A Consolidated Grant Proposal for Solar and Planetary Science at the University of Leicester, 2022 - 2025
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We propose a world-class programme of research that focuses on 3 main areas of study concerned with our solar system. The first involves study of the outer environments of the planets where the gas is ionised, such that it not only feels the gravitational pull of the planet, but also interacts strongly with its magnetic and electric fields. In the second area we seek to study the origin and evolution of solar system bodies, through examination of materials from asteroid, chondrite and lunar samples, and through laboratory-based exploration of X-ray fluorescence from Mercury analogues. The third area will employ spectroscopy from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and ground observatories to explore the planetary stratospheres and tropospheres at the ice giants Uranus and Neptune.
Previous work in the first area shows that the outer environments of the planets vary widely, determined by the interaction with the plasma that blows continuously from the Sun on the outside, and the interaction with the planet and its moons on the inside. The solar wind is prone to outbursts that can lead to magnetic storms and bright auroras at Earth, as well as varying strongly over the solar cycle, and with distance from the Sun. Its interaction with the planets then depends on whether the planet is magnetised, has an atmosphere, and has active moons. We will use MESSENGER data to study Mercury close to the Sun, a planet that has a magnetic field but almost no atmosphere; use the constellation of spacecraft at Mars, more distant from the Sun, which has an atmosphere but no strong magnetic field to prevent its erosion by the solar wind; and combine multi-spacecraft and ground instrumentation at Earth, at intermediate distances having both an atmosphere and a magnetic field. We will also study the strongly magnetized giant planets Jupiter and Saturn using data from the Juno mission at Jupiter and Cassini at Saturn, combined with observations of the auroras at ultraviolet wavelengths using the Hubble Space Telescope and at infrared wavelengths using large ground-based telescopes. Auroras are caused by large-scale electric currents flowing between the outer environments and the upper ionized atmospheres, which communicate force between these regions. Overall emphasis will be on the complex physical processes that couple the solar wind on the outside, the magnetic field surrounding the planet (if any), and the planetary atmospheres or surface on the inside.
In the second area, laboratory studies, we will analyse material returned from C-class asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. We will make complementary analyses on Apollo lunar regolith grains and recent, unique carbonaceous chondrite falls to build a new understanding of space weathering and C-class asteroid parent body processes. This project builds on the leading expertise we have in the microanalysis of planetary materials, through electron microscopy at ePSIC and UoL, and synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy. Laboratory work focused on Mercury will centre on the MIXS Ground Reference Facility, a purpose-built system to allow detailed analysis of X-ray fluorescence, induced using an X-ray or electron source, for bespoke surface analogues. This laboratory facility will uniquely allow us to expand our science programme using the MIXS data from the BepiColombo mission, both in relation to the dayside surface composition goals at global and local scales on Mercury, and in terms of the nightside magnetosphere-surface interaction which produces a significant X-ray fluorescence associated with electron bombardment.
The final theme leverages Leicester's leadership of the guaranteed-time giant planets programme on the JWST, exploiting MIRI spectroscopic maps of the Ice Giants Uranus and Neptune, combined with a ground-based observation programme, to understand how stratospheric circulation, photochemistry, and tropospheric meteorology shape the atmospheres of sub-giant-sized worlds.
Previous work in the first area shows that the outer environments of the planets vary widely, determined by the interaction with the plasma that blows continuously from the Sun on the outside, and the interaction with the planet and its moons on the inside. The solar wind is prone to outbursts that can lead to magnetic storms and bright auroras at Earth, as well as varying strongly over the solar cycle, and with distance from the Sun. Its interaction with the planets then depends on whether the planet is magnetised, has an atmosphere, and has active moons. We will use MESSENGER data to study Mercury close to the Sun, a planet that has a magnetic field but almost no atmosphere; use the constellation of spacecraft at Mars, more distant from the Sun, which has an atmosphere but no strong magnetic field to prevent its erosion by the solar wind; and combine multi-spacecraft and ground instrumentation at Earth, at intermediate distances having both an atmosphere and a magnetic field. We will also study the strongly magnetized giant planets Jupiter and Saturn using data from the Juno mission at Jupiter and Cassini at Saturn, combined with observations of the auroras at ultraviolet wavelengths using the Hubble Space Telescope and at infrared wavelengths using large ground-based telescopes. Auroras are caused by large-scale electric currents flowing between the outer environments and the upper ionized atmospheres, which communicate force between these regions. Overall emphasis will be on the complex physical processes that couple the solar wind on the outside, the magnetic field surrounding the planet (if any), and the planetary atmospheres or surface on the inside.
