AGF-301
The Upper Polar Atmosphere (15 ECTS)

Required previous knowledge/specific course requirements:
Enrolment in a related Master program (in special cases undergraduate students may be considered).

Learning outcome:
Be able to describe how the energy from the solar wind is deposited in the Earth's magnetosphere/ionosphere system, and how this is related to physical processes observable from satellite and ground-based instrumentation. Have the ability to operate several optical instruments located at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) and be able to analyse this data, and relate the outcome to physical processes in the ionosphere.

Academic content:
This course describes the interactions between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere and the consequences of these processes for the ionized region of the upper atmosphere, i.e. the ionosphere. Energy, particles and momentum transferred from the solar wind manifest themselves in the upper Polar atmosphere particularly as the aurora, but also in terms of powerful electric currents and wind systems (ion winds as well as winds in the neutral gas).

Central elements in this course will be descriptions of the Earth’s magnetic field, the magnetosphere, ionization processes and the formation of the ionosphere. The current system related to the coupling between the magnetosphere and the upper atmosphere/ionosphere, together with the generation and absorption mechanisms for waveforms and transport of electromagnetic energy will be described. Both particle and magneto-hydrodynamic descriptions of space plasma will be presented.

The project report will be set in connection with fieldwork at KHO. Students are recommended to take AGF-301 in parallel with AGF-304.

Teaching methods and activities:
The course extends over one semester in combination with AGF-801.

Total lecture hours: 65 hours.
Total seminar hours: 15 hours.
Fieldwork: About 30 hours.

Compulsory assignment:
Fieldwork and written report.

Assessment:

All assessments must be fulfilled in order to receive a final grade.

Application deadline: 15. October 2012.