Here we provide a summary of the overall plan, including a description of the physical understanding, model development, and observations required in each area. Hence, basic scientific research must be conducted to improve our fundamental understanding of the physical processes involved. Equally important is an understanding of solar activity in general. This involves studying the dynamics of magnetic energy in the solar corona and the role of magnetic fields in the occurrence of flares. It is also important to understand the origins of high-energy solar particles and how they propagate through the interplanetary medium.
Similar processes play a role in modulating the fluxes of cosmic rays originating in galactic space.
Research in this area is aimed at understanding the variability of the Sun at these wavelengths and how this variability influences the state of the ionosphere and thermosphere. The origin of solar radio noise, which affects communication systems, must also be understood. Finally, the solar wind has a direct influence on the state of Earth's magnetosphere, so it is vital that we understand the processes by which the solar wind is heated and accelerated in the solar corona, as well as the transient perturbations and shocks created by flares and CMEs. Many space weather applications require knowledge of the particle populations and electromagnetic fields throughout the magnetosphere. The strong magnetic coupling between the magnetosphere and Earth results in geomagnetic disturbances.