The Impact of Solar Activity on the Earth Upper Atmosphere as Inferred from the CORONAS-F Scientific Experiments

Abstract

The chapter is devoted to the first results of processing and analysis of data on the absorption of solar XUV radiation in the Earth upper atmosphere measured onboard the CORONAS-F space mission. The variability of the Earth’s upper atmosphere associated with solar activity has been studied by analyzing the orbital evolution of the CORONAS-F satellite. Experimental data have been compared with model calculations of the parameters of the upper atmosphere. The mathematical model of the Earth upper atmosphere (WMA01) developed at IZMIRAN is described in general terms. A list of active events on the Sun and associated processes in the Earth magnetosphere recorded during the CORONAS-F flight time (2001-2005) is presented. The comparison of model calculations with the experimental satellite data shows that the Earth atmosphere models available need updating. The possible ways to attack this problem are discussed.