field strength and solar wind speed from 10-Jan-1993 to 9-Feb-1993. The dotted lines mark
the times, when the FS and RS were identified by the plasma and magnetic field group. For accelerated electrons
and protons the times of maximum are correlated with the RS passage. The FS has a much smaller efficiency on
accelerating particles, hardly any peak is seen at the FS for ,-~50 keV electrons. The increase has started already
a few days prior to the FS passage, and the decay upstream the RS lasts about several days. Between the FS and
RS peak the intensity drops down to lower values at the SI. The SI is found between the FS and RS but not mag-
572 B. Heber et al.

WIND/STEP & LEM'I" - SAMPEX / LICA

1216/94 18.'00 - 12t7/94 18:00
' ' ~ ' ~ ..... ~ ........ ~ ,

, o, ............ ; ..... :, i --

O 10 "I
m

o
.D 10 "~

W
v

10-5
n
In

10-7 ! , , ! .... i I I IIIIIJ ' ! !

O.Ol o.1 1 1 o
MoVlnucloon
M m o n el al., Ap.J. [ J # e m , 4216, L149, 1997.

Fig. 5: Energy spectra for different nuclei during a CIR in 1994 (from Mason et al., 1997).

netically connected to the FS nor RS and should therefore not receive accelerated particles (Intriligator and Siscoe,
1994). The measurements in Figure 1 (b) show that the intensities do not drop to background levels, leading to the
conclusion that particles can arrive at the SI by cross field-diffusion (Intriligator and Siscoe, 1995).

Acceleration of particles at CIR shocks has been addressed by many authors. Among them the work by Fisk and
Lee (1980) shows that the spectra at the FS is steeper than at the RS. In addition they can predict the spectral shape
of the measured energy spectra, a power law dependence on the particle speed v. The measured spectral index 7 are
typically between 2 and 3 at the RS and between 3 and 4 at the FS (Keppler et al. 1995, Sanderson et al., 1995). A
representative CIR-energy spectra at 1 AU of different particle species is displayed in Fig. 5 (Mason et al., 1997).
In agreement with the theory the measured spectra shows a roll over at ~1 MeV. As shown by Mason et al. (1997)
it can be approximated by two power laws over a broad energy range. The steepening of the spectra above ,-~1 MeV
is in agreement with the Fisk and Lee (1980) model. However, the continued rise at low energies is not predicted
by them. The authors conclude that these low energy particles acome from a portion of the CIR which is closer to
the observer.

Another prediction from Fisk and Lee (1980) is the radial gradient of shock accelerated particles of several 100%/AU
for the peak fluxes in the inner heliosphere (< 1 AU) and ,,~100%/AU in the intermediate heliosphere (3-5 AU). Such
large gradients were found by Pioneer measurements (Van Hollebeke at al., 1978, Christon and Simpson, 1979).
Keppler (1997) interpreted the variation of Ulysses 0.4-0.8 MeV/n He peak fluxes as a function of radial distance.
They found radial gradients of 90%/AU and 120%/AU when Ulysses was in the southern and northern hemisphere,
respectively. Van Hollebeke at al., 1978, and Gold et al. (1985, 1988) showed that the peak intensities are decreas-
ing with radius at larger distances, leading to a maximum acceleration efficency at ~ 4 AU.

From the relative abundance of different elements observed during CIR events it should be possible to learn where
the particles are coming from. Several measurements are reported from Ulysses, Pioneer, Voyager and 1 AU space-
probe. Compilation of these measurements can be found in Keppler (1998) and Mason and Sanderson (1998). Using
an event averaged data set the H/O, He/O, C/O and N/O are generally larger than those found during solar events.
In particular He is enricfied during CIR events. Of particular interest is the temporal behaviour of the p/He-ratio.
This ratio is typical high, 20 to about 70, at the FS and --~10 at the RS (Simnett et al., 1994, Scholer et al., 1979,
 Corotating Interaction Regions 573

18

~ " "i " " ' HISC'AL~:e:!(46ke~-SE<6.q k~~ ' ' !1

1°I
10 3
1o 2
10

IO
1_ 1
-2

-L 10 3

:!)
10-
0 . 3 4

0.32

0.3

0.28

: - ~V p 0.26
-25

9OO

800

700

600 I :,,,
230.0 250.0 270.0 290.0
Day of year 1993

Fig. 6: Same parameter as in Figure 1 (b). Ulysses is at at 4.3 AU and ,-,40 ° S but only the RS is observed.

