Abstract Themes
This Chapman is focusing on four main areas of the science to keep focus and show progression. There will be one keynote speaker for each theme. Theme 1: Annika Seppälä. Theme 2: TBD. Theme 3: Dan Marsh. Theme 4: Sinnhuber.
Dynamics of the upper and middle atmosphere (stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere) are dependent upon terrestrial driven processes as well as dynamics from the magnetosphere and solar wind. For example (looking top down) energetic particle precipitation (EPP) enhances ionization and conductivity and modifies neutral atmosphere dynamics and chemistry in a manner dependent on altitude, geographic location, and geomagnetic condition; (looking bottom up) there is evidence on how changes in Earth’s climate will impact forecasts for future satellite drag and orbital debris. This theme pertains to the coupled response of the middle atmosphere/ionosphere system to topside EPP input and bottom side neutral dynamics. Discussions will contextualize the relative importance of the different drivers with respect to different terrestrial and geomagnetic conditions as well as their space weather impacts.
Energetic particle flux into the atmosphere varies by orders of magnitude as geomagnetic conditions range from quiet to active (storms and substorms), and during times of enhanced solar energetic particle events. The region and extent of particle precipitation into the ionosphere and atmosphere varies strongly with the type of driver, time, location, and preconditioning of the magnetosphere. Strong topside forcing can lead to enhanced ion outflow, further impacting the preconditioning and driving of future magnetospheric conditions. This theme addresses AIM coupling by discussing which topside drivers contribute to EPP flux as a function of location and geomagnetic conditions, and how they are modified by EPP-driven outflow. Additional discussions will focus on the implementation of observations of EPP-drivers into models for predictions of dynamic precipitation and impacts and driving of atmospheric processes.
Closure on topics relevant to this conference requires the use of modeling, which provides context to sparse observations, physical insight, and prediction. Recent years have seen significant efforts in the development of global physics-based modeling infrastructure needed to describe the coupled AIM system. These models require observations as input and for validation. This theme discusses how the modeling and observational communities can come together using current or upcoming observational and modeling abilities to provide model validation and insight into focus topics such as the impact on EPP-driven AIM coupling from Sudden Stratospheric Warming and Elevated Stratopause events. We also ask how atmospheric and magnetospheric models can be combined to allow future exploration of coupling within the AIM system for meteorological and climatological (long-term) effects.
The full exploration of AIM coupling will require distributed observations from constellation missions and will result in huge data volumes. The realization of this Heliophysics Great Observatory is years to decades away, meaning that progress in the intervening years will largely depend on existing or upcoming mission datasets and our ability to adopt new approaches to data dissemination and analysis. With this in mind, this theme explores ways to leverage modern techniques like machine learning and data assimilation to maximize existing datasets to provide improved input parameterizations related to their physical drivers. Where fundamental limitations to these datasets exist for furthering progress, we then discuss new advancements (methods or measurements) that are needed to resolve open questions and how might these apply to future mission designs.
Format Overview
This conference will have four full days (Monday-Thursday) and a half day on Friday. There will be no parallel sessions, allowing the meeting to be more focused and simplifying venue selection. We will have daily focused talks and discussion on proposed coupling issues in the following format:
Monday-Thursday
8:30-10:00 Talks and discussion
10:00-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 Talks and discussion
12:00-1:30 - Lunch
1:30-3:00 – Group discussion of daily topics
3:00-3:30 Break
3:30-5:00 – discussion continues around posters
Friday
8:30-12:00: group discussion of the summarized list of open scientific questions and opportunity to form collaborations and identify possible funding.