Space Weather Applications of the Geospace Dynamics Constellations: A Comprehensive Look at Thermosphere-Ionosphere Variability and Its Geomagnetic Drivers

An overwhelming number of space weather effects take place in or are driven by the thermosphere and ionosphere. Society’s increasing dependence on space for defense and commercial needs requires a new, comprehensive examination of the ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) region, in order to improve our fundamental understanding of various space weather processes. This geospace region is vastly understudied, and the interactions between ionosphere processes, thermosphere dynamics, and electromagnetic and particle input from the magnetosphere, are not well understood. The Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission, along with its sister mission DYNAMIC, will provide the first comprehensive look at this important region. GDC will take multiscale measurements of energy input from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere-thermosphere, its effects in the IT region, and internal processes throughout the IT system. GDC's six satellites will characterize the IT system and its geomagnetic drivers from ~375 km altitude. This mission will make unprecedented multi-point orbital measurements of ionospheric and thermospheric density, composition, and temperature, magnetic and electric fields, and ionospheric variability. The measurements and science advancements will inform our understanding of the processes that change atmospheric densities, cause ionospheric scintillation, and drive ionospheric currents, with effects on satellite drag, navigation/communication, and geomagnetically induced currents.

GDC's contribution to our understanding will enable improvements in nowcasting and forecasting of IT variability and its effects. Further, GDC will transmit low-latency space weather-relevant data from each of its six science instruments plus a set of dosimeters onboard each spacecraft. This data will be available for our operational partners, allowing GDC to demonstrate a near real-time data pipeline to evaluate and prioritize the highest-impact measurement parameters and spatio-temporal scales. GDC’s comprehensive, multipoint picture of IT variability and its drivers will establish the understanding of fundamental space weather processes and the operational pipeline that we need for our increasing reliance on space.