Sanderson et al., 1995). The high p/He-ratio at the FS indicates that these particles stem out of the ambient solar
wind. However, as pointed out by Quenby et al. (1996) the shock-acceleration time is much larger than the time
needed for the solar wind to travel 5 AU. Therefore it was assumed that a "seed population" of supra-thermal par-
ticles exist, for more details see Keppler (1998). The low p/He-ratio at the RS was interpreted by Simnett et al.
(1995) that single charged pick up ions from interstellar He acts as source population. The shock would accelerate
these particles much more efficient due to their special velocity distribution. Note, that shock acceleration theories
have difficulties to explain the acceleration electrons with energies of several ten keV, as observed by the HISCALE
and EPAC instrument on-board Ulysses.

The third panel of Figure 3 shows the flux of 250-2200 MeV protons and the long term detrended variation in
that channel. These particles are of galactic origin and modulated by changing solar activity. In this time period
the fluxes of GCRs are gradually recovering from the solar maximum level. Because of the spatial movement of
Ulysses the measured flux is a mixture of spatial and temporal variation in the inner heliosphere. The decrease
in the flux from the end of 1994 to beginning 1995 can unambiguously be attributed to the latitudinal variation
(Heber et al., 1996). Recent reviews of solar modulation of GCRs are given in Fisk et al. (1998). The long term
detrended data show regular variations on a time scale of one solar rotation (26-days). The third panel of Figure 1
(b) shows the close ant-correlation of the GCR flux and the increase in the solar wind speed, magnetic field strength
and accelerated particle flux. The minimum in the GCR flux is close to the RS, where the accelerated protons and
electrons do have their maximum intensity and the onset of the recurrent decreases coincides with the onset of the
50 keV electron increase. As discussed by Zhang (1997) the recurrent decreases can be understood in terms of a
"simple" modulation model taking into account diffusion, convection and adiabatic energy changes.

NEW CIR-FINDINGS FROM ULYSSES IN THE 3D HELIOSPHERE

Ulysses was immersed in the high speed solar wind flow from the southern coronal hole from April 1993 t o J a n u a r y
1995. The last FS was observed mid 1993 at a latitude of ,,,35 °. As pointed out by Gosling et al. (1993) the FS
is deflected toward the heliographic equator and the RS towards higher latitudes. Therefore the RS is observed up
to latitudes of ,-,42°. Figure 6 displays ,-,50 keV electrons and ,-,2 MeV protons, 250-2200 MeV protons and the
measured solar wind speed for three solar rotation from day of year 230 to 300 of 1993. Marked by shading are
times when particles from a CIR were observed. The vertical lines mark a 26-day time period. The number 18
indicates the RS of a CIR. Whereas the proton flux reached its maximum flux level close to the RS the electrons are
delayed by several days (Simnett et al., 1998 and Keppler et al., 1996). The spectral index and the p/He ratio are
not shown here. But they are consistent with the values measured at the RS in the streamer belt (Sanderson et al.,
574 B. Heber et aL

2.5 i.: .,. , ,,. . : : ! .., . .-i ., ., i i i 0.51 i

il, J ....... ~s

iii
2.0 // /:/ // // O.Ol

1.5 -o.sF

1,0 i -1 .o+

0.5 ~ : ~~ 1511 : ~i i i lo :.S -1 .Sl

5"
o.o ~ -2.Or
>.
-0.5 -2.sP

-1.0 -3.oi

-1.5 -3.5t

-2.o (a) 4.11t

(b)
-2.5 I I I I I I I I -4o51 I I I I I
-4.5 -4.0 -3.5 -3.0 -2.5 -2,0 -1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 -4.5 -4.0 -3.5 -3.0 -2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5
X rAU] X [AU]

Fig. 7: Projection of the Ulysses trajectory and the Parker Spiral. He anisotropies in direction to the Sun (Fr~inz et
al., 1997).

