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Department for Solar-Terrestrial Coupling

Credit: DLR/NASA

The Department of Solar-Terrestrial Coupling Processes investigates processes in near Earth space in order to deepen the understanding of complex coupling mechanisms, primarily in the thermosphere and ionosphere, and to derive information about possible space weather hazards and their prevention. The department has a strong focus on the analysis and description of vertical coupling processes from above (e.g. sun, magnetosphere, plasmasphere and ionosphere) and from below (e.g. litho- and hydrosphere, neutral atmosphere). For this purpose the department works with the analysis of ionospheric, thermospheric and solar observational data as well as with the analysis of results of physical models. Furthermore, the development of data-driven physical modelling of solar-terrestrial coupling processes on the basis of energetic particle flows and radiation effects as well as corresponding propagation effects in near-earth space is an essential goal. Therefore, the department advances the development and testing of theoretical models that enable the prediction of complex ionospheric processes.

Structure and research focus areas:

• The working group for Terrestrial Atmospheric Coupling will deepen the understanding of the physical coupling processes between the ionosphere/ thermosphere system and the underlying neutral atmosphere. These coupling effects from below contribute essentially to the natural variability of the spatial and temporal distribution of ionospheric ionization.
   
• The working group on Solar Driven Coupling processes will focus on fundamental aspects of the generation and propagation of ionospheric storms. When talking about space weather effects in the ionosphere, the input of large amounts of solar energy is usually associated. Therefore, there is great potential to investigate and model the relationship between solar wind observations and ionospheric variability and to use the results to predict the formation of ionospheric perturbations and their propagation dynamics.
   
• The working group for Physical Modelling will address the complex non-linear interaction processes in and between the thermosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere. To understand and evaluate the coupled Thermosphere- Ionosphere-Magnetosphere System there is no alternative to physics based modelling.  

Address

Department for Solar-Terrestrial Coupling
Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Woldegker Chaussee 35
17235 Neustrelitz