Fourier and Wavelet Analysis of Coronal Mass Ejections during Solar Cycles 23–25: Angular Widths and Latitudinal Distribution

Abstract

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), the large-scale eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the solar corona, play a critical role in space weather and solar–terrestrial interactions. Understanding the periodicities of CMEs is essential for predicting their occurrences and impacts, but their quasiperiodic variations in different cycles, at different latitudes, and for different angular widths, are still unclear. In the present work, we classify CMEs based on their angular widths and latitudinal distribution, using data from the version 2.0 of the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop catalog (1996 January–2024 March). Employing Fourier and wavelet transforms, we systematically analyze the quasiperiodic variations in the occurrence rates of CMEs. The main results show the following: (1) A lesser number of periodicities is found in high-latitude CMEs while the low-latitude CMEs show a greater number of periodicities; (2) for the periodic variations, significant differences exist between different types of CMEs across latitudes. Narrow and normal CMEs exhibit similar periodicities, whereas halo CMEs show a different periodic pattern. (3) Additional periodicities were identified for all CMEs, which occur exclusively at low latitudes or during specific cycles, potentially as a result of the noticeable heliospheric dynamic pressure after the maximum time of cycle 23. (4) The identified dominant periodicities may be associated with magneto-Rossby waves at the tachocline. This mechanism can effectively explain the periodic behavior of the observed CMEs. Our analysis results might be useful for better understanding the long-term variations of CMEs during different cycles and at different latitudes, and could also have implications for the geoeffectiveness predictions of CMEs.