Sdo Sdt Report.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Solar Dynamics Observatory “…to understand the nature and source of the solar variations that affect life and society.” Report of the Science Definition Team Solar Dynamics Observatory Science Definition Team David Hathaway John W. Harvey K. D. Leka Chairman National Solar Observatory Colorado Research Division Code SD50 P.O. Box 26732 Northwest Research Assoc. NASA/MSFC Tucson, AZ 85726 3380 Mitchell Lane Huntsville, AL 35812 Boulder, CO 80301 Spiro Antiochos Donald M. Hassler David Rust Code 7675 Southwest Research Institute Applied Physics Laboratory Naval Research Laboratory 1050 Walnut St., Suite 426 Johns Hopkins University Washington, DC 20375 Boulder, Colorado 80302 Laurel, MD 20723 Thomas Bogdan J. Todd Hoeksema Philip Scherrer High Altitude Observatory Code S HEPL Annex B211 P. O. Box 3000 NASA/Headquarters Stanford University Boulder, CO 80307 Washington, DC 20546 Stanford, CA 94305 Joseph Davila Jeffrey Kuhn Rainer Schwenn Code 682 Institute for Astronomy Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie NASA/GSFC University of Hawaii Max Planck Str. 2 Greenbelt, MD 20771 2680 Woodlawn Drive Katlenburg-Lindau Honolulu, HI 96822 D37191 GERMANY Kenneth Dere Barry LaBonte Leonard Strachan Code 4163 Institute for Astronomy Harvard-Smithsonian Naval Research Laboratory University of Hawaii Center for Astrophysics Washington, DC 20375 2680 Woodlawn Drive 60 Garden Street Honolulu, HI 96822 Cambridge, MA 02138 Bernhard Fleck Judith Lean Alan Title ESA Space Science Dept. Code 7673L Lockheed Martin Corp. c/o NASA/GSFC Naval Research Laboratory 3251 Hanover Street Code 682.3 Washington, DC 20375 Palo Alto, CA 94304 Greenbelt, MD 20771 Richard Harrison John Leibacher Roger Ulrich CCLRC National Solar Observatory Department of Astronomy Chilton, Didcot P.O. Box 26732 UCLA, 9831 MSB Oxfordshire OX11 0QX Tucson, AZ 85726 Los Angeles, CA 90024 UNITED KINGDOM Barbara Thompson Project Scientist Code 682 NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD 20771 Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary .................................................................................................1 2 Overview........................................................................................................................3 3 Current Scientific Understanding and Outstanding Questions .........8 3.1 Solar Influences on Global Change and Space Weather ...............................................8 3.1.1 Irradiance Variations............................................................................................8 3.1.2 Energetic Particles from Flares and CMEs .........................................................13 3.1.3 Coronal Structure and Solar Wind Variations.....................................................17 3.2 Mechanisms of Solar Variability................................................................................20 3.2.1 The Solar Cycle .................................................................................................21 3.2.2 Active Region Evolution....................................................................................24 3.2.3 Small-Scale Magnetic Structure.........................................................................27 4 Required Observations ........................................................................................32 4.1 Helioseismic Images..................................................................................................32 4.2 Longitudinal Magnetograms......................................................................................33 4.3 Atmospheric Images..................................................................................................34 4.4 EUV Spectral Irradiance............................................................................................35 4.5 Photometric Images ...................................................................................................35 4.6 Vector Magnetograms ...............................................................................................36 4.7 UV/EUV Spectra.......................................................................................................38 4.8 Coronagraphic Images...............................................................................................39 4.9 Total Irradiance .........................................................................................................40 4.10 Coronal Spectroscopy................................................................................................41 4.11 Heliometry ................................................................................................................42 5 Potential Instruments and Allocation of Resources..............................42 6 Mission Concept......................................................................................................43 6.1 Orbit Selection...........................................................................................................44 6.2 Attitude Control System ............................................................................................45 6.3 Data and Communication System ..............................................................................46 6.4 Spacecraft Power.......................................................................................................47 6.5 Instrument Module ....................................................................................................47 6.6 Ground System..........................................................................................................47 6.7 Mission and Science Operations ................................................................................48 7 Concurrent Observations....................................................................................49 7.1 STEREO ...................................................................................................................49 7.2 Solar-B......................................................................................................................49 7.3 Solar Probe................................................................................................................49 7.4 SORCE .....................................................................................................................51 7.5 GOES/NPOESS ........................................................................................................52 7.6 SOLIS .......................................................................................................................53 7.7 ATST ........................................................................................................................53 7.8 Solar Sentinels...........................................................................................................54 7.9 Solar Orbiter..............................................................................................................54 7.10 FASR ........................................................................................................................55 8 Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................54 1 Executive Summary advance in modeling, quantifying, and perhaps eventually predicting solar variability over the The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a relevant timescales. Variable solar outputs nec- cornerstone mission within the Living With a essarily impact parallel efforts aimed at under- Star (LWS) program. SDO’s mission is to un- standing, modeling, and predicting the behavior derstand the nature and source of the solar vari- of the Sun-Earth system. Accordingly, we also ability that affects life and society. As such, its speak to the scientific issues and problems that principal functions are two-fold. First, it must arise from inadequate knowledge of solar radia- make accurate measurements of those solar pa- tive, particulate, and magnetic plasma outputs. rameters that are necessary to provide a deeper physical understanding of the mechanisms that Together, the solar and terrestrial science ques- underlie the Sun’s variability on timescales tions and ongoing research activities point to ranging from seconds to centuries. Second, specific observables that must be supplied by through remote sensing, it must monitor and re- SDO for the successful operation of the LWS cord those aspects of the Sun’s variable radia- science program. This document identifies a set tive, particulate, and magnetic plasma outputs of required observables that best addresses the that have the greatest impact on the terrestrial dual objectives of SDO. In so doing, it provides environment and the surrounding heliosphere. the basic arguments and the supporting evidence that leads to the identification of the essential Our Sun is an active star. This activity impacts observations. The nature of the required meas- planet Earth and human society in numerous urements in turn drives the choice of a geosyn- ways. Terrestrial climate, ozone concentrations chronous (GEO) orbit for the spacecraft. A po- in the stratosphere, and atmospheric drag on sat- tential suite of instruments is described which is ellites all respond to variations in the Sun’s ra- in principle capable of acquiring the required diative output. Astronauts, airline passengers, observables, while at the same time satisfying and satellite electronics are all imperiled by the the logistical constraints imposed on the SDO. energetic particles produced