Project: The role of solar wind disturbances in Space Weather

Space weather includes a broad range of phenomena at solar surface, in interplanetary space and in the Earth"s magnetosphere and ionosphere. Mass and energy released from the Sun is carried by the solar wind (SW) and penetrate by a variety of processes into the magnetosphere, they are stored there, and then released causing geomagnetic storms and sub-storms. The change of the geomagnetic field during these sudden events can be so large and sharp that the induced electric field and/or enhanced fluxes of energetic particles can destroy industrial and communication systems. It is desirable to predict such events but our knowledge of processes involved is still insufficient for this task. In this project, we suggest to carry out a comprehensive study of the whole chain leading to geomagnetic events: (1) propagation and evolution of solar wind disturbances, (2) interaction of these disturbances with the bow shock and their modification in the magnetosheath, (3) penetration of the SW through the magnetopause under steady and disturbed upstream conditions, and (4) magnetospheric response to sudden changes of interplanetary magnetic field and SW parameters. The study is based on multispacecraft observations of the whole interaction region and nonstationary MHD modeling. Global MHD models will be used as a tool for interpretation of magnetospheric observations. We expect to contribute significantly to present understanding in all aforementioned areas.

Funded by: GA ČR. GA205/09/0170

Duration: 2009-2013

Investigator: Šimůnek, J.