Modeling the Impact of Space Weather on Planetary Space Environments

Roy, Souvik (2024) Modeling the Impact of Space Weather on Planetary Space Environments. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (PhD thesis of Souvik Roy (18RS037)) 18RS037.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (47MB)

Abstract

Space weather, driven by solar activity, poses substantial challenges to modern technological infrastructure and human exploration beyond Earth’s atmosphere. This thesis aims to develop a computational modeling framework that evaluates the impact of space weather on planetary space environments, with a focus on interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and their effects on planetary magnetospheres. We develop the 3D MHD STORM Interaction Module (STORMI), built upon the PLUTO architecture, to investigate interactions between ICMEs and the magnetospheres of Earth-like planets. By introducing the Storm Intensity index (STORMI index) as a proxy for Dst/SYM-H, the model offers a simplified yet computationally efficient approach for predicting geomagnetic storm intensity, demonstrating a significant correlation with established indices. The study showcases the efficacy of the model through simulations of the impact of two diverse solar storms, one weak and one strong, highlighting its potential for enhancing space weather forecasting capabilities. An independent application to the February 2022 space weather events which led to the premature de-orbiting of Starlink satellites, underscores the model’s practical relevance. In addition, the thesis reveals the role of flux rope topology and geometry (vis-a-vis the Sun-Earth system) in determining the geoeffectiveness of CMEs, physically explaining the seasonal variability of geomagnetic impact. Additionally, the thesis also explores how planetary magnetospheres contribute to the creation of dynamic space weather for their moons. By utilizing global magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a first-of-a-kind Sun-Earth-Moon model and leveraging spacecraft data from missions like Chandrayaan- 2, SELENE, ARTEMIS, and Lunar Prospector, we establish that the lunar environment’s during full moon phases can be quite dynamic. Specifically, we explain some intriguing observations by the Chandrayaan-2 mission and discover a unique ring-like structure around the Moon which manifests during its geotail passage. Through integration of novel computational models, satellite data analysis, and data-driven predictive capabilities, this thesis contributes to advancing our understanding of space weather phenomena on planetary bodies such as Earth, the Moon, and analogous (exo)planetary systems.

Actions (login required)

View Item