The Sun to the Earth -- and Beyond A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics (2003) / Chapter Skim
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2. Integrated Research Strategy for Solar and Space Physics
2. Integrated Research Strategy for Solar and Space Physics
Pages 53-80
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From page 53... ...
Th i rd. the vu I nerabi I ity of society's tech nological infrastructure to space weather necessitates a mix of basic, targeted basic, and applied research initiatives that will lead both to advances in fundamental scientific knowledge and to progress in the application of that knowledge to the mitigation of space weather effects on technology and society.
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From page 54... ...
THE SUN'S DYNAMIC INTERIOR AND CORONA Helioseismological studies of the solar interior have attained a high degree of sophistication through the ~round- and soace-based measure- O - - O - - - - - -,- - - - - - - - - - - - - ments of Doppler shifts by GONG and SOHO, from which images of the magnetic fields and flow systems below the solar surface are deduced. Similarly, imaging and spectral data from the solar corona and transition region provided by the SOHO and TRACE satellites have demonstrated the central role of the magnetic field in controlling coronal dynamics.
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From page 55... ...
To answer these questions requires measurements from a spacecraft that passes as close to the solar surface as possible. A Solar Probe mission will make in situ measurements of the plasma, energetic particles, magnetic field, and waves inward of ~0.3 AU to an altitude of 3 solar radii above the Sun's surface.
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From page 56... ...
. slow solar wind; identify the acceleration mechanisms and locate the source regions of solar energetic particles; and determine how the solar wind evolves with distance in the inner heliosphere.
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From page 57... ...
.3 MHM will consist of four or more spacecraft separated in solar longitude and radius with at least one orbital perihelion at or within ~0.5 AU. Orbiting in and near the ecliptic plane, these spacecraft will make in situ measurements of plasmas, fields, waves, and energetic particles in the inner heliosphere, providing two-dimensional slices through propagating CMEs and the ambient solar wind.
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From page 58... ...
However, the maturity of the field now allows the interrogation of large databases, the development of sophisticated models, and the construction of new, definitive experiments both for Earth's space environment and for that of other solar system bodies. Magnetic fields are continually being created by the solar dynamo but are also continually being annihilated by both small- and large-scale magnetic reconnection in the corona.
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From page 59... ...
is designed to probe the reconnection process at the magnetopause and in the tail with a cluster of four spacecraft. MMS will benefit greatly from the groundbreaking research on magnetospheric and solar wind plasma dynamics that is being done with the European Cluster 2 mission.
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The Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) is a planned NSF program that will bring the observing power of a modern multi-instrument, ground-based observatory to a variety of geophysical locations chosen to optimize the benefit of the observations to specific scientific inquiry (Figure 2.31.
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From page 61... ...
It combines a powerful state-of-the-art incoherent scatter radar with supporting optical and radio instrumentation in a transportable format. This flexibility enables the AMISR to study a wide range of ionospheric phenomena at polar, aurora!
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From page 62... ...
These detailed, distributed measurements will complement the capabilities at the larger ground-based facilities that host the incoherent scatter radars. Global magnetospheric imaging, currently available from the IMAGE mission, needs to be developed further, specifically with stereo imaging, which will be implemented for 1- to 30-keV neutral atoms with the Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral-Atom Spectrometers (TWINS)
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From page 63... ...
A probe to study the still unexplored polar regions of Jupiter's magnetosphere will answer basic questions about the nature of electrodynamic coupling between the Jovian atmosphere and magnetosphere and about auroral acceleration in a magnetospheric environment much different from Earth's. Hubble Space Telescope image courtesy of J.T.
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From an elliptical polar orbit, a Jupiter Polar Mission (JPM) will determine the relative contributions of planetary rotation and the solar wind to the energy budget of the Jovian magnetosphere (see Figure 2.~.
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In view of the strongly coupled nature of the Sun-heliosphere system and the complementary objectives of the solar and space physics programs of the different federal agencies, two interagency initiatives are being proposed by the committee. One of these the Virtual Sun will incorporate a systems-oriented approach to theory, modeling, and simulation that will ultimately provide continuous models from the solar interior to the outer heliosphere.6 The Virtual Sun will be developed in a modular fashion by focused attacks on various physical components of the heliosphere and on cross-cutting physical problems.
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From page 66... ...
While focusing specifically on those regions and phenomena that most directly affect the technological infrastructure of modern society, space weather research aims at a basic physical understanding of the geospace environment. Despite its practical orientation and benefits, space weather research is thus to be understood as targeted basic research rather than applied research in the traditional sense.
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From page 67... ...
