Solar wind influence on terrestrial planets' upper atmospheres: unveiling their close interaction

Mars and Earth are the only planets in our Solar System that we know host liquid water and are in the habitable zone of the Sun. Comparisons between them, and with other terrestrial planets (i.e. Venus and Mercury), allows us to investigate the requirements for the habitability of a system. However, a critical aspect that determines the actual habitability of a planet is, in fact, its interaction with the solar wind, as it controls atmospheric escape (e.g. Mars' dehydration over time), energy dissipation (such as auroral processes and radio signal absorption), and shields/favours space radiation to reach the surface of a planet.

I propose an ambitious and pioneering comparative planetology study in the inner Solar System (i.e. Mars, Earth and Venus) to investigate the response of upper atmospheres to solar wind and Space Weather activity. My investigation takes advantage of the very first opportunity in which three spacecraft are travelling within the barely unexplored inner heliosphere (BepiColombo, Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe), and of the ongoing large upper atmosphere exploration of Earth, Mars, and in lesser extent Venus. It will characterise (1) in-situ solar wind and solar storms evolution, and (2) the dynamic response of the upper atmospheres. The project is equally based on numerical modelling and data analysis.

My proposal is an original multidisciplinary investigation that links the Heliophysics and Planetary Science fields, transferring knowledge of the evolution of upper atmospheres from one planet to another. As a result, my work will advance our understanding of habitability in the Solar System, as well as will help inform robotic exploration and eventually human exploration of the Solar System.