Computer generated models have become available in recent years and have been extremely useful in determining timing and general strength characteristics of CMEs that may affect the Earth's magnetosphere.

By inputting the initial trajectory and speed of CMEs taken from coronal imagery, the WSA-Enlil model calculates the estimated arrival time, strength (speed and density), and duration of the CME at Earth. The model output is pictured below.

This sample model run predicts the arrival of a CME at the beginning of the day on 12 November 2011.

The display from the WSA-Enlil model shows

Density (Top) -->

 

 

Velocity (Bottom) -->

 

It also gives predictions for conditions at the STEREO Ahead and Behind spacecraft, which are also orbiting the Sun.

The circlular images in the far left are a top down view of the Sun (YELLOW circle) and the Earth ( GREEN circle to the right). STEREO Ahead and Behind spacecraft are displayed as RED and BLUE circles respectively.

The wedge shaped images in the center are a side view showing a vertical slice of the space between the Sun (YELLOW circle) and the Earth ( GREEN circle).