Precipitation of particles into planetary atmospheres is a fundamental heliophysics process. At Earth, precipitation transfers energy from the solar wind and magnetosphere into the ionosphere and upper atmosphere. This dynamic coupling between plasma regimes leads to a variety of impacts on the upper atmosphere; from vibrant auroral displays, to generation of ionospheric current systems, changes in atmospheric chemistry and impacts on satellite infrastructure through increased satellite drag. This session takes a system-science perspective on particle precipitation across wide ranging energies and impacts on and in the atmosphere. We invite presentations which focus on links between the drivers and their relative importance in generating particle precipitation; the spatiotemporal dynamics of large-scale system processes; and the impacts of particle precipitation on atmospheric conductivity, chemistry, and dynamics.
Particle Precipitation: Drivers, Properties, and Impacts on Atmosphere, Ionosphere, Magnetosphere Coupling