In the second area, laboratory studies, we will analyse material returned from C-class asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. We will make complementary analyses on Apollo lunar regolith grains and recent, unique carbonaceous chondrite falls to build a new understanding of space weathering and C-class asteroid parent body processes. This project builds on the leading expertise we have in the microanalysis of planetary materials, through electron microscopy at ePSIC and UoL, and synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy. Laboratory work focused on Mercury will centre on the MIXS Ground Reference Facility, a purpose-built system to allow detailed analysis of X-ray fluorescence, induced using an X-ray or electron source, for bespoke surface analogues. This laboratory facility will uniquely allow us to expand our science programme using the MIXS data from the BepiColombo mission, both in relation to the dayside surface composition goals at global and local scales on Mercury, and in terms of the nightside magnetosphere-surface interaction which produces a significant X-ray fluorescence associated with electron bombardment.
The final theme leverages Leicester's leadership of the guaranteed-time giant planets programme on the JWST, exploiting MIRI spectroscopic maps of the Ice Giants Uranus and Neptune, combined with a ground-based observation programme, to understand how stratospheric circulation, photochemistry, and tropospheric meteorology shape the atmospheres of sub-giant-sized worlds.
Publications
Carter J
(2022)
RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting report
in Astronomy & Geophysics
Stober G
(2022)
Meteor radar vertical wind observation biases and mathematical debiasing strategies including the 3DVAR+DIV algorithm
in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Sánchez-Bayton M
(2022)
Morphometric and topographic data of small and medium size landforms in the Northern Circumpolar Region of Mars.
in Data in brief
Rae J
(2022)
What are the fundamental modes of energy transfer and partitioning in the coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere system?
in Experimental Astronomy
Vierinen J
(2022)
Multi-instrument observations of the Pajala fireball: Origin, characteristics, and atmospheric implications
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Sangha? H
(2022)
Statistical Analysis of Bifurcating Region 2 Field-Aligned Currents Using AMPERE
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Alberti T
(2022)
Editorial: Interplanetary medium variability as observed in the new era of spacecraft missions
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Lee C
(2023)
Heliophysics and space weather science at ~1.5 AU: Knowledge gaps and need for space weather monitors at Mars
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Sánchez-Cano B
(2023)
Mars' ionosphere: The key for systematic exploration of the red planet
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Cecconi B
(2022)
Effect of an Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection on Saturn's Radio Emission
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Nichols J
(2023)
Jovian Magnetospheric Injections Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope and Juno
in Geophysical Research Letters
Spicher A
(2022)
Interferometric Study of Ionospheric Plasma Irregularities in Regions of Phase Scintillations and HF Backscatter.
in Geophysical research letters
Chowdhury M
(2022)
Saturn's Weather-Driven Aurorae Modulate Oscillations in the Magnetic Field and Radio Emissions
in Geophysical Research Letters
Dawkins E
(2023)
Solar Cycle and Long-Term Trends in the Observed Peak of the Meteor Altitude Distributions by Meteor Radars
in Geophysical Research Letters
Blake J
(2023)
Saturn's seasonal variability from four decades of ground-based mid-infrared observations
in Icarus
Sánchez-Cano B
(2023)
Ionosphere of Mars during the consecutive solar minima 23/24 and 24/25 as seen by MARSIS-Mars Express
in Icarus
Irwin PGJ
(2022)
Hazy Blue Worlds: A Holistic Aerosol Model for Uranus and Neptune, Including Dark Spots.
in Journal of geophysical research. Planets
Wellbrock A
(2022)
Observations of a Solar Energetic Particle Event From Inside and Outside the Coma of Comet 67P.
in Journal of geophysical research. Space physics
Garnier P
(2022)
The Drivers of the Martian Bow Shock Location: A Statistical Analysis of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN and Mars Express Observations.
