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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
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Further priorities concerning theory and modeling are provided in Section 8.5.4, “Theory and Modeling.”
8.1.5 Enabling Capabilities
The missions and initiatives described above require additional capabilities and infrastructure that
enable cheaper and more frequent measurements of the AIM system, that transform measurements into
scientific results, that maintain the health of the scientific community, and that serve the needs of 21stcentury society. These enabling capabilities (i.e., working group priorities) fall into the following categories:
• Innovations: technology, instruments, and data systems;
• Theory, modeling, and data exploitation;
• Research to operations, and operations to research; and
• Education and workforce.
The panel’s priorities in these areas are detailed in Section 8.5.5, “Enabling Capabilities.”
8.2 MOTIVATIONS FOR STUDY OF ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun is the source of energy for photosynthesis and life. However,
the Sun’s other energetic outputs produce conditions and events that can be disruptive and even catastrophic to society. Hurricanes and tornadoes are examples of extreme and dangerous terrestrial weather
events that occur on the surface of Earth. But our planet is also embedded in the streaming plasma and
magnetic field of the Sun’s outer corona (Figure 8.1), which can lead to hazardous weather in space with
similarly catastrophic consequences. Although Earth’s magnetic field serves as a protective cocoon that is
difficult for the Sun’s plasma and magnetic field to penetrate, transmission of a few percent of this energy
into near-Earth space can produce large effects.
Reconnection between the magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth causes electric fields, currents, and
energetic particles to be created. The source of magnificent auroral displays, energetic particles, can penetrate satellite electronics and solar cells and disrupt or sometimes even terminate their operation. Electric
currents flowing through the auroral ionosphere heat the atmosphere and produce global changes in upperatmosphere density that make it difficult to predict the future locations of satellites and potential collisions
between them. Electrical connections between the near-Earth space environment and the ionosphere can
also disrupt the operation of communications and navigation systems, and cell phones, and even induce
dangerous levels of currents in the U.S. power distribution system. Energetic particle precipitation into
the upper atmosphere can also initiate a chain of events that lead to massive depletions of stratospheric
ozone in the polar regions. These are only a few of the consequences that emerge from a complex web
of interactions occurring within this active region called geospace and that motivate us to understand our
home in the solar system (M1) and to predict the changing space environment and its societal impact (M2). 1
The focus of the AIMI panel and the subject of this chapter is the region of geospace where atmosphereionosphere-magnetosphere interactions occur. That region extends from roughly the top of the stratosphere
(at about 50 km) to several thousand kilometers, where the presence of the neutral atmosphere ceases
to exert any significant control over the system. As will be discussed in more detail in this chapter, this
1 The motivations referred to in this section are those outlined in the introduction to Part II of this report: M1. Understand our
home in the solar system; M2. Predict the changing space environment and its societal impact; M3. Explore space to reveal universal
physical processes.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
153
Further priorities concerning theory and modeling are provided in Section 8.5.4, “Theory and Modeling.”
8.1.5 Enabling Capabilities
The missions and initiatives described above require additional capabilities and infrastructure that
enable cheaper and more frequent measurements of the AIM system, that transform measurements into
scientific results, that maintain the health of the scientific community, and that serve the needs of 21stcentury society. These enabling capabilities (i.e., working group priorities) fall into the following categories:
• Innovations: technology, instruments, and data systems;
• Theory, modeling, and data exploitation;
• Research to operations, and operations to research; and
• Education and workforce.
The panel’s priorities in these areas are detailed in Section 8.5.5, “Enabling Capabilities.”
8.2 MOTIVATIONS FOR STUDY OF ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun is the source of energy for photosynthesis and life. However,
the Sun’s other energetic outputs produce conditions and events that can be disruptive and even catastrophic to society. Hurricanes and tornadoes are examples of extreme and dangerous terrestrial weather
events that occur on the surface of Earth. But our planet is also embedded in the streaming plasma and
magnetic field of the Sun’s outer corona (Figure 8.1), which can lead to hazardous weather in space with
similarly catastrophic consequences. Although Earth’s magnetic field serves as a protective cocoon that is
difficult for the Sun’s plasma and magnetic field to penetrate, transmission of a few percent of this energy
into near-Earth space can produce large effects.
Reconnection between the magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth causes electric fields, currents, and
energetic particles to be created. The source of magnificent auroral displays, energetic particles, can penetrate satellite electronics and solar cells and disrupt or sometimes even terminate their operation. Electric
currents flowing through the auroral ionosphere heat the atmosphere and produce global changes in upperatmosphere density that make it difficult to predict the future locations of satellites and potential collisions
between them. Electrical connections between the near-Earth space environment and the ionosphere can
also disrupt the operation of communications and navigation systems, and cell phones, and even induce
dangerous levels of currents in the U.S. power distribution system. Energetic particle precipitation into
the upper atmosphere can also initiate a chain of events that lead to massive depletions of stratospheric
ozone in the polar regions. These are only a few of the consequences that emerge from a complex web
of interactions occurring within this active region called geospace and that motivate us to understand our
home in the solar system (M1) and to predict the changing space environment and its societal impact (M2). 1
The focus of the AIMI panel and the subject of this chapter is the region of geospace where atmosphereionosphere-magnetosphere interactions occur. That region extends from roughly the top of the stratosphere
(at about 50 km) to several thousand kilometers, where the presence of the neutral atmosphere ceases
to exert any significant control over the system. As will be discussed in more detail in this chapter, this
1 The motivations referred to in this section are those outlined in the introduction to Part II of this report: M1. Understand our
home in the solar system; M2. Predict the changing space environment and its societal impact; M3. Explore space to reveal universal
physical processes.