The STEREO mission will provide a unique perspective from which to observe CMEs that are directed toward Earth, while a mission at L1 (which could be provided by a NOAA contribution, as recommended in Chapter 5, or possibly by Triana) will provide critical measurements of the solar wind plasma and the interplanetary magnetic field once the operational lifetime of the Advanced Composition Explorer is over.
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From page 68... ...
By origi nati ng th is effort inside the science community that is generating the information, attention will be given to timely delivery of data products together with uncertainty estimates. ROADMAP TO UNDERSTANDING The committee was charged with recommending "a systems approach to theoretical, ground-based, and space-based research that encompasses the flight programs and focused campaigns of NASA, the ground-based and base research programs of NSF, and the complementary operational programs of other agencies such as NOAA, DOD, and DOE." To accomplish this task, the approaches put forward by the four technical study panels were integrated, and those projects with the highest scientific impact and, in some cases, the greatest potential societal benefit were considered further (the programs with the greatest potential societal benefit are generally those related to the LWS program or the NSWP)
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From page 69... ...
Further support for these programs as well as support for new programs the Coupling Complexity Research initiative, the Virtual Sun, the Solar and Space Physics Information System, and the LWS Data Analysis, Theory, and Modeling program was also carefully considered. Within the four main categories, the science impact of each program on the overall solar and space physics discipline was considered along with the - I~ - - - - - - - O -- ' - - Ir .l ~ I I I C' program's potential societal benefits.
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From page 71... ...
The maturity of the study phase of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission and its attack on the fundamental problems of magnetic reconnection are highly valued. So, too, are the fundamental science questions related to ionospheric variability and particle acceleration in the inner magnetosphere that will be addressed by the LWS Geospace Network missions.
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From page 72... ...
Stereo Magnetospheric Imager Frequency-Agile Solar Radiotelescope Fifty to a hundred nanosatellites to create dynamic images of magnetic fields and charged particles in the near magnetic tail of Earth. Three spacecraft with solar sails positioned at 0.98 AU to provide earlier warning than L1 monitors and to measure the spatial and temporal structure of CMEs, shocks, and solar-wind streams.
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From page 73... ...
Multiagency program to provide a systems-oriented approach to theory, modeling, and simulation that will ultimately provide continuous models from the solar interior to the outer heliosphere.
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From page 74... ...
Concern Solar Probe 650 Moderate-high Geospace Electrodynamic Connections 300 Low Geospace Network 400 Low Jupiter Polar Mission 350 Moderate Magnetospheric Constellation 325 High Magnetospheric Multiscale 350 Low Multi-Heliospheric Probes 300 Moderate Solar Wind Sentinels 300 Moderate Stereo Magnetospheric Imager 300 Low Suborbital Program 30/yr (2002)
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From page 75... ...
The committee therefore strongly recommends a Jupiter Polar Mission, which will study energy transfer in a magnetosphere that is the largest object in the solar system and that, unlike Earth's, is powered principally by planetary rotation. A Solar Probe is the only large mission considered by the committee for which the technical readiness is appropriate for implementation in the decade 2003-2013.
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From page 76... ...
baseline budget projection. In the event that funding augmentation for a Solar Probe mission cannot be secured, the recommended program can still be implemented but with Solar Probe having to start later, which would not be desirable or in keeping with its high scientific priority.
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From page 77... ...
The cost estimate for the NSF Upper Atmosphere base program includes costs for the CEDAR, GEM, and SHINE research initiatives, which coordinate community research activity and encourage strong student participation, as well as for individual research support in the areas of aeronomy, magnetospheric physics, and solar-terrestrial relations. NSF projections are that this baseline will double within 5 years; the committee has included this projection, doubling funding for the Upper Atmosphere base, the NSWP, and new facilities every 5 years.
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From page 78... ...
The existence of ongoing NSF programs and facilities in solar and space physics, of two complementary mission lines in the NASA Sun-Earth Connection Division Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP, basic research) and Living With a Star (LOOS, targeted basic research)
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From page 79... ...
These objectives will be addressed by a Solar Probe mission. Because of the importance of these objectives for the overall understanding of the solar-heliosphere system, as well as of other stellar systems, a Solar Probe mission should be implemented as soon as possible within the coming decade.
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From page 80... ...
The panel does not consider remote sensing a top priority on a first mission to the near-Sun region, although it does allow as a possible secondary objective remote sensing of the photospheric magnetic field in the polar regions. While accepting the panel's assessment of the critical importance of the in situ measurements for understanding coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, the committee does not wish to rule out the possibility that some additional remote-sensing capabilities, beyond the remotesensing experiment to measure the polar photospheric magnetic field envisioned by the panel, can be accommodated on a Solar Probe within the cost cap set by the committee.
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