in Journal of geophysical research. Space physics
King O
(2022)
Global Modeling of Ganymede's Surface Composition: Near-IR Mapping From VLT/SPHERE
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Grocott A
(2023)
SuperDARN Observations of the Two Component Model of Ionospheric Convection
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Bower G
(2022)
Occurrence Statistics of Horse Collar Aurora
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Garnier P
(2022)
The Influence of Crustal Magnetic Fields on the Martian Bow Shock Location: A Statistical Analysis of MAVEN and Mars Express Observations
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Lester M
(2022)
The Impact of Energetic Particles on the Martian Ionosphere During a Full Solar Cycle of Radar Observations: Radar Blackouts
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Bower G
(2022)
Transpolar Arcs: Seasonal Dependence Identified by an Automated Detection Algorithm
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Nichols J
(2022)
Relation of Jupiter's Dawnside Main Emission Intensity to Magnetospheric Currents During the Juno Mission
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Milan S
(2023)
Solar Cycle and Solar Wind Dependence of the Occurrence of Large dB / dt Events at High Latitudes
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Milan S
(2022)
Lobe Reconnection and Cusp-Aligned Auroral Arcs
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Stergiopoulou K
(2022)
A Two-Spacecraft Study of Mars' Induced Magnetosphere's Response to Upstream Conditions
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Fleetham A
(2023)
Solar Wind Control of Hemispherically-Integrated Field-Aligned Currents at Earth
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Hunt G
(2022)
The Response of Saturn's Dawn Field-Aligned Currents to Magnetospheric and Ring Current Conditions During Cassini's Proximal Orbits: Evidence for a Region 2 Response at Saturn
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Kamran A
(2022)
Auroral Field-Aligned Current Signatures in Jupiter's Magnetosphere: Juno Magnetic Field Observations and Physical Modeling
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Milan S
(2022)
Influence of Off-Sun-Earth Line Distance on the Accuracy of L1 Solar Wind Monitoring
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Bradley T
(2022)
Detection of Equatorial Plasma Velocity Modulations Associated With Planetary Period Oscillations in Saturn's Magnetosphere
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Wang Y
(2022)
Dependencies of GPS Scintillation Indices on the Ionospheric Plasma Drift and Rate of Change of TEC Around the Dawn Sector of the Polar Ionosphere
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Fogg A
(2023)
Multi-Instrument Observations of the Effects of a Solar Wind Pressure Pulse on the High Latitude Ionosphere: A Detailed Case Study of a Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Withers P
(2022)
Observations of High Densities at Low Altitudes in the Nightside Ionosphere of Mars by the MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE)
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Joyce S
(2023)
X-ray and UV radiation in the planet-forming T-Tauri system PDS 70. Signs of accretion and coronal activity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Persson M
(2022)
BepiColombo mission confirms stagnation region of Venus and reveals its large extent.
in Nature communications
Sánchez-Bayton M
(2022)
Morphological analyses of small and medium size landforms in Scandia Cavi and Olympia Undae, Northern circumpolar region of mars
in Planetary and Space Science
Aizawa S
(2022)
LatHyS global hybrid simulation of the BepiColombo second Venus flyby
in Planetary and Space Science
Pinto M
(2022)
The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor, BERM
in Space Science Reviews
Collinson G
(2022)
The Endurance Rocket Mission Gauging Earth's Ambipolar Electric Potential
in Space Science Reviews
Wilson R
(2023)
Internal and External Jovian Magnetic Fields: Community Code to Serve the Magnetospheres of the Outer Planets Community
in Space Science Reviews
Palmerio E
(2022)
CMEs and SEPs During November-December 2020: A Challenge for Real-Time Space Weather Forecasting
in Space Weather
Sánchez-Cano B
(2023)
Solar Energetic Particle Events Detected in the Housekeeping Data of the European Space Agency's Spacecraft Flotilla in the Solar System
in Space Weather
Telloni D
(2022)
Linking Small-scale Solar Wind Properties with Large-scale Coronal Source Regions through Joint Parker Solar Probe-Metis/Solar Orbiter Observations
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lario D
(2022)
Influence of Large-scale Interplanetary Structures on the Propagation of Solar Energetic Particles: The Multispacecraft Event on 2021 October 9
in The Astrophysical Journal
King O
(2022)
Compositional Mapping of Europa Using MCMC Modeling of Near-IR VLT/SPHERE and Galileo/NIMS Observations
in The Planetary Science Journal
Cohen I
(2022)
The Case for a New Frontiers-Class Uranus Orbiter: System Science at an Underexplored and Unique World with a Mid-scale Mission
in The Planetary Science Journal