- Research Article
- 10.1029/2025sw004401
Optimization of the FRi3D CME Model in EUHFORIA
- Sep 01, 2025
- Space Weather
- M Flossie + 5 more +5
Abstract To study the evolution and propagation of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), the advanced magnetized flux rope CME model, Flux Rope in 3D (FRi3D), has been integrated into the European Heliospheric Forecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA). Recent updates have been addressing the computational efficiency and numerical stability issues of this CME model. In this work, the latest improvements to the FRi3D model are represented, including optimizations of the integral calculations in the ai.fri3d Python package, an updated CME leg disconnection method, and the introduction of a new datacube injection methodology for time‐efficient FRi3D simulations. Within the datacube injection method, the input values of FRi3D at the inner boundary of EUHFORIA are precomputed, eliminating the need to calculate the FRi3D CME model during the solar wind simulation with superimposed CMEs. The datacube injection method is tested by modeling the CME event of 12 July 2012, and by conducting ensemble runs for this event. The updates to the FRi3D Python package reduced the computation time to , and the datacube methodology achieved a computational time reduction of up to compared to previous FRi3D versions. Numerical stability was significantly improved, and ensemble simulations demonstrated robust ensemble spreads for the thermodynamic and magnetic time profiles on Earth. These updates enhance the efficiency, stability, and accuracy of the FRi3D model, making it highly suitable for predicting both the CME arrival time, magnetic field strength, and velocity. As a result, the advancements contribute significantly to the future operational space weather forecasting capabilities of the FRi3D CME model.
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