ACE in situ measurements at L1. (a) The number density (in cm⁻³) on a logarithmic scale; (b) the plasma speed (in red) and a straight line (indigo) that has been added to illustrate the very long, almost linear plasma-speed decrease between 2002 May 23 at 22:54 UTC and 2002 May 25 at 10:35 UTC; (c) the plasma temperature on a logarithmic scale; (d) the plasma beta on a logarithmic scale; (e) the magnetic field strength; (f), (g), and (h) the components of the magnetic field in GSE. The background colours illustrate the different structures in the solar wind: the sheath of the second ICME is in light red (on 2002 May 23 between 15:10 UTC and 21:30 UTC); the magnetic ejecta of the second ICME is in light green (between the 2002 May 23 at 21:30 UTC and the 2002 May 25 at 18:00 UTC). The end of the second flux rope is represented by a vertical black line. The flux rope back itself is separated into two regions by a vertical blue line.