How Does Solar Wind Control Earth’s Radiation Belt Dynamics?

The solar wind is the primary external driver of Earth’s radiation belt variability. Therefore, understanding the chain of processes connecting upstream solar wind conditions to radiation belt dynamics is crucial to obtain a systemic understanding of the near-Earth geospace environment. This meeting will bring together the UK and international community spanning observations, modelling, and theory to synthesise current understanding and identify priorities for the next phase of research, on topics spanning:

• Solar-terrestrial coupling and radiation belt response - CME- and CIR-driven dynamics, substorm activity, and particle acceleration and loss
• Wave-particle interactions - How solar wind conditions modulate plasma wave generation and drive acceleration and loss
• Modelling and future directions - Gaps in physics-based and data-driven models and future mission strategies

Convenors

Dr Suman Chakraborty, Dr Ahmad Lalti, Dr Oliver Allanson, Dr Jasmine K Sandhu, Dr Ravindra T Desai

Photo Credit: NASA