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
203
and data exploitation; research to operations and operations to research; and education and workforce, and
are detailed below.
8.5.5.1 Innovations: Technology, Instruments, and Data Systems
Key Instrument Development
Principal among the challenges presented to AIM science is a description of the neutral wind over
the altitude range from 90 km to 300 km where a transition from a collision-dominated to a magnetized
atmosphere occurs. Neutral-wind instrument development for space is a high priority for AIM science.
The panel notes that reductions in mass, power, and volume of AIM space sensors would increase the
effectiveness of small-satellite missions. Similarly, early action in instrument and technology development
reduces the risk of unanticipated cost growth. Performed alongside a revitalized Explorer program, a new
heliophysics instrument and technology development program would thus be highly complementary and
support rapid scientific advancement.
AIMI Priority: An expanded instrument development program to enable new observational advances
that can reduce cost risk and threats when implemented as part of satellite missions.
Data Access
The AIM community uses a wide variety of heterogeneous data sets that sample regions throughout the
geospace system and are collected by space- and ground-based instruments, some of them in networks or
arrays. The synthesis of data sets within arrays, with other data sets, and with global and regional models to
explore frontier science issues is a major challenge for the future. The Solar and Space Physics Information
System (SSPIS) was created to enable access to, and digital searching of, the many distributed data resources
managed or utilized by NASA. It currently consists of a set of VxOs providing access to distributed data
sets with space data model descriptors. New search-and-analysis technologies that make use of these core
capabilities are now possible with a potential for significantly enhancing AIM research. In the near future
SSPIS will face major challenges in providing data services for manipulation, visualization, and storage of
terabyte data sets and model outputs. The development and the implementation of new capabilities are
extremely slow given the minimal funding levels of the program (only 1 percent of the NASA heliophysics
budget). VxOs have developed to the point that software tools can now be built by end users to support
scientific studies that could not conceivably have been performed before. For geospace regions that are
populated by heterogeneous sensors, this is an important capability for revealing the processes that drive
the development of structure and change in the AIM system.
AIMI Priority: Create enhanced VxOs and interactive data access for system-level understanding.
8.5.5.2 Theory, Modeling, and Data Exploitation
Programmatic Support
High-priority AIMI science described throughout this chapter focuses on multiscale coupling, emergence, nonlinear dynamics, and system-level behaviors. This focus sets new requirements for research programs, computational technologies, and data analysis needs. Discovery science in all these areas requires
a means of understanding global connections, sometimes across vast distances or very disparate spatial
or temporal scales, while at the same time developing a deep understanding of the individual regions and
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
REPORT OF THE PANEL ON ATMOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE-MAGNETOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
203
and data exploitation; research to operations and operations to research; and education and workforce, and
are detailed below.
8.5.5.1 Innovations: Technology, Instruments, and Data Systems
Key Instrument Development
Principal among the challenges presented to AIM science is a description of the neutral wind over
the altitude range from 90 km to 300 km where a transition from a collision-dominated to a magnetized
atmosphere occurs. Neutral-wind instrument development for space is a high priority for AIM science.
The panel notes that reductions in mass, power, and volume of AIM space sensors would increase the
effectiveness of small-satellite missions. Similarly, early action in instrument and technology development
reduces the risk of unanticipated cost growth. Performed alongside a revitalized Explorer program, a new
heliophysics instrument and technology development program would thus be highly complementary and
support rapid scientific advancement.
AIMI Priority: An expanded instrument development program to enable new observational advances
that can reduce cost risk and threats when implemented as part of satellite missions.
Data Access
The AIM community uses a wide variety of heterogeneous data sets that sample regions throughout the
geospace system and are collected by space- and ground-based instruments, some of them in networks or
arrays. The synthesis of data sets within arrays, with other data sets, and with global and regional models to
explore frontier science issues is a major challenge for the future. The Solar and Space Physics Information
System (SSPIS) was created to enable access to, and digital searching of, the many distributed data resources
managed or utilized by NASA. It currently consists of a set of VxOs providing access to distributed data
sets with space data model descriptors. New search-and-analysis technologies that make use of these core
capabilities are now possible with a potential for significantly enhancing AIM research. In the near future
SSPIS will face major challenges in providing data services for manipulation, visualization, and storage of
terabyte data sets and model outputs. The development and the implementation of new capabilities are
extremely slow given the minimal funding levels of the program (only 1 percent of the NASA heliophysics
budget). VxOs have developed to the point that software tools can now be built by end users to support
scientific studies that could not conceivably have been performed before. For geospace regions that are
populated by heterogeneous sensors, this is an important capability for revealing the processes that drive
the development of structure and change in the AIM system.
AIMI Priority: Create enhanced VxOs and interactive data access for system-level understanding.
8.5.5.2 Theory, Modeling, and Data Exploitation
Programmatic Support
High-priority AIMI science described throughout this chapter focuses on multiscale coupling, emergence, nonlinear dynamics, and system-level behaviors. This focus sets new requirements for research programs, computational technologies, and data analysis needs. Discovery science in all these areas requires
a means of understanding global connections, sometimes across vast distances or very disparate spatial
or temporal scales, while at the same time developing a deep understanding of the individual regions and