The dynamics of coronal mass ejections between the Sun and the Earth

The solar wind is a continuous outflow of charged particles and magnetic field from the Sun's upper atmosphere. Variability in the solar wind conditions leads to space weather, which can adversely affect technological infrastructures, such as power grids and telecommunications networks, as well as the health of humans in space and on high-altitude flights.

The most severe space weather is driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which propagate through the solar wind to reach Earth. The physics and dynamics of CMEs between the Sun and Earth are still poorly understood, mainly due to limited observations of any one event.

This project will combine observations and models to determine the importance of the different physical processes that control the dynamics of CMEs flowing from the Sun to Earth.