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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
26
SOLAR AND SPACE PHYSICS: A SCIENCE FOR A TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere are a rich laboratory for the investigation of radiative processes and plasma-neutral coupling in the presence of a magnetic field. The behavior can be extraordinarily
complex: plasma-neutral collisions and associated neutral winds drive turbulence that cascades to very
small spatial scales and regularly disrupts communications. The primary mechanism through which energy
and momentum are transferred from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere and ionosphere is
through the generation and propagation of waves. Although the presence and importance of waves are
without dispute, the relevant coupling processes operating between the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere
involve a host of multiscale dynamics that are not understood at present. Understanding the energy budget,
dynamical behavior, and day-to-day variability in this region that is heavily influenced by wave energy
from below and above presents a significant challenge to solar and space physics.
FIGURE 1.4 Schematic of magnetic reconnection fields, flows, and diffusion regions. The four-spacecraft Magnetospheric
Multiscale (MMS) mission is targeted to resolve fundamental questions regarding the physics of magnetic reconnection. The
nominal configuration of the MMS spacecraft during transit of magnetopause and magnetotail current layers is shown to
scale with the key physical scale lengths. SOURCE: Courtesy of MMS-SMART Science Team, J.L. Burch, principal investigator,
Southwest Research Institute.
Figure 1-4 combined
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
26
SOLAR AND SPACE PHYSICS: A SCIENCE FOR A TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere are a rich laboratory for the investigation of radiative processes and plasma-neutral coupling in the presence of a magnetic field. The behavior can be extraordinarily
complex: plasma-neutral collisions and associated neutral winds drive turbulence that cascades to very
small spatial scales and regularly disrupts communications. The primary mechanism through which energy
and momentum are transferred from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere and ionosphere is
through the generation and propagation of waves. Although the presence and importance of waves are
without dispute, the relevant coupling processes operating between the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere
involve a host of multiscale dynamics that are not understood at present. Understanding the energy budget,
dynamical behavior, and day-to-day variability in this region that is heavily influenced by wave energy
from below and above presents a significant challenge to solar and space physics.
FIGURE 1.4 Schematic of magnetic reconnection fields, flows, and diffusion regions. The four-spacecraft Magnetospheric
Multiscale (MMS) mission is targeted to resolve fundamental questions regarding the physics of magnetic reconnection. The
nominal configuration of the MMS spacecraft during transit of magnetopause and magnetotail current layers is shown to
scale with the key physical scale lengths. SOURCE: Courtesy of MMS-SMART Science Team, J.L. Burch, principal investigator,
Southwest Research Institute.
Figure 1-4 combined