Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to forecast Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts

Understanding the effects of space weather on modern technology is fast becoming a critical component of space research. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and numerical physics-based modelling are vital to this effort.

Severe "space weather" happens when ejecta launched from explosions on the solar surface impact the Earth's magnetic shield, energising particles to relativistic energies and driving unwanted currents at ground level in transmission lines and pipelines. These particles and currents pose a significant hazard to modern technology and, as a consequence, are important enough to be included in the UK Government's National Risk Register.

We have expansive and rich scientific observational datasets obtained by dedicated space missions and ground-based instruments. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence allow us to produce data-driven forecasts and extract physics-based understanding of the key drivers of these forecasts. This project will give you the opportunity to use machine learning and explainable AI to produce forecasts of dangerous high-energy electrons in Earth's Radiation Belt. Physical realism of the forecasts will be strongly targeted.

You will have access to research leaders and knowledge experts in our field joining our large collaborative team that includes scientists at Northumbria University and experts from around the globe (e.g. from New Zealand, Canada and the US). You will have the opportunity to travel to work directly with our collaborators, as well as to present your work at conferences in the UK and internationally.