Auroral Joule heating and its consequences - From global to regional scales

Auroral Joule

Understanding the dynamics of the space environment is a perquisite for providing space weather forecasts to protect vulnerable technological systems. Satellites at low Earth orbit (LEO) experience increased orbital decay during large auroral storms. We'll study auroral heating of the upper atmosphere using state-of-the-art research facilities, inclusing EISCAT_3D located in northern Fennscandia.

Project information

Project duration

-

Funded by

Academy of Finland

Project coordinator

University of Oulu

Unit and faculty

Space Physics and Astronomy
Faculty of Science

Contact information

Project leader

Project description

Understanding the dynamics of the space environment is a key task in the solar-terrestrial research. It's also a perquisite for providing space weather forecasts to protect vulnerable technological systems. For example, satellites at low Earth orbit (LEO) experience increased orbital decay during large auroral storms.

In this project we'll study auroral heating of the upper atmosphere, which is due to the Ohmic heating of electrical currents and the impact of energetic particles that create auroral emissions. In addition to global observation networks, we'll utilize two new research infrastructures being build in Lapland: the EISCAT_3D radar system measures the ionized plasma in the upper atmosphere, while a network of Scanning Doppler Imagers (SDI-3D) detects the motion of the neutral gas. These two new facilities, together with existing ground-based instruments and frequent overpasses by research satellites makes northern Fennoscandia the best place in the world to study aurora.

Research groups

Ionospheric physics