1995, Keppler et al., 1996). However, as pointed out by Sanderson et al. (1994, 1995) and Simnett et al. (t998) the
time profile of these events differ from the events in the streamer belt, the electron profile especially show smooth
inceases and decreases. Note that the time profile of the recurrent decreases has also a more symmetric profile
around the minimum at the RS. The EPAC instrument is able to determine the three dimensional flow direction
for 0.5-1 MeV He when Ulysses was between 39 ° and 72 ° S. Convection corrected anisotropies are displayed in
Figure 7 projected to the heliographic equatorial plane (left) and a plane perpendicular (right). The normal magnetic
connection along the Parker-spiral is shown for each event. For three of ten events the RS was swept across Ulysses.
In all cases the flow direction is towards the Sun. The first order anisotropy is of the order of 8-35% and the second
order anisotropy of 25%. Such values were reported from CIR events observed in the ecliptic (Van Hollebeck et al.,
1978). Franz et aL (1997) interpreted these anisotropies as indication that cross field diffusion cannot be a major
effect. However, as pointed out by Keppler (1998) there are cases when the flow direction is normal to the magnetic
field. Dwyer et al. (1997) using Wind data found large perpendicular diffusion coefficients (of the same order than
the parallel diffusion coefficient) for three CIRs in 1995. Thus the question of the magnitude of the perpendicular
diffusion is still open. The importance for the interpretation of the Ulysses data set will be discussed below.

At intermediate latitudes (<45 ° S) the plasma instruments on board Ulysses still observed clear signatures from
CIRs. In contrast at highest latitudes no obvious CIR correlated variation were observed (Simnett et al., 1998). Fig-
ure 8 displays in the upper panel the count-rates of ,-~50 keV electrons and ,--2 MeV protons and in the lower panel
the variation of 250-2200 GeV GCR protons. A big surprise was that recurrent events and decreases are observed
up to ~75 ° S in the inner heliosphere. As at intermediate latitudes the electron peak is delayed by several days
from the proton peak, which is anti-correlated to the recurrent decreases. In contrast to the low energy protons, the
variations in the GCRs and in the electron recurrent events are observed up to highest latitudes.

Obviously, energetic particle instruments on.Ulysses sense the CIRs originating at intermediate latitudes remotely.
A similar phenomena was observed, when Helios encountered recurrent events. To explain the Helios data also
remote sensing of the CIR shocks was introduced by Kunow et al. (1991). Using Parker's magnetic field model,
one can find field lines connecting to the RS at greater radial distance. In case of Ulysses, no field line in Parker's
model is connecting to lower latitiades at any radial distance. Magnetic connections at larger radial distances are
possible in a modified Parker model (Fisk, 1996). As pointed out by Jokipii and Kota (1995) particle transport
perpendicular to the mean magnetic field could also explain the observations. As shown in Figure 9, the Jokipii and
Kota model could qualitatively account for the observed recurrent decreases, and events, including the time delay
 Corotating Interaction Regions 575

HISCALE: e: (40 keV < E < 65 keV)

:' ' ' ' i i ' ' ' ' " ' ' ! ' ' ' " I ' '!' '

10 2
o~

10
O

:. . . .
:' ' ' ':
.i , , ~ , i , : . . . . . .
I ' ' ~ ' I ' ~' ' ' ' ' '
:, I , ,.,
:' I ' ': '
,
'
0.4
' AC/C
5 0.375

