Innovative Approaches to Atmospheric Coupling and Geodetic Space Weather Research

The reliance on satellite communications, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and other ground- and space-based technologies has underscored the critical need to understand and predict space weather impacts more effectively. Central to these impacts are the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere (MIT) coupling processes, which influence diverse phenomena such as Total Electron Content (TEC) anomalies that affect electromagnetic wave propagation, Thermospheric Mass Density (TMD) patches at Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) altitudes that affect satellite’s precise orbit determination, and Earth's Magnetic Field (EMF) disturbances caused by enhanced Field-Aligned Currents (FACs) closing through the ionosphere. These disturbances are crucial because they affect daily lives in our societies via radio communications, satellite operations, and Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) in power grid lines. Consequently, continuous monitoring and accurate modeling of MIT interactions are essential for protecting advanced technological infrastructures from space weather effects.

This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of MIT interactions and enhance predictive models of space weather impacts, focusing particularly on improving technological resilience during geomagnetic storms and substorms. By integrating new and existing measurement data along with advanced models of atmospheric coupling, this collection seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of MIT processes that are required to improve the predictions of space weather effects on space-based and terrestrial technologies.


We would like to invite submissions on several key areas, including:

• Advanced observational techniques and novel methodologies in upper atmosphere characterization.
• Innovative mission concepts for critical atmospheric observations.
• Latest developments in modeling MIT processes that are required to improve the space weather prediction.
• Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding MIT coupling processes.

A special focus of this research topic involves the following:

• Original Research articles presenting new findings on MIT coupling processes and their impacts on space weather.
• Review Articles summarizing current knowledge and recent trends in atmospheric coupling and geodetic space weather research.
• Methodological Papers describing new techniques and tools for observing and modeling the MIT system by using physics-based or machine-learning techniques.
• Interdisciplinary Studies highlighting the integration of geodetic, atmospheric, and space physics research.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere (MIT) Coupling, Geodetic Observation Data, Remote Sensing, Predictive Models, Thermospheric Mass Density (TMD), Total Electron Content (TEC), Satellite Communications, Storm Forecast, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Geomagnetic Storms, Energetic Particle Precipitation, Field-Aligned Currents, Earth's Magnetic Field (EMF)

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.