Solar wind influence on terrestrial planets' upper atmospheres: unveiling their close interaction

火星和地球是我们太阳系中唯一的行星，我们知道它拥有液态水，并且位于太阳的可居住区。它们之间的比较，以及与其他类地行星（即金星和水星）的比较，使我们能够研究系统的可居住性要求。然而，决定行星实际可居住性的一个关键方面实际上是它与太阳风的相互作用，因为它控制大气逃逸（例如火星随时间的脱水），能量耗散（例如极光过程和无线电信号吸收），并屏蔽/有利于空间辐射到达行星表面。我提出了一个雄心勃勃的和开拓性的比较行星学研究在内太阳系（即火星，地球和金星），调查上层大气的太阳风和空间天气活动的响应。我的研究利用了三个航天器（BepiColombo，Solar Orbiter和帕克Solar Probe）在几乎未被探索的内日光层中旅行的第一次机会，以及正在进行的对地球，火星和金星的大型高层大气探索。它将研究（1）太阳风和太阳风暴的现场演变，（2）高层大气的动力学响应。该项目同样基于数值模拟和数据分析。我的建议是一个原始的多学科研究，将太阳物理学和行星科学领域联系起来，将高层大气的演变知识从一个行星转移到另一个行星。因此，我的工作将促进我们对太阳系可居住性的理解，并将有助于为机器人探索和最终人类对太阳系的探索提供信息。

Mars and Earth are the only planets in our Solar System that we know host liquid water and are in the habitable zone of the Sun. Comparisons between them, and with other terrestrial planets (i.e. Venus and Mercury), allows us to investigate the requirements for the habitability of a system. However, a critical aspect that determines the actual habitability of a planet is, in fact, its interaction with the solar wind, as it controls atmospheric escape (e.g. Mars' dehydration over time), energy dissipation (such as auroral processes and radio signal absorption), and shields/favours space radiation to reach the surface of a planet. I propose an ambitious and pioneering comparative planetology study in the inner Solar System (i.e. Mars, Earth and Venus) to investigate the response of upper atmospheres to solar wind and Space Weather activity. My investigation takes advantage of the very first opportunity in which three spacecraft are travelling within the barely unexplored inner heliosphere (BepiColombo, Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe), and of the ongoing large upper atmosphere exploration of Earth, Mars, and in lesser extent Venus. It will characterise (1) in-situ solar wind and solar storms evolution, and (2) the dynamic response of the upper atmospheres. The project is equally based on numerical modelling and data analysis.My proposal is an original multidisciplinary investigation that links the Heliophysics and Planetary Science fields, transferring knowledge of the evolution of upper atmospheres from one planet to another. As a result, my work will advance our understanding of habitability in the Solar System, as well as will help inform robotic exploration and eventually human exploration of the Solar System.