0.35
r..) -5
0.325
-15
. ~ 0.3
-25
100.( 130.0 160.0 190.0 220.0 250.0 280.0
Day of year 1994

Fig. 8:,-~50 keV electrons (upper curve in the upper panel), ,-~2 MeV protons and 250-2200 MeV protons. Ulysses
was at ,-~2.5 AU and ~ 7 5 ° S during this time period.

of electrons and protons at high latitudes (not shown here). For details on the model see Kota and Jokipii (1998).
Model calculations taking into account Fisk's modifications are not available at present. However, as discussed in
Simnett et al. (1998) Fisk's modification could also explain the observations. Further observational constraints are
necessary to decide between both theories.

GLOBAL SPATIAL MODULATION AND CIRS

Recurrent decreases are caused by solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field structures that recur with the period
of a solar rotation. As pointed out by Simpson et al. (1995) anomalous cosmic rays are modulated like galactic
cosmic rays. A recent review on ACR can be found in Klecker et al. (1998). In context of this paper we will
refer to these alse as recurrent decreases. Zhang (1997) analysed the amplitude of several energy channels of the
High Energy Telescope on board Ulysses and found a linear relationship between the latitudinal gradient, which de-
scribes the global spatial modulation and the amplitude of the recurrent decreases (see Figure 10). Heber (1997) and
Kunow e t al. (1998) analysed the amplitude of recurrent decreases observed in different proton channels > 3 0 MeV
as function of Ulysses heliographic latitude. Reuss et al. (1996) determined the amplitude of the recurrent decreases
in anomalous cosmic my oxygen, Mason and Sanderson (1998) and Simnett et al. (1998) determined the peak in-
tensifies of -,~2 MeV protons and ,~50 keV electrons. The amplitude of the 3.5-6.8 MeV/n Oxygen (ACR) is ,,~20
times larger than the amplitude of the recurrent decreases of 250-2200 MeV protons, although the rigidity of both
channels is approximately the same. Whereas the recurrent decreases do show a maximum at intermediate latitudes,
the peak intensities are monotonously decreasing. In the beginning of 1994 a reorganisation of the solar corona
was observed leading to the local minimum. In addition in Figure 10 the tilt angle a of the heliospheric current
sheet is displayed. From this it is evident that the variation of the tilt plays a minor role in determining the recurrent
decreases (see also Richardson et al. 1997). The current data set indicates that a single CIR seems not to influence
the time profile over more than one solar rotation. However it is not c~ar if multiple CIRs or CIRs interacting with
CMEs do change the time profile on longer time scales (Burlaga and Klein, 1986).

SUMMARY

In this paper we presented CIR observations, made over the last 20 years focussing on the new findings of the joint
576 B. Heber et al.

(o)
9O0 , . -__

"6"8OO -50 ° -50 ° -80 ° 0° +60o__=---

700
E
600

0 5O0
o

> 400
300 i i , i i

1993.0 199,3.5 1994.0 1994.5 1995.0 1995.5

Time (YR)

(b)
~6
O
? 5
O
,7,4
"o
33
i,

.L2 2
E
o, 1
o
0
1993.0 1993.5 1994.0 1994.5 1995.0 1995.5
Time (YR)

(c)
0.55
0.50

0.45

0.40

0.35

09
0.50
0.25
1993.0 199.3.5 1994.0 1994.5 1995.0 1995.5
Time (YR)

Fig. 9: Simulated solar wind speed, magnetic field strength and 1 GeV proton variation for larger and smaller
perpendicular diffusion.
 CorotatingInteractionRegions 577

' ' ' ' i . . . . I . . . . i , ' , ' i . . . . i , , ' '

10 5
- m 1-3 MeV protons (COSP1N/LET)
; --A- 40-65 keV electrons (HISCALE) 10 4

10 3 "~

o
,, &IA"A"& :," "A'dk,ik 10 2 -f~
] f,A.m.at i ' '

