Solar and Space Physics A Science for a Technological Society (2013) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-12
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Building on the research accomplishments realized over the past decade, the report presents a program of basic and applied research for the period 2013-2022 that will improve scientific understanding of the mechanisms that drive the Sun's activity and the fundamental physical processes underlying near-Earth plasma dynamics; determine the physical interactions of Earth's atmospheric layers in the context of the connected Sun-Earth system; and greatly enhance the capability to provide realistic and specific forecasts of Earth's space environment that will better serve the needs of society. Although the recommended program is directed primarily to NASA (Science Mission Directorate–Heliophysics Division)
|
From page 2... ...
. KEY SCIENCE GOALS FOR THE NEXT DECADE The significant achievements of the past decade have set the stage for transformative advances in solar and space physics for the coming decade.
|
From page 3... ...
GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND PROGRAMMATIC CHALLENGES To achieve these four key science goals, the survey committee recommends adherence to the following principles (Chapter 1) : • To make transformational scientific progress, the Sun, Earth, and heliosphere must be studied as a coupled system; • To understand the coupled system requires that each subdiscipline be able to make measurable advances in achieving its highest-priority science goals; and • Success across the entire field requires that the various elements of solar and space physics research programs -- the enabling foundation comprising theory, modeling, data analysis, innovation, and education, as well as ground-based facilities and small-, medium-, and large-class space missions -- be deployed with careful attention both to the mix of assets and to the schedule (cadence)
|
From page 4... ...
. The evolving HSO lies at the heart of the field of solar and space physics and provides a rich source of observations that can be used to address increasingly interdisciplinary and long-term scientific questions.
|
From page 5... ...
With this in mind, the committee has as its first priority for both NASA and NSF -- after completion of the current program -- the implementation of an integrated, multi agency initiative comprising the following components: 3 accordance with its statement of task, the survey committee did not reprioritize any NASA mission that was in formulation or In advanced development. In addition, the study charge specified that Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus would not be included in any prioritization of future mission opportunities.
|
From page 6... ...
The committee recommends increased support of the Explorer program to enable significant scientific advances in solar and space physics. As discussed in Chapter 4, the committee believes that the proper cadence for Heliophysics Explorers is one mission every 2 to 3 years.
|
From page 7... ...
The eventual recommended minimum cadence of STP missions is one every 4 years. Although the new STP program would involve moderate missions being chosen competitively, the survey committee recommends that their science targets be ordered as follows so as to systematically advance understanding of the full coupled solar-terrestrial system: 3.1 The first new STP science target is to understand the outer heliosphere and its interaction with R the interstellar medium, as illustrated by the reference mission6 Interstellar Mapping and Accelera tion Probe (IMAP; Chapter 4)
|
From page 8... ...
The survey committee recommends that, following the launch of RBSP and SPP, the next LWS science target focus on how Earth's atmosphere absorbs solar wind energy. The recommended reference mission is Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC)
|
From page 9... ...
A 2.5 Distinct funding lines for basic space physics research and for space weather specification and forecasting should be developed and maintained. Implementation of a program to advance space weather and climatology will require funding well above what the survey committee assumes will be available to support its research-related recommendations to NASA (see Table S.1)
|
From page 10... ...
Decision Rules to Ensure That Balanced Progress Is Maintained The recommended program for NASA cost-effectively addresses key science objectives. However, the survey committee recognizes that the already tightly constrained program could face further budgetary challenges.
|
From page 11... ...
If still further reductions are needed, the DRIVE augmentation profile should be delayed, with the current level of support for elements in the NASA research line maintained as the minimum. Augmentations to Increase Program Value The committee notes that the resources assumed in crafting this decadal survey's recommended program are barely sufficient to make adequate progress in solar and space physics; with reduced resources, progress will be inadequate.
|
From page 12... ...
Solar Probe Plus will be the first spacecraft to enter the outer atmosphere of the Sun, 1, 4 repeatedly sampling solar coronal particles and fields to understand coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and the formation and transport of energetic solar particles. Solar Orbiter will provide the first high-latitude images and spectral observations of the 1, 4 Sun's magnetic field, flows, and seismic waves, relating changes seen in the corona to local measurements of the resulting solar wind.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.