Solar Corona, Solar Wind Structure and Solar Particle Events

Theoretical modelling of the structure of the Sun's atmosphere, its extension into the interplanetary medium and its temporal changes is essential in terms of predicting space weather events. Our knowledge of solar-heliospheric physics and the Sun-Earth connection has greatly been improved with unique new observations originating from Yohkoh, SOHO, Ulysses, TRACE, ACE, and other missions. Observations in all wavelengths along with in-situ particle, plasma and magnetic field measurements are needed for theoretical modelling, with emphasis placed on the solar magnetic field.

Future missions such as STEREO with furthermore help us in developing reliable Space Weather forecasting models.  

The Solar Drivers of Space Weather (Prodex 6 project). This project is currently being undertaken by a consortium of 9 European institutes. The overall aim of the project is to investigate the basic physical processes of solar origin that determine Space Weather. This will contribute to the development of a science based scheme for Space Weather predictions that should be more reliable than the present `empirical' predictions. The groups involved in the consortium have different but complementary expertise covering theoretical MHD modeling (CMEs, solar wind, shock waves, etc.) and observational (EIT, LASCO, radio observations) which they hope to combine in order to develop global MHD simulations of the dynamic solar wind.

Solar Energetic Particle Models

Click here for a review of gradual SEP event modelling techniques from the University of Barcelona Departament d'Astronomica i Meteorologia.

• The DAM Solar-Terrestrial Physics and Space Weather Group is executing an Interplanetary Particle Flux Modelling project: An Engineering Model for Solar Energetic Particles
  

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