Surface waves above the magnetic poles

Earth's magnetosphere is a complex and dynamic plasma environment with physical processes that affect our everyday technology. The impulsive events that drive this space weather can excite surface waves akin to the vibrating membrane of a drum at the interface of the solar wind - magnetosphere interaction, a response that was only recently confirmed using observations from several satellites simultaneously.

These surface waves should map to magnetic field lines near the poles, directing solar wind energy into the top of the ionosphere. However, the potential ground-based signatures of this process are still not understood since the complicated magnetic geometry in this region pose a challenge to model. The project will use two complementary approaches:

- Cutting-edge simulations: Imperial has developed and hosts Gorgon, the UK's only global physics-based simulation of Earth's magnetosphere, which will be used to predict the signatures of surface waves as they approach the magnetic poles.

- Novel satellite observations: Using magnetic field measurements over the poles from the miniaturised RadCube CubeSat mission in low Earth orbit, the properties of waves entering the ionosphere will be determined.

This will develop our understanding of the fundamental dynamics present in our space environment and how they relate to space weather effects seen on the ground such as the aurorae.