University of Texas at Arlington physicist Yue Deng will receive more than $500,000 from NASA to study how space weather events such as solar flares drive vertical winds to affect electrodynamics in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Deng's work could one day help operators of near-earth satellites, air traffic radar and electricity grids know how to best safeguard their systems from bursts of radiation and energetic particles. The research is funded through NASA's Living With a Star initiative, which supports physics to further knowledge about the sun, its relationship to the Earth and its effect on life and society.
"Almost all the influence of space weather on our society is affected by dynamics in the upper atmosphere. Neutral wind in the upper atmosphere is very difficult to model and measure but it is still one of the most important parameters to consider," said Deng, an assistant professor of physics who joined UT Arlington's College of Science in 2009.
Solar winds (plasma) from the Sun carry an interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and energy that interacts with the Earth's outer magnetic field, or magnetosphere. During times of greater solar output, like after a coronal mass ejection (CME) or solar flare, spikes of energy can enter the thermosphere/ionosphere, also known as the upper atmosphere. If not properly anticipated, the bursts can disrupt energy delivery systems, communication technology and airline activity.
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