Space and Planetary Research at Lancaster University

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This consolidated grant application seeks resources to support a programme of STFC-funded research into the physics of various plasma environments within our solar system. The programme is thus divided into four distinct projects, the aims of which are as follows:Project 1 will exploit data from the Cluster, THEMIS and Geotail spacecraft to study asymmetric plasma flows in geospace, elucidate the timescales on which the asymmetries are introduced, and determine to what extent they can be predicted by upstream solar wind monitors.Project 2 will use plasma and electromagnetic field measurements from the martian space plasma environment, combined with propagation models of the magnetised solar wind, to investigate variability that modulates solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere couple at Mars.Project 3 will combine theory, data, and modelling to study Jupiter's high magnetic latitudes, which are instrumental in coupling the planetary atmosphere to its surrounding plasma environment and understanding planetary auroral emissions.Project 4 will investigate the energetics of Saturn's aurora, using new Hubble Space Telescope observations to reveal magnetospheric dynamics and seasonal changes.