Radio Investigations for Space Environment Research (RISER): An Overview

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and ever-changing solar wind conditions, drive processes in the Earth’s space-environment (the magnetosphere and ionosphere) which can strongly affect satellite communications, navigation systems, and power grids upon which society relies. Mitigation strategies are heavily dependent on accurate forecasting of the likely impact of space-weather conditions on operations. The tracking of plasma structures, and turbulence within, in the inner-heliosphere is now made possible by the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR, the world’s largest low-frequency radio-telescope) through observations of the scintillation of radio waves from astronomical sources propagating through these plasma structures. Information obtained through LOFAR can be augmented with in situ measurements from existing missions and the planned ESA Vigil mission to be stationed at L5, as well as other remote-sensing techniques, to provide an unprecedented advance warning of space weather detrimental to society. The Radio Investigations for Space Environment Research (RISER) project will provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth’s space-environment through the use of novel radio observations and modelling techniques to investigate coupling between solar-driven inner-heliospheric structures and the Earth.   RISER will address the following key questions in the space-weather domain: How can we better attribute magnetospheric-ionospheric response to inner-heliospheric variability? How well can we establish a direct connection between parameters that characterise structures in the inner-heliosphere with the geo-effectiveness of geomagnetic disturbances? How can we identify and track plasma structures in the inner-heliosphere using scintillation data from low-frequency radio telescopes in a systematic way before they reach Earth? What is the value of improved forecasts of adverse space weather conditions when using radio-telescope observations and enhanced science of the inner heliosphere- magnetosphere-ionosphere system?   Here, we give an overview of RISER, its high-level objectives, the importance and relevance to advancing our understanding of space-weather science and impacts, as well as a brief overview of the LOFAR-UK upgrades.