Structure, processes and climate of the Earth and Exoplanets atmospheres (ASPECTS)

In this project we investigate several fundamental aspects of the Earth's atmosphere, and reinforce the emerging research line in our Group of exo-planetary atmospheres.

With regards to the Earth's atmosphere, we plan to study the impact of solar variability (including both radiation and energetic particle precipitation, EPP) on the atmospheric composition, temperature structure and climate. Specifically we aim at 1) determining the relevance of EPP for regional climate, 2) quantifying long-term impacts by secular solar activity variations, and 3) understanding the coupling of solar and internal climate variability, all questions of high importance within the Coupled Climate Model Intercomparison Project providing input to the upcoming IPCC assessment.

We will also improve the quality of the MIPAS and SABER data in order to contribute to the generation of climate records by merging climatologies from other 7 satellite datasets of temperature and key atmospheric species spanning from the troposphere up to the thermosphere and over more than 16 years.

Moreover, we will study the structure, evolution and climate of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere by using MIPAS, SABER and ACE global and long-terms measurements and the availability of 3D general circulation models (GCM) spanning from the surface to the atmospheric edge. Specifically we will address the coupling/interaction of the middle/upper atmosphere with the troposphere below and the Geo-space above; its variability at timescales from hours to solar cycles; and the discern of the impacts of natural and anthropogenic forcings upon it.

Within this line we propose to build and operate the new ground-based instrument MIMA for long term 2D temperature and airglow monitoring of the mesopause region.

Furthermore, we plan to study the exoatmospheres by 1) using CARMENES high resolution near-IR spectra; 2) developing tools for the analysis of future JWST observations; and 3) to contribute to the objective of “What is the impact of stellar activity and space weather on exo-planet climate and habitability” of the NASA ESW proposal.

GAPT members involved:
Bernd Funke
Maya García Comas
María José López González
Manuel López Puertas
Alejandro Sánchez López