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International heliophysical year: background and objectives
particles in the solar corona and standing bow shocks and termination shocks separate the major regions of the heliosphere. Shock formation and particle acceleration are universal processes. Auroras are observed on the Earth, Saturn and Jupiter and Jovian auroral 'footprints' have been observed on Io, Ganymede and Europa. The formation of auroras is observed to be the universal response of a magnetized body in the solar wind. The cross-disciplinary study of these processes will provide new insights that will lead to a better understanding of the universal processes in the solar system that affect the interplanetary and planetary environments.
with them about Pluto, about its scientific study and about its influence on her life. Before Alan Stem and Mihaly Horanyi left Venetia Phair's home in Banstead, she displayed two substantial archival books (prepared by her grandfather) of letters and press cuttings related to the events that had lead to Pluto's naming, all dating from the early 1930s.
International Heliophysical Year: Background and Objectives he large-scale structure of objects within the universe is determined mainly by two forces: gravitation and magnetism. Gravity is responsible for the structuring of planets, planetary systems, stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies; and gravitation has been the dominant force controlling the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang. Magnetism, a second long-range force, is dominant in the rarefied, ionized matter. Magnetic forces at work within the plasma environment of the solar system are responsible for the storage and subsequent release of large quantities of energy in solar flares, coronal mass ejections, magnetic storms and other transient phenomena within the solar system. In addition, the magnetic field of the Sun and the planets such as the Earth, Jupiter, Saturn dominate and define the structure of the space environment surrounding them.
T
Goals and objectives
The International Heliophysical Year has three primary objectives: (a) to advance understanding of the fundamental heliophysical processes that govern the Sun, the Earth and the heliosphere, (b) to continue the tradition of international research and advance the legacy of the IGY on its 50th anniversary and (c) to demonstrate the beauty, relevance and significance of space and Earth science to the world at large. More specifically, six goals for the IHY have been identified, each corresponding to a unique opportunity afforded by the scientific cooperation engendered by International Heliophysical Year: (a) To develop the basic science of heliophysics through cross-disciplinary studies of universal processes;
It is now widely recognized that the large-scale evolution of the solar system plasma proceeds through a set of magneticfield-dominated universal processes such as magnetic reconnection, particle acceleration, plasma-wave generation and propagation. New scientific insights can be gained by studying these universal processes in diverse environments and in a comparative way.
(b) To determine the response of terrestrial and planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres to external drivers; (c) To promote research on the heliosphere system outward to the interstellar medium, the new frontier;
Sunlocal
(d) To foster present and future international scientific cooperation in the study of heliophysical phenomena;
This is perhaps best understood by citing some examples. Shocks are observed in situ in the interplanetary medium; they are believed to play a role in the acceleration of
(e) To preserve the history and legacy of the
40
International Geophysical Year on its fiftieth anniversary;
by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and the efforts of Member States and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to promote and support the activities being organized within the framework of the International Heliophysical Year 2007 (IHY 2007).
(f) To communicate unique International Heliophysical Year results to the scientific community and the general public. I H Y Plans
The IHY programme has four main components:
In 2007, a number of major anniversaries will occur, among them the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year and the launch of Sputnik 1. UNCOPUOS will also hold its 50th meeting in 2007. The IHY 2007 is an opportunity to (i) advance understanding of the fundamental heliophysical processes that govern the Sun, the Earth, and the heliosphere, (ii) continue the tradition of international research and advance the legacy of the IGY (1957-58), and (iii) demonstrate the beauty, relevance and significance of space and Earth science research to the world and its people (http://ihy2007.org). In preparation for the IHY, the UNOOSA, in cooperation with NASA, ESA, and the IHY Secretariat, held international workshops in the United Arab Emirates in 2005 (www.ihy.uaeu.ac.ae/) and in India in 2006 (www.iiap.res.in/ihy/), and is currently preparing another such a workshop to be held at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Tokyo, 11-15 June 2007 (www.unoosa.org/oosa/SAP/bss/IHY2007. html).
(a) Science activities, consisting primarily of coordinated programmes of investigations dedicated to the study of the extended heliophysical system and the universal processes common to all ofheliophysics; (b) The UNBSI distributed instrument observatory development programme, dedicated to the establishment of observatories and instrument arrays to expand knowledge of global heliophysical processes, while increasing the viability of space science research and education in developing countries and regions that have not yet been active in space research; (c) Education and public outreach - promoting public awareness of heliophysics and educational activities for students of all ages; (d) The IGY Gold History Initiative that is designed to preserve the history and legacy of the IGY by identifying and recognizing planners of and participants in that international world-wide scientific cooperative enterprise by preserving and making available items of historical significance from 1957-58 and organizing commemorative activities and events.
The results of these workshops, known as the United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative (UNBSSI) to provide 'low-cost, ground-based, instrument arrays around the world' are listed at http://ihy2007.org/ observatory/observatory.shtml. The starting date o f l H Y 2007 has been set for 19 February 2007. On that date, during the session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS, the start of the IHY was marked by an IHY exhibit, a press briefing, and an opening ceremony in the UN Office in Vienna (see wwwle s i a ° b s p m fr/IHY/kickOFF/index html). For more detail of the IHY organizational structure, see http://ihy2007.org/ organization/organization.shtml.
Brief S u m m a r y on the Status of IHY 2007 Activities [By Hans J. Haubold]
T
he UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 60/99 of 2005, noted with satisfaction the contribution being made
41
with them about Pluto, about its scientific study and about its influence on her life. Before Alan Stem and Mihaly Horanyi left Venetia Phair's home in Banstead, she displayed two substantial archival books (prepared by her grandfather) of letters and press cuttings related to the events that had lead to Pluto's naming, all dating from the early 1930s.
International Heliophysical Year: Background and Objectives he large-scale structure of objects within the universe is determined mainly by two forces: gravitation and magnetism. Gravity is responsible for the structuring of planets, planetary systems, stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies; and gravitation has been the dominant force controlling the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang. Magnetism, a second long-range force, is dominant in the rarefied, ionized matter. Magnetic forces at work within the plasma environment of the solar system are responsible for the storage and subsequent release of large quantities of energy in solar flares, coronal mass ejections, magnetic storms and other transient phenomena within the solar system. In addition, the magnetic field of the Sun and the planets such as the Earth, Jupiter, Saturn dominate and define the structure of the space environment surrounding them.
T
Goals and objectives
The International Heliophysical Year has three primary objectives: (a) to advance understanding of the fundamental heliophysical processes that govern the Sun, the Earth and the heliosphere, (b) to continue the tradition of international research and advance the legacy of the IGY on its 50th anniversary and (c) to demonstrate the beauty, relevance and significance of space and Earth science to the world at large. More specifically, six goals for the IHY have been identified, each corresponding to a unique opportunity afforded by the scientific cooperation engendered by International Heliophysical Year: (a) To develop the basic science of heliophysics through cross-disciplinary studies of universal processes;
It is now widely recognized that the large-scale evolution of the solar system plasma proceeds through a set of magneticfield-dominated universal processes such as magnetic reconnection, particle acceleration, plasma-wave generation and propagation. New scientific insights can be gained by studying these universal processes in diverse environments and in a comparative way.
(b) To determine the response of terrestrial and planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres to external drivers; (c) To promote research on the heliosphere system outward to the interstellar medium, the new frontier;
Sunlocal
(d) To foster present and future international scientific cooperation in the study of heliophysical phenomena;
This is perhaps best understood by citing some examples. Shocks are observed in situ in the interplanetary medium; they are believed to play a role in the acceleration of
(e) To preserve the history and legacy of the
40
International Geophysical Year on its fiftieth anniversary;
by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and the efforts of Member States and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to promote and support the activities being organized within the framework of the International Heliophysical Year 2007 (IHY 2007).
(f) To communicate unique International Heliophysical Year results to the scientific community and the general public. I H Y Plans
The IHY programme has four main components:
In 2007, a number of major anniversaries will occur, among them the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year and the launch of Sputnik 1. UNCOPUOS will also hold its 50th meeting in 2007. The IHY 2007 is an opportunity to (i) advance understanding of the fundamental heliophysical processes that govern the Sun, the Earth, and the heliosphere, (ii) continue the tradition of international research and advance the legacy of the IGY (1957-58), and (iii) demonstrate the beauty, relevance and significance of space and Earth science research to the world and its people (http://ihy2007.org). In preparation for the IHY, the UNOOSA, in cooperation with NASA, ESA, and the IHY Secretariat, held international workshops in the United Arab Emirates in 2005 (www.ihy.uaeu.ac.ae/) and in India in 2006 (www.iiap.res.in/ihy/), and is currently preparing another such a workshop to be held at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Tokyo, 11-15 June 2007 (www.unoosa.org/oosa/SAP/bss/IHY2007. html).
(a) Science activities, consisting primarily of coordinated programmes of investigations dedicated to the study of the extended heliophysical system and the universal processes common to all ofheliophysics; (b) The UNBSI distributed instrument observatory development programme, dedicated to the establishment of observatories and instrument arrays to expand knowledge of global heliophysical processes, while increasing the viability of space science research and education in developing countries and regions that have not yet been active in space research; (c) Education and public outreach - promoting public awareness of heliophysics and educational activities for students of all ages; (d) The IGY Gold History Initiative that is designed to preserve the history and legacy of the IGY by identifying and recognizing planners of and participants in that international world-wide scientific cooperative enterprise by preserving and making available items of historical significance from 1957-58 and organizing commemorative activities and events.
The results of these workshops, known as the United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative (UNBSSI) to provide 'low-cost, ground-based, instrument arrays around the world' are listed at http://ihy2007.org/ observatory/observatory.shtml. The starting date o f l H Y 2007 has been set for 19 February 2007. On that date, during the session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS, the start of the IHY was marked by an IHY exhibit, a press briefing, and an opening ceremony in the UN Office in Vienna (see wwwle s i a ° b s p m fr/IHY/kickOFF/index html). For more detail of the IHY organizational structure, see http://ihy2007.org/ organization/organization.shtml.
Brief S u m m a r y on the Status of IHY 2007 Activities [By Hans J. Haubold]
T
he UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 60/99 of 2005, noted with satisfaction the contribution being made
41