Overview
During auroral events, the polar ionosphere undergoes intense Joule heating, driving the thermosphere to expand and rise. While computer simulations have modeled this dynamic process, direct observational proof has remained limited.
To bridge this gap, we have spent the last decade building a comprehensive observation network in Fennoscandia, integrating cutting-edge optical interferometers and camera arrays. With the full system operational since the winter of 2024–2025, this initiative marks the world’s first simultaneous, two-dimensional observation of thermospheric temperatures, vertical winds, Joule heating rates, and auroras.
By capturing how the upper atmosphere responds to electromagnetic forcing from the magnetosphere, this project will advance our understanding of global atmospheric physics, enhance the resilience of low-Earth orbit satellites, and offer clues into planetary atmospheric science in the solar system.
