The near-earth environment

Highly dynamic region around Earth

Space weather can impact satellite operations, GPS systems, and even power grids on Earth.

NEE dynamic is influenced by:

• Solar Wind: A stream of charged particles from the Sun that interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
• Magnetosphere: Earth’s protective shield against solar radiation, which can be disturbed by geomagnetic storms.
• Radiation Belts: High-energy particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field, posing risks to satellites and astronauts.
• Ionosphere: A layer of Earth’s atmosphere affected by solar activity, influencing radio communications and navigation systems.

At CSES flying altitude this environment includes the ionosphere and some indirect features of the magnetosphere, namely the electromagnetic field and the radiation belts, respectively.

The study of electric and magnetic fields in the top-side ionosphere is essential for understanding space weather phenomena and for the analysis and identification of signals possibly associated with earthquakes. Electric fields in the ionosphere is primarily generated by the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere, and its dynamics are regulated by the solar activity. These fields can cause the movement of charged particles, leading to various phenomena such as the auroras. The Auroral Oval is a ring-shaped zone around the magnetic poles where auroras are most frequently observed; its size and shape can change depending on the level of solar activity. Scientists use various tools and models to study and predict the behavior of the auroral oval: CSES gives a valuable contribution to this investigation.

Along its orbit CSES satellites cross the ionospheric footprint of the Outer Radiation Belt and the South Atlantic Anomaly, thus giving valuable measurements of trapped particles in these regions and their time variability.