SHINE: Statistical Birth Conditions of Coronal Hole Jets Using the Legacy Dunn Solar Telescope

This project will use measurements of the Sun obtained with the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) in New Mexico and many other telescopes to study the origin and evolution of jets emanating from coronal holes. These jets are large regions of less dense and cooler material some of which may produce high speed solar wind streams that hit the Earth as geomagnetic storms.

The investigators will focus on jets that are observed on the edges of coronal holes and testing whether they are related to chromospheric spicule-type jets that often emerge from the same location. This project also provides support for two senior graduate students and four undergraduate students primarily from minority backgrounds, who will analyze the data to identify and track jet-like features. The team will also provide public outreach to the Sunspot Visitor Center.

To accomplish this research, the investigators will use 45 datasets already obtained using imaging and spectral information from the DST, Interferometric BIdimensional Spectrometer (IBIS), Facility InfraRed Spectropolarimeter (FIRS), Spectro-Polarimeter for INfrared and Optical Regions (SPINOR), Solar Dynamic Observatory Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO AIA), Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instrument and Interface region imaging spectrograph (IRIS). They will trace the coronal hole jets and their properties across different atmospheric regions.

Students will receive training in telescope operation, communicating science, writing, and computer programming.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.