International Heliophysical year
Encyclopedia
The International Heliophysical Year is a UN-sponsored but scientifically driven international program of scientific collaboration to understand external drivers of planetary environments and universal processes in solar
-terrestrial-planetary-heliospheric
physics. The IHY will focus on advancements in all aspects of the heliosphere
and its interaction with the interstellar medium
. This effort will culminate in the "International Heliophysical Year" (IHY) in 2007-2008.
The term "Heliophysical
" was coined to refer specifically to this activity of studying the interconnectedness of the entire solar
-heliospheric
-planetary system. It is a broadening of the concept "geophysical," extending the connections from the Earth to the Sun & interplanetary space. On the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year
, the 2007 IHY activities will build on the success of IGY 1957 by continuing its legacy of system-sides studies of the extended heliophysical domain.
in 1957-1958, one of the most successful international science programs of all time. The IGY
was a broad-based and all-encompassing effort to push the frontiers of geophysics
and resulted in tremendous progress in space physics, Sun-Earth connections, planetary science
and the heliosphere
in general. The tradition of international science years began almost 125 years ago with the first International Polar Year
and international scientific studies of global processes at the North Pole in 1882-1883. The IHY has received substantial support from the United Nations, and various space agencies around the world.
1. Develop the basic science of heliophysics through cross-disciplinary studies of universal processes.
2. Determine the response of terrestrial and planet
ary magnetosphere
s and atmospheres to external drivers.
3. Promote research on the Sun
-heliosphere
system outward to the local interstellar medium
- the new frontier.
4. Foster international scientific cooperation in the study of heliophysical phenomena now and in the future
5. Communicate unique IHY results to the scientific community and the general public
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
-terrestrial-planetary-heliospheric
Heliosphere
The heliosphere is a bubble in space "blown" into the interstellar medium by the solar wind. Although electrically neutral atoms from interstellar volume can penetrate this bubble, virtually all of the material in the heliosphere emanates from the Sun itself...
physics. The IHY will focus on advancements in all aspects of the heliosphere
Heliosphere
The heliosphere is a bubble in space "blown" into the interstellar medium by the solar wind. Although electrically neutral atoms from interstellar volume can penetrate this bubble, virtually all of the material in the heliosphere emanates from the Sun itself...
and its interaction with the interstellar medium
Interstellar medium
In astronomy, the interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. This matter includes gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, dust, and cosmic rays. It fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space...
. This effort will culminate in the "International Heliophysical Year" (IHY) in 2007-2008.
The term "Heliophysical
Heliophysics
Heliophysics is a word coined by Dr. George Siscoe of Boston University and subsequently used by the NASA Science Mission Directorate to encompass the study of the system composed of the Sun's heliosphere and the objects that interact with it—most notably, but not limited to, planetary atmospheres...
" was coined to refer specifically to this activity of studying the interconnectedness of the entire solar
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
-heliospheric
Heliosphere
The heliosphere is a bubble in space "blown" into the interstellar medium by the solar wind. Although electrically neutral atoms from interstellar volume can penetrate this bubble, virtually all of the material in the heliosphere emanates from the Sun itself...
-planetary system. It is a broadening of the concept "geophysical," extending the connections from the Earth to the Sun & interplanetary space. On the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
, the 2007 IHY activities will build on the success of IGY 1957 by continuing its legacy of system-sides studies of the extended heliophysical domain.
History
The IHY 2007 has been planned to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY)International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
in 1957-1958, one of the most successful international science programs of all time. The IGY
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
was a broad-based and all-encompassing effort to push the frontiers of geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
and resulted in tremendous progress in space physics, Sun-Earth connections, planetary science
Planetary science
Planetary science is the scientific study of planets , moons, and planetary systems, in particular those of the Solar System and the processes that form them. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation,...
and the heliosphere
Heliosphere
The heliosphere is a bubble in space "blown" into the interstellar medium by the solar wind. Although electrically neutral atoms from interstellar volume can penetrate this bubble, virtually all of the material in the heliosphere emanates from the Sun itself...
in general. The tradition of international science years began almost 125 years ago with the first International Polar Year
International Polar Year
The International Polar Year is a collaborative, international effort researching the polar regions. Karl Weyprecht, an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, motivated the endeavor, but died before it first occurred in 1882-1883. Fifty years later a second IPY occurred...
and international scientific studies of global processes at the North Pole in 1882-1883. The IHY has received substantial support from the United Nations, and various space agencies around the world.
Objectives
The IHY has three primary objectives:- Advancing our Understanding of the Heliophysical Processes that Govern the Sun, Earth and Heliosphere
- Continuing the tradition of international research and advancing the legacy on the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year
- Demonstrating the Beauty, Relevance and Significance of Space and Earth Science to the World
Science Goals
The IHY team has also identified the following science goals for 2007-2008:1. Develop the basic science of heliophysics through cross-disciplinary studies of universal processes.
2. Determine the response of terrestrial and planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
ary magnetosphere
Magnetosphere
A magnetosphere is formed when a stream of charged particles, such as the solar wind, interacts with and is deflected by the intrinsic magnetic field of a planet or similar body. Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere, as are the other planets with intrinsic magnetic fields: Mercury, Jupiter,...
s and atmospheres to external drivers.
3. Promote research on the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
-heliosphere
Heliosphere
The heliosphere is a bubble in space "blown" into the interstellar medium by the solar wind. Although electrically neutral atoms from interstellar volume can penetrate this bubble, virtually all of the material in the heliosphere emanates from the Sun itself...
system outward to the local interstellar medium
Interstellar medium
In astronomy, the interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. This matter includes gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, dust, and cosmic rays. It fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space...
- the new frontier.
4. Foster international scientific cooperation in the study of heliophysical phenomena now and in the future
5. Communicate unique IHY results to the scientific community and the general public
External links
- IHY Home Page: http://ihy2007.org
- eGY Home Page: http://www.egy.org
- IPY Home Page: http://www.ipy.org
- IYPE Home Page: http://www.esfs.org
- IHY Japan Home Page: http://www2.nict.go.jp/y/y223/sept/IHY/IHY-e.html
- MARP Malaysian Home Page: http://www.myantarctica.com.my/aboutMARP.htm
- QuakeFinder Home Page: http://www.quakefinder.com/