10 ~
O

-1 ~

o 3.5-6.8 MeV/n Oxygen / 20 (EPAC) 10

--~ 250-2200 MeV protons (COSPIN/KET)
, , , , , , , L , , , I i i i i I i i i i I i i i i

Yea 92.5 93 93.5 94 94.5

r [AU] 5 4'.5 4 3'.5 3 2'.5
0 I°l do d5 -30 35 30 -50 -~ -')0 -~0-')6
30 ' ' ' i ' ' ' I ' ' T I ' ' ' I ' ' I '

Amplitude at Ulysses for ]l

25
v

OO
20 -rim
Latitude:

Protons i
J
Helium i i
zx* C&O
, , ;,
"~ 15

"~ 10
I

e.D
C~

N 0

-5
~ ~ O~a Gradient in South
Sep 1994 - Mar 1995
O m• Gradient in North
Mar - Aug 1995
-10 t I I I I I I I I I L [ , J , I , , t I l I

-0.2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Latitude Gradient (%/degree)

Fig. 10: Upper panel: "RS"-Peak flux intensity of several keV electrons and protons and Amplitude of the recurrent
decreases with heliographic latitude (adapted from Kunow et al., 1998). Values for the 3.5-6.8 MeV/n Oxygen are
from Reuss et al. (1996). Note later amplitude is divided by 20. Lower panel: Linear relationship between the
latitude gradient and the amplitude of recurrent decreases.
578 B. Heberet al.
ESA/NASA Ulysses mission. The instrumentation is ideally suited to investigate the solar wind and its frozen in
magnetic field as well as the supra-thermal particle component up to energies of >2 GeV/n. From mid 1992 to the
beginning of 1995, Ulysses was located in the southern hemisphere. Long lasting CIRs were observed during this
time period. From the solar wind observations three different CIR regions can be identified (see also Sanderson et
al., 1994). The properties of these regions can be summarised as follows:
Solar Streamer Belt Region: FS, RS and SI are observed; The Intensity of accelerated nuclei peaks at FS and RS,
minimum at SI. The Spectra are harder at the RS with turnover at ,-d MeV. Typical p/a-ratio at the FS of 50, and
at the RS of 10-20 were found. The electron flux with energies of a few ten keV peaks close to the RS in anti-
corelation with a minimum in GCRs. The propagation of Jovian electrons to the spacecraft was modulated by these
CIRs. In the 1970's the Pioneer observations showed that the intensity of recurrent particle events is increasing with
increasing radial distance up to ~4 AU and then again decreasing.
Transition Region: Only the RS is observed; The peak of accelerated protons and the minimum in the GCR-flux is
still close to RS. The maximum in the electron flux is delayed by several days with respect to protons. For most of
the events, particles stream along the field line in direction to the Sun. But in some cases even strong perpendicular
diffusion was observed.
Polar Regions: No in situ plasma signatures for CIRs; Accelerated electrons as well as nuclei are observed up to
a southern latitude of ,,~70° S. But CIR structures are only observed in the electron and GCR time profiles up to
highest latitudes. The time delay between the electron and proton maximum persist. The shape of all 'time profiles'
is smoother than in the two other regions.
Two competing models are qualitatively able to explain the observations. One by Fisk and co-workers introduces
systematic modification of the heliospheric magnetic field whereas the one by Jokipii and co-workers is based on
stochastic processes leading to enhanced perpendicular transport of charged particles. Obviously, further observa-
tional constraints are necessary to judge the validity of each model. An important challenge for the models is the
linear relationship of the recurrent decreases and the latitudinal gradient, connecting global spatial modulation and
the recurrent decreases.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

BH has greatly benefitted from many helpful discussions with participants of the three CIR workshops at Elmau
castle (Germany) and at the International Space Science Institut in Bern. He is indebted to Dr. E. Keppler for sub-
stantial suggestions. The EUV-image in Figure 1 was provided by the SOHO EIT Consortium; SOHO is a joint
ESA-NASA program.

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