Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
155
transformed into the charged particles and fields that permeate the magnetosphere, and solar-driven waves
propagating upward from the lower atmosphere (see Figure 8.1).
Responses to these drivers are determined by interacting dynamical, chemical, and electrodynamic
processes that occur over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, and moreover are strongly influenced
by the presence of a strong magnetic field. Often these processes involve nonlinearity and feedback, and it
is thus evident that this complex system can often exhibit emergent behavior. 2 In fact, scientific investigations of this geospace region resolve and interpret the system’s response to variable forcing, and ultimately
unravel the complex chains of events leading to the observed, emergent behavior. (Several examples of
emergent behavior are provided in this chapter.) Given this complexity, one can appreciate the difficulties
of predicting the variability of neutral and plasma densities to the accuracies required to support orbital,
reentry, communications, and navigation systems in operational settings. Thus, as this chapter unfolds, it
will become evident that the study of atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions presents challenging scientific problems that are fundamental to understanding planetary atmospheres and exospheres
and that underlie the ability to predict environmental conditions that serve operational needs. In addition,
the processes studied in this context can often be translated to other planetary bodies, and in this way
geospace serves as a local laboratory to reveal and study universal physical processes (M3).
The following section of this chapter summarizes the main scientific achievements of the past decade,
reflecting back on the recommendations of the previous decadal survey. This lays the foundation for the
subsequent section, which sets forth the science agenda for 2013-2022. The section after that addresses
the various assets, resources, and strategies needed to advance AIM science most productively and presents
a prioritized program for doing so.
8.3 SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS DECADE
Understanding of atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere (AIM) interactions has advanced through a
number of vigorous programs, ranging from national, international, and multiagency programs to smallerscale programs. Examples of programs that have helped shape the research landscape over the past decade
are NASA’s Living with a Star (LWS) and Heliophysics Geospace Science programs, the NASA TIMED SolarTerrestrial Probe, the NASA IMAGE Mid-size Explorer (MIDEX) mission, the NASA FAST Small Explorer
(SMEX) mission, the NASA THEMIS MIDEX mission, the NASA AIM SMEX mission, and the U.S. Air Force
(USAF) C/NOFS mission; the NASA Sounding Rocket Program; the National Space Weather Program; the
NSF-sponsored SHINE, GEM, CEDAR, and small-satellite programs and their international counterparts;
the NSF major research initiative (MRI) and science and technology centers (STCs); numerous DOD activities; international satellite programs, such as CHAMP, GRACE, and COSMIC; and international science
programs, such as CAWSES. These various programs have supported satellite and ground-based instruments and the related data analysis, theory, and modeling efforts. Research models and data assimilation
schemes have advanced operational space weather prediction and created new models of the Sun-Earth
system using a systemic and holistic perspective: Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling (CISM),
Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC), NCAR Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model
(WACCM) development, and solar wind/magnetosphere models coupled with ionosphere/thermosphere
global circulation models. Through these targeted programs and the critically important base programs
funded by NSF, NASA, NOAA, and DOD, important scientific progress has been made, helping us to clarify
needs and identify priorities that form the basis of this panel report.
2 Emergent behavior results from the interaction of a large number of system components that could not have been anticipated on
the basis of the properties of components acting individually.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
155
transformed into the charged particles and fields that permeate the magnetosphere, and solar-driven waves
propagating upward from the lower atmosphere (see Figure 8.1).
Responses to these drivers are determined by interacting dynamical, chemical, and electrodynamic
processes that occur over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, and moreover are strongly influenced
by the presence of a strong magnetic field. Often these processes involve nonlinearity and feedback, and it
is thus evident that this complex system can often exhibit emergent behavior. 2 In fact, scientific investigations of this geospace region resolve and interpret the system’s response to variable forcing, and ultimately
unravel the complex chains of events leading to the observed, emergent behavior. (Several examples of
emergent behavior are provided in this chapter.) Given this complexity, one can appreciate the difficulties
of predicting the variability of neutral and plasma densities to the accuracies required to support orbital,
reentry, communications, and navigation systems in operational settings. Thus, as this chapter unfolds, it
will become evident that the study of atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions presents challenging scientific problems that are fundamental to understanding planetary atmospheres and exospheres
and that underlie the ability to predict environmental conditions that serve operational needs. In addition,
the processes studied in this context can often be translated to other planetary bodies, and in this way
geospace serves as a local laboratory to reveal and study universal physical processes (M3).
The following section of this chapter summarizes the main scientific achievements of the past decade,
reflecting back on the recommendations of the previous decadal survey. This lays the foundation for the
subsequent section, which sets forth the science agenda for 2013-2022. The section after that addresses
the various assets, resources, and strategies needed to advance AIM science most productively and presents
a prioritized program for doing so.
8.3 SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS DECADE
Understanding of atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere (AIM) interactions has advanced through a
number of vigorous programs, ranging from national, international, and multiagency programs to smallerscale programs. Examples of programs that have helped shape the research landscape over the past decade
are NASA’s Living with a Star (LWS) and Heliophysics Geospace Science programs, the NASA TIMED SolarTerrestrial Probe, the NASA IMAGE Mid-size Explorer (MIDEX) mission, the NASA FAST Small Explorer
(SMEX) mission, the NASA THEMIS MIDEX mission, the NASA AIM SMEX mission, and the U.S. Air Force
(USAF) C/NOFS mission; the NASA Sounding Rocket Program; the National Space Weather Program; the
NSF-sponsored SHINE, GEM, CEDAR, and small-satellite programs and their international counterparts;
the NSF major research initiative (MRI) and science and technology centers (STCs); numerous DOD activities; international satellite programs, such as CHAMP, GRACE, and COSMIC; and international science
programs, such as CAWSES. These various programs have supported satellite and ground-based instruments and the related data analysis, theory, and modeling efforts. Research models and data assimilation
schemes have advanced operational space weather prediction and created new models of the Sun-Earth
system using a systemic and holistic perspective: Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling (CISM),
Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC), NCAR Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model
(WACCM) development, and solar wind/magnetosphere models coupled with ionosphere/thermosphere
global circulation models. Through these targeted programs and the critically important base programs
funded by NSF, NASA, NOAA, and DOD, important scientific progress has been made, helping us to clarify
needs and identify priorities that form the basis of this panel report.
2 Emergent behavior results from the interaction of a large number of system components that could not have been anticipated on
the basis of the properties of components acting individually.