Welcome! Our team was assembled to answer the question:
Why does the Geomagnetic Response to the Solar Wind Saturate?
Geomagnetic indices, widely used to measure solar wind-driven geomagnetic activity, appear to saturate under extreme solar wind conditions, but the cause remains an open question. Recent studies suggest this saturation may be an appearance resulting from uncertainties in solar wind data, leading to the illusion of a weaker geomagnetic response during strong solar wind conditions. If true, we might be underestimating the geomagnetic response to extreme space weather events, potentially resulting in unexpectedly severe geomagnetic effects beyond current predictions. As we approach solar maximum, the likelihood of super-geomagnetic storms rises, making it timely and necessary to bring together scientists with expertise in different aspects of the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system to address critical science questions:
1) What are the main contributors to the observed non-linearity of the geomagnetic response?
2) How does geomagnetic activity respond to different extreme solar wind driving parameters?
Our team will investigate these questions by performing a correlation analysis of an extensive database of solar wind measurements and geomagnetic indices. We will be the first to assess whether the observed non-linearity in geomagnetic response is real or an artifact of statistical effects resulting from uncertainties by quantifying them. Crucially, we can only answer question-2 and understand the true geomagnetic response to extreme solar wind driving by first addressing the uncertainties and answering question-1. We expect multiple extreme geomagnetic storms during the project, enabling timely, accurate analysis of these extreme events, directly benefiting the space science community and also space weather-preparedness.
We are a team of 11 scientists from across the world with expertise in different aspects of space physics hoping to address the above science questions from multiple different vantage points.
Team leads:
Maria-Theresia Walach (UK) & Nithin Sivadas (US)