CME TOOL

Coronal Mass Ejection detection and analysis tool. Real-time detection and characterization of CMEs using a detection and tracking algorithm.

For each CME, the kinematic parameters and the mass are estimated by using LASCO C2 and C3 white-light images, by employing the circular cone model (Zhao et al. 2002, Xie et al. 2004) to infer the 3D structure of the CME and its true de-projected parameters. In the hypothesis of self-similar expansion, the cone model assumes that propagation direction (ecliptic longitude and latitude), angular half-width, and true height of the CME can be derived from an elliptical fit of the CME cross-section identified in the coronagraphic images. An estimate of the CME take-off speed can be obtained in turn from a linear fit of the de-projected heights vs time.