Overview, progress and next steps for our understanding of the near-earth space radiation and plasma environment: Science and applications

• Published in: Advances in space research 2024-05, Vol.In Press, Corrected Proof
• Main Authors: Zheng, Yihua, Jun, Insoo, Tu, Weichao, Shprits, Yuri Y., Kim, Wousik, Matthiä, Daniel, Meier, Matthias M., Kent Tobiska, W., Miyoshi, Yoshizumi, Jordanova, Vania K., Ganushkina, Natalia Y., Tenishev, Valeriy, O’Brien, T.P., Brunet, Antoine, Maget, Vincent, Guo, Jingnan, Wang, Dedong, Horne, Richard B., Glauert, Sarah, Haas, Bernhard, Drozdov, Alexander Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Engineering Sciences; Gaps and recommendations; Near-Earth Radiation and Plasma Environment; Physics; Space radiation effects at aviation altitudes; Space Weather Impacts on space hardware and humans
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2024.05.017

The Near-Earth Space Radiation and Plasma Environment falls within the realm of G3 Cluster (G3 refers to ‘Near-Earth Radiation and Plasma Environment’ of the ‘Coupled Geospace System’) under the COSPAR (Committee On Space Research)/International Space Weather Action Teams (ISWAT) Initiative. The diverse and dynamic particle populations from this region pose challenges from both science and space weather-impact perspectives. The G3 cluster has intimate connections with solar, heliosphere clusters, and the other Geospace ones (G1, G2) through a chain of physical processes. This paper reviews recent scientific advances in understanding this complex space environment, identifies gaps in research and space weather applications, and maps out our recommendations on priorities for the next 5–10 years.