National Programs - France
Solar-Terrestrial Activities in France related to the CAWSES activities
Part of the French activities in the field of Solar-Terrestrial Physics is supported by the National Program on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (PNST) (http://www.ias.u-psud.fr/pnst/) which was created in 1997 and which is funded by INSU (Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers) at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and also by CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales). The mean annual budget of the program is around ~200 kEuros mostly for scientific collaborations (i.e. the program does not fund any salaries, nor any large ground-based equipment or space missions which are directly funded by national agencies). The program gathers most of the French scientists involved in solar physics and space plasma physics: ~200 researchers working in about 10 laboratories throughout France .
The main topics of the French Solar-Terrestrial Physics program are:
- The study of the solar magnetism and of its impact on the heliosphere from the low solar atmosphere to the interplanetary medium: generation, evolution of magnetic fields, magnetic energy dissipation and flares, eruptions, particle acceleration mechanisms.
- The spatial structure of the solar atmosphere and heliosphere
- The understanding of magnetic energy conversion (i.e. solar activity at different temporal and spatial scales)
- Coronal heating, Solar wind formation
- Acceleration and propagation of energetic particles in the inner heliosphere and associated radio emissions
- Interaction of the solar wind and the magnetosphere
- Dynamics of the terrestrial magnetosphere and sub-storm trigger
- Coupling between the magnetospheric and ionospheric plasmas: particle acceleration and wave generation in auroral zones.
- Large scale circulation (convection) of the ionospheric plasma and coupling with the magnetic field in the interplanetary medium.
- Coupling between the ionospheric plasma and the neutral atmosphere: energy deposition at high latitudes
- Coordinated studies in Solar-Terrestrial Physics and space weather applications: studies of solar activity and coupling with the heliosphere, predictions of solar activity and cycle, studies of the propagation of perturbations from the Sun to the terrestrial environment…
The activities in solar and space plasma physics are based on the extensive use of both ground-based and space borne observations together with modelling and theoretical work. The projects used by the French scientist in the framework of this program are summarized at http://www.ias.u-psud.fr/pnst/presentation_objectifs2.html and the participation to future projects is described at http://www.ias.u-psud.fr/pnst/presentation_objectifs3.html.The research on these activities is done in close international collaboration.
SCOSTEP is represented in France by a national committee (CNF-SCOSTEP), closely linked to the PNST.
The French national program will also participate to the organization of the International Heliophysical Year.
CONTACT US:
CAWSES Office, Center for Space Physics, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02215 USA;
Phone: 617/353-5990; FAX: 617/353-6463;