Solar iradiance variation and the response of the upper atmosphere - A review of recent progress in the international TIGER program [presentation]
Solomon, S. C. (2008). Solar iradiance variation and the response of the upper atmosphere - A review of recent progress in the international TIGER program [presentation]. In 37th Committee On Space Research Scientific Assembly. Montreal, CA.
Solar irradiance in the ultraviolet, extreme-ultraviolet, and X-ray spectral regions are a key determinant of the state and variation of upper atmosphere and ionosphere parameters, including densities, temperatures, composition, photoelectron fluxes, airglow emission processes, and magnetosphere-... Show moreSolar irradiance in the ultraviolet, extreme-ultraviolet, and X-ray spectral regions are a key determinant of the state and variation of upper atmosphere and ionosphere parameters, including densities, temperatures, composition, photoelectron fluxes, airglow emission processes, and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. The Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Geosphere Research (TIGER) program was established in 1998 with the objective of obtaining a better quantitative understanding of variations in solar irradiance and the effects on the upper atmosphere. The TIGER program has contributed to progress in this area through an ongoing series of conferences, workshops, publications, and data exchange. Advances in measurement and modeling of the solar spectrum have led to improved understanding of the atmosphere/ionosphere response, and to closure between models and measurements in several areas. In this paper, a brief overview of recent results is provided, some critical outstanding questions are identified, and the prospects for new solar and terrestrial observational programs are described. Show less