The coupling dynamics between planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres are essential to the energy conversion and particle transfer processes in the Solar-Planetary system. These coupling dynamics are usually accompanied by intense field-aligned current and particle acceleration. As a consequence of energy coupling between magnetospheres and ionospheres, auroral emissions have been observed on all planets of the solar system.

The past two decades have seen the development and launch of a number of space missions and deployment of ground stations dedicated to the investigation of interactions between the magnetosphere and ionosphere. Major breakthroughs have recently been made with these conjugate measurements, such as THEMIS, Cluster, AMPERE, MMS and Van Allen Probes.

Cassini’s Grand Finale at Saturn will provide us a unique opportunity to study the high-latitude dynamics of M-I coupling. At Jupiter, the polar orbiter JUNO is equipped with particle, fields and aurora instruments, which provide us an unprecedented opportunity to reveal the mystery of Jovian magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. Ground-based and remote observations support both Cassini and JUNO by providing global views of the aurora to complement in-situ measurements.

This session invites contributions that discuss in-situ and ground-based observations, theory, modeling and simulations of high latitude current system, particle accelerations and their consequent auroral phenomena at Earth and other planets (e.g., Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Uranus and Mercury).

solicited people: Barry Mauk (Barry.Mauk@jhuapl.edu) and William Dunn (w.dunn@ucl.ac.uk)