FRoST | The Foreshock and its Role in Solar-Terrestrial relations

Summary
There is a critical need for accurate space weather forecasting, due to the growing use of technologies vulnerable to space weather hazards. However, refining the current models requires a more detailed understanding of solar-terrestrial relations, especially during extreme events such as magnetic clouds (MCs) which drive the fiercest storms at Earth. To this end, FRoST will investigate a previously unexplored aspect of the interaction of MCs with the terrestrial environment: the role played by the foreshock, a turbulent region extending upstream of the Earth's bow shock. The objectives of FRoST are (1) to characterise the foreshock properties during MC events, (2) to investigate how these alter in turn the properties of the region at the interface between the solar wind and the magnetosphere, the magnetosheath, and (3) assess whether the influence of the foreshock can be significant and thus should be included in space weather models. To undertake this challenging task, we will take on an interdisciplinary approach, combining numerical simulations and spacecraft observations.

This project is now made possible by the extensive datasets acquired in the recent years and by the pioneering Vlasiator simulation, developed by the Host Group, which is the world's only global hybrid-Vlasov simulation and offers an unprecedented description of the near-Earth environment. Through FRoST, the Experienced Researcher (ER) will develop her skills in numerical physics, while bringing to the Host Group her expertise in data analysis. This diversification of her competencies will significantly increase the ER's career prospects. The Supervisor's strong record of scientific excellence and experience in mentoring early-career researchers will further ensure the successful execution of FRoST. This project has the potential to reinforce the position of Europe at the forefront of numerical space physics, and will contribute to the European efforts in space weather forecasting.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/704681
Start date: 15-03-2017
End date: 14-03-2019
Total budget - Public funding: 191 325,60 Euro - 191 325,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

There is a critical need for accurate space weather forecasting, due to the growing use of technologies vulnerable to space weather hazards. However, refining the current models requires a more detailed understanding of solar-terrestrial relations, especially during extreme events such as magnetic clouds (MCs) which drive the fiercest storms at Earth. To this end, FRoST will investigate a previously unexplored aspect of the interaction of MCs with the terrestrial environment: the role played by the foreshock, a turbulent region extending upstream of the Earth's bow shock. The objectives of FRoST are (1) to characterise the foreshock properties during MC events, (2) to investigate how these alter in turn the properties of the region at the interface between the solar wind and the magnetosphere, the magnetosheath, and (3) assess whether the influence of the foreshock can be significant and thus should be included in space weather models. To undertake this challenging task, we will take on an interdisciplinary approach, combining numerical simulations and spacecraft observations.

This project is now made possible by the extensive datasets acquired in the recent years and by the pioneering Vlasiator simulation, developed by the Host Group, which is the world's only global hybrid-Vlasov simulation and offers an unprecedented description of the near-Earth environment. Through FRoST, the Experienced Researcher (ER) will develop her skills in numerical physics, while bringing to the Host Group her expertise in data analysis. This diversification of her competencies will significantly increase the ER's career prospects. The Supervisor's strong record of scientific excellence and experience in mentoring early-career researchers will further ensure the successful execution of FRoST. This project has the potential to reinforce the position of Europe at the forefront of numerical space physics, and will contribute to the European efforts in space weather forecasting.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2015-EF

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2015
MSCA-IF-2015-EF Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)