The term space weather indicates physical processes and phenomena in space caused by the radiation of energy mainly from the Sun. Solar and geomagnetic storms can cause disturbances in positioning, navigation and communication; coronal mass ejections (CME) can affect serious disturbances and in extreme cases damages or even destruction of modern infrastructure. The ionosphere and the thermosphere are parts of a physically coupled systems ranging from the Earth surface to the Sun including the magnetosphere and the lower atmosphere. Therefore, conducting detailed investigations on governing processes in the solar-terrestrial environment have key importance to understand the spatial and temporal variations of ionospheric and thermospheric key parameters such as the total electron content (TEC) and the plasma density of the ionosphere, as well as the thermospheric neutral density, which are influencing the orbits of Low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. To address all these interrelations and impacts, the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) Focus Area on Geodetic Space Weather Research was implemented into the structure of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG).

This session will address recent progress, current understanding, and future challenges of thermospheric and ionospheric research including the coupling processes. Special emphasise is laid on the modelling and forecasting of space weather time series, e.g. EUV-, X-ray radiation and CMEs, and their impact on VTEC and electron density. We encourage further contributions to the dynamo electric field, the variations of neutral and ion compositions on the bottom and top side of the ionosphere, atmospheric gravity waves and TIDs. Furthermore, we appreciate contributions on the wind dynamo, electrodynamics and disturbances, including plasma drift, equatorial spread F, plasma bubbles, and resultant scintillation.

Another main topic is global and regional high-resolution and high-precision modelling of VTEC and the electron density based on empirical, analytical or physical data assimilation approaches, which are designed for post-processing or (near) real-time purposes.