A statistical study of the interdependence of solar wind parameters

Abstract

Correlation analysis of solar wind parameters, namely solar wind velocity, proton density, proton temperature and mean interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) from the ACE spacecraft data near Earth, was done. To our best knowledge, this study is a novel one since we consider here only the parameters inside the solar wind, including the mean IMF and, hence, the solar wind is a self consistent system. We have proposed a Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model for the prediction of the response variable (solar wind velocity) using the parameters proton density, proton temperature and mean IMF measured as daily averages. About 60% of the observed value can be predicted using this model. It is shown that, in general, the correlation between solar wind parameters is significant. A deviation from the prediction at the solar maximum is interpreted. These results are verified by a graphical method. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.