pdf SCAR XXXI WP16: Report on Inter-hemispheric Conjugacy Effects in Solar-Terrestrial and Aeronomy Research (ICESTAR)

SCAR XXXI WP16: Report on Inter-hemispheric Conjugacy Effects in Solar-Terrestrial and Aeronomy Research (ICESTAR)

Executive Summary

Title: ICESTAR: Interhemispheric Conjugacy Effects in Solar-Terrestrial and Aeronomy Research

Authors:

• Co-Chair: Professor Allan Weatherwax, Siena College (U.S.A.)
• Co-Chair: Dr. Kirsti Kauristie, Finnish Meteorological Institute (Finland)
• We gratefully acknowledge contribution from the entire ICESTAR team.

Relevant URLs or references to other reports:  obsolete links removed

Introduction/ Background: 

Near-Earth space (geospace) is an integral part of the Earth system, providing the material link between the Sun and Earth, primarily through the polar-regions.  A primary goal of the ICESTAR Programme is to create an integrated, quantitative description of the upper atmosphere over Antarctica, and its coupling to the geospace environment.

Important Issues or Factors: ICESTAR will not propose for a second term as a Scientific Research Programme.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: 

At the completion on the programme in July 2010, ICESTAR will create an expert group to further develop the subject, building on the successes as a Scientific Research Programme.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes:

ICESTAR scientists have published more than 200 papers in journals that include Nature, Geophysical Research Letters, and the Journal of Geophysics Research.  Since the start of the program, ICESTAR further enhanced the SCAR profile by hosting and convening numerous scientific sessions at international conferences (e.g., American and European Geophysical Union Conferences, CEDAR, GEM).

ICESTAR has, or is in the process of, delivering a wide variety of products ranging from a better scientific understanding of the polar atmosphere to a data portal that will enable scientists to create a systems-view of the polar region. Specific current/future plans include the following:

• update and maintain ICESTAR website;
• publish in journals and conference proceedings;
• provide input to databases;
• develop and grow data portals;
• develop and quantify the role of seasonal differences in polar ionospheric conductance and the effects on magnetospheric, ionospheric, and thermospheric dynamics;
• constrain models based on conjugate remote sensing of inner magnetospheric dynamics; and
• characterize the basic state of the polar middle atmosphere.

Budget Implications:

The Scientific Research Programme ICESTAR will not be requesting funds during the next SCAR cycle. A small amount of funding will be requested to maintain the ICESTAR expert group.