GFZ Space Weather Themes
Radiation Belt Modelling (Section 2.7)
The ring current is an electric current encircling the Earth at the distances between ~3 and ~5 Earth’s radii from the center of the Earth in the equatorial plane. It is a crucial component in our understanding of the magnetosphere dynamics and geomagnetic storms, and it can also affect human infrastructures such as high-latitude power grids or currently operating communication or navigation satellites. In our group, we use the four-dimensional Versatile Electron Radiation Belt (VERB-4D) code to model the dynamics of the ring current.
Data Assimilation (Section 2.7)
Analysis of radiation belt observations present a major challenge, as satellite observations are often incomplete, inaccurate and have only limited spatial coverage. Nevertheless, through data assimilation observations can be blended with information from physics-based models, in order to fill gaps and lead to a better understanding of the underlying dynamical processes. We have developed a scheme that enables efficient data assimilation from multiple satellite missions into the state-of-the-art partial differential equation-based model of the inner magnetosphere Versatile Electron Radiation Belt (VERB-3D).
Ring Current Modelling (Section 2.7)
The ring current is an electric current encircling the Earth at the distances between ~3 and ~5 Earth’s radii from the center of the Earth in the equatorial plane. It is a crucial component in our understanding of the magnetosphere dynamics and geomagnetic storms, and it can also affect human infrastructures such as high-latitude power grids or currently operating communication or navigation satellites. In our group, we use the four-dimensional Versatile Electron Radiation Belt (VERB-4D) code to model the dynamics of the ring current.
Geomagnetic Activity Indices (Section 2.3 and 2.7)
The traditional Kp index as endorsed by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) is provided by GFZ. It is based on the data of 13 observatories around the globe and describes global disturbances in the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field as a measure for global geomagnetic activity. Two groups at GFZ have recently developed higher cadence versions and forecasts, respectively.