Developing state-of-the-art Space Weather forecast tools

About the Project

The production of flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) from solar active regions (ARs) is still not well understood in spite of their huge importance to Sun-Earth connections, in particular, to protect mankind and our sophisticated technological systems that might be at considerable risk from high-speed charged particles blowing often abruptly off the Sun.

These most energetic eruptions of the entire Solar System follow the 11-year solar cycle. At the peak of the cycle, several dangerously high-intensity class flares and CMEs may occur (i.e. around monthly 2-3). Most solar flares and CMEs originate from magnetically active regions around sunspot groups.

To make a leap forward in Space Weather prediction, the student will generalise our forecast method, by applying it to the Interface Region and low corona in 3D, in order to identify the optimum height for flare/CME lift-off prediction in the solar atmosphere. Here, we expect to considerably increase the current forecast capability, with having massive practical implications in our high-tech-driven world.

In particular, the student will aim (i) to investigate the pre-flare/CME dynamics and the related physical processes in the 3D solar atmosphere by constructing the magnetic topology above ARs, and (ii) to track their temporal evolution by applying a method developed by our team at Sheffield. These aims will be realized by the objectives of (i) acquiring knowledge to implement potential and non-linear field exploration techniques; (ii) create a data catalogue of 3D magnetic mapping of AR(s). The student may also (iii) employ the next-generation high spatial- and temporal-resolution sunspot data, provided by a combination of ground- and space-based magnetograms, white light and EUV observations, in particular with the complementary use of the solar observations of the novel Gyula Solar Telescope.

This project may likely requires collaboration with colleagues from Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre (SP2RC), a cross-Faculty research entity at the University of Sheffield (UK).

Funding Notes

The primary funding source is self-funding, however, it other grant funding may arise such applications will also be considered.