What is RISER

Space weather arises (mainly) from solar ejecta (CMEs) impacting the Earth, in particular plasma and particle radiation. Need to understand energy flow: Source (Sun) and transmission (solar wind), processing by the Earth's own magnetically-confined system (magnetosphere, ionosphere/atmosphere, lithosphere).

RISER is a £3.7M FEC NERC-funded (NE/X019004/1) Large Environment 5-Year Project (commenced 01 September 2023 -- Kick-Off Meeting 06-08 September 2023) to address the chain of events through which the Sun creates adverse space-weather conditions at Earth and within the Earth's space environment.
RISER aims to investigate how the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) can be utilised for continuous and accurate tracking of inner-heliospheric and ionospheric plasma structures, combined with magnetospheric modelling, leading to more-precise and advanced forecasts of space-weather conditions and their impacts at Earth.
RISER will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's space-environment through the use of novel radio observations and modelling techniques to investigate coupling between solar-driven inner-heliospheric structures and the Earth.

RISER Overview

RISER brings together the wide and diverse scientific, technical, and engineering expertise essential to study the chain of environments through which the Sun creates space-weather effects at Earth and impact on critical UK infrastructures:

WP-1

Coordination/management of the project

M1 – M60

WP-2

Analysis and interpretation of typical LOFAR intensity scintillation data

M1 – M60

WP-3

Research on novel LOFAR observations

M13 – M60

WP-4

Analyses and modelling of the magnetosphere-ionosphere response to solar wind features observed by LOFAR

M1 – M60

WP-5

Observation of the impact on technology systems on Earth

M25 – M60

WP-6

Improvement of current space-weather forecasts

M1 – M60

WP-7

Upgrade of the LOFAR-UK station and collection of novel observations; a unique world-leading dual-beam telescope.

M25 – M60

Key Science Questions

How can we better attribute magnetospheric-ionospheric response to inner-heliospheric variability?

How well can we establish a direct connection between parameters that characterise structures in the inner-heliosphere with the geo-effectiveness of geomagnetic disturbances?

How can we identify and track plasma structures in the inner-heliosphere using scintillation data from low-frequency radio telescopes in a systematic way before they reach Earth?

What is the value of improved forecasts of adverse space-weather conditions when using radio-telescope observations and enhanced science of the inner-heliosphere, magnetosphere, ionosphere system?