Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-02217, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Connors, Martin (Athabasca University), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Alberta, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Discovery Grants Program - Individual, program name french : Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles, program purpose english : The solar wind&rsquo;s interaction with Earth can, like the familiar wind, bring on damaging storms. Energy can be released in an explosive way in &ldquo;substorms&rdquo;, which often feature dramatic auroras. This &ldquo;space weather&rdquo; takes place in the turbulent plasmas of near-Earth space. Characterizing it requires simultaneous measurements at many points on Earth and in space, and our physical understanding is based on careful interpretation of data from critical locations. The physics of the magnetosphere, or protective magnetic shell around the Earth, remains a major challenge in science. We must infer how matter and energy move near Earth, often from a minimum of data. My research uses magnetic fields and other quantities we measure on the ground to supply missing pieces of the space weather puzzle. Our instruments in Canada make measurements complementary to those from modern fleets of satellites. By improving our understanding of the complex processes that take place there, we will also enable practical applications in areas ranging from navigation to power transmission. 
My unique world-class auroral observatory is located below the transition region between the auroral zone and the radiation belts. Some flows of plasma gas in the magnetosphere are like gentle breezes, but some particles are accelerated to energies that make them &ldquo;radioactive&rdquo;. Canada&rsquo;s ideal location allows investigating the processes that make auroras, including the mysterious &ldquo;proton auroras&rdquo;. We have magnetic detectors that stretch as far as Qu&eacute;bec, with important and unique links to Antarctica through magnetic field lines. Beyond simply measuring magnetic fields from the whole magnetosphere and ionosphere, we have developed powerful techniques for pinpointing their origins. Adding in space-based measurements such as those of the AMPERE satellite constellation, we can determine electric currents, an important element in the control of space plasma. These space electric currents cause magnetic deviations on Earth that in extreme cases can damage our technological systems. 
We will systematically use magnetic fields, including those from corresponding Antarctic sites, to determine near-Earth currents at many levels of activity, measuring the response in both hemispheres and evaluating how this varies with solar wind conditions. We will perform detailed event studies of those storms and substorms for which there is excellent satellite placement, to determine the dynamics of the magnetosphere in active times. Our long-term goal is a space weather predictive ability based on ground magnetic fields. 
The practical aspect of our work will go forward locally through studies of effects on power grids. An innovative training program will be based on student stays at our observatory and supervision of students in graduate programs at other universities., program purpose french : The solar wind&rsquo;s interaction with Earth can, like the familiar wind, bring on damaging storms. Energy can be released in an explosive way in &ldquo;substorms&rdquo;, which often feature dramatic auroras. This &ldquo;space weather&rdquo; takes place in the turbulent plasmas of near-Earth space. Characterizing it requires simultaneous measurements at many points on Earth and in space, and our physical understanding is based on careful interpretation of data from critical locations. The physics of the magnetosphere, or protective magnetic shell around the Earth, remains a major challenge in science. We must infer how matter and energy move near Earth, often from a minimum of data. My research uses magnetic fields and other quantities we measure on the ground to supply missing pieces of the space weather puzzle. Our instruments in Canada make measurements complementary to those from modern fleets of satellites. By improving our understanding of the complex processes that take place there, we will also enable practical applications in areas ranging from navigation to power transmission. 
My unique world-class auroral observatory is located below the transition region between the auroral zone and the radiation belts. Some flows of plasma gas in the magnetosphere are like gentle breezes, but some particles are accelerated to energies that make them &ldquo;radioactive&rdquo;. Canada&rsquo;s ideal location allows investigating the processes that make auroras, including the mysterious &ldquo;proton auroras&rdquo;. We have magnetic detectors that stretch as far as Qu&eacute;bec, with important and unique links to Antarctica through magnetic field lines. Beyond simply measuring magnetic fields from the whole magnetosphere and ionosphere, we have developed powerful techniques for pinpointing their origins. Adding in space-based measurements such as those of the AMPERE satellite constellation, we can determine electric currents, an important element in the control of space plasma. These space electric currents cause magnetic deviations on Earth that in extreme cases can damage our technological systems. 
We will systematically use magnetic fields, including those from corresponding Antarctic sites, to determine near-Earth currents at many levels of activity, measuring the response in both hemispheres and evaluating how this varies with solar wind conditions. We will perform detailed event studies of those storms and substorms for which there is excellent satellite placement, to determine the dynamics of the magnetosphere in active times. Our long-term goal is a space weather predictive ability based on ground magnetic fields. 
The practical aspect of our work will go forward locally through studies of effects on power grids. An innovative training program will be based on student stays at our observatory and supervision of students in graduate programs at other universities., agreement title english : Geospace Phenomena: Assessing Danger and Understanding Mechanisms, agreement title french : Geospace Phenomena: Assessing Danger and Understanding Mechanisms, agreement number : RGPIN, agreement value : 180000.0, agreement start date : 2017-05-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2022-2023), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada