Implications of Solar Activity and Geomagnetic Field Secular Variations on Long-Term Trends Estimation

ELIAS, ANA G; ZOSSI, BRUNO S.; MEDINA, FRANCO D.; GUTIERREZ FALCON, ALVARO R.; DE HARO BARBAS, BLAS F.

Workshop; Heliophysics 2050 Workshop; 2021

Heliophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

Several aspects of aeronomy and space weather are modulated by variations in geomagnetic field and in solar activity as well. In particular, secular variations in both may have comparable effects in terms of magnitude for certain processes. A difference between their effects could be the spatial pattern of their consequences in, for example, charged particle flux reaching the Earth?s atmosphere. While theexpected solar modulation is more spatially homogeneous, in the sense that increasing or decreasingsolar activity may have the same effect for every location in our planet, the geomagnetic field modulation may depend on location. A comparison of the secular variation in both forcings is analyzedin parameters characterizing the ionosphere and charged particles entering the atmosphere,emphasizing its implication in long-term trend assessments.