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arXiv · 2510.21076

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

Xinyi Ma·Liping Yang·Xueshang Feng·Hui Tian·Honghong Wu·Fang Shen·Wangning Zhang·Mengxuan Ma·Xiao Zhang·Ziwei Wang
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Abstract

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.

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Xinyi Ma, Liping Yang, Xueshang Feng, Hui Tian, Honghong Wu, Fang Shen, Wangning Zhang, Mengxuan Ma, Xiao Zhang, Ziwei Wang. 2025-10-24. Backmapping of the High- and Low-latitude Solar Wind under Multiple Heliospheric and Coronal Magnetic Field Configurations. https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21076

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