Solar-Terrestrial Relations
The Space Science Program of the Canadian Space Agency provides support for ongoing Canadian investigations into solar-terrestrial relationships. Most scientists concur that there are changes in the average atmospheric temperature associated with the sun's magnetic cycle. Temperature, precipitation, atmospheric circulation, ocean currents, evaporation, and cloud cover are variants that comprise a complex mechanism responding to solar activity. Emissions from the sun are also believed to be reponsible for chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere that affect the levels of ozone. Certainly the sun influences atmospheric heating with subsequent changes in temperature, wind speeds, ocean currents, etc. And it is likely that there are other, as yet undetermined, effects of solar variations on earth's delicately balanced ecosystem.
Understanding of the correlation between the sun and the earth requires scientists and engineers working in a broad range of disciplines such as astrophysics, meteorology, climatology, atmospheric electricity, chemistry and physics.
The combination of global data from satellites, localized data from rockets, and continuous data from ground-based arrays provides the details necessary for understanding these complex ionospheric and magnetospheric phenomena.
See also: The Magog Manifesto - a Vision and Guideline for the Future.
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