Project Details
Projekt
Energy Deposition from the maGnetotail into the ionosphere/thermospherE (EDGE)
Applicant
Privatdozentin Dr. Elena Kronberg
Subject Area
Atmospheric Science
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 462853228
In this project we characterize plasma beta (the ratio between the plasma and magnetic pressure), which is a key parameter that defines the growth of instabilities, responsible for energy exchange in the terrestrial magnetotail/plasma sheet and between the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere. The overarching science questions of this project will be: (1) How is the particle energy (represented by the plasma beta) stored in the near-Earth space, depends on the solar wind input and geomagnetic activity? (2) how does the plasma composition affect the beta? (3) How does beta change depending on the solar cycle phase? (4) How the energy deposited in the high beta region is redistributed in the altitude and latitude of the ionosphere-thermosphere? To answer these questions, we will use at least 20 years of Cluster mission observations, solar and geomagnetic activity measurements, together with a machine learning approach and collaboration with ionospheric and thermospheric experts from the research unit.
DFG Programme
Research Units
