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