The MultiSCORE project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and is focused on investigating the multi-scale structure of the solar corona.
Structure of the solar corona
The solar corona, the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere, is the source of some of the most energetic space weather events that impact Earth’s technology and communication systems. Recent state-of-the-art solar simulations suggest a paradigm shift in our view of the basic building blocks of the solar corona. Previously thought to be composed of simple, compact strands of hot plasma, the self-consistently formed corona in realistic models of the Sun instead consists of much more complex, turbulent structures. The structure of the corona spans a vast range of scales, making it challenging to capture its complexity with a single model.
Challenges in modelling the solar corona
The disconnect between various modelling approaches which focus on different spatial scales means that the multi-scale nature of the solar corona is not adequately addressed by current models. Large-scale models, such as Bifrost, realistically model the large-scale structure of the corona, including magnetic connectivity and coronal evolution on large scales, but tend to ‘smooth out’ the structuring and dynamics at finer scales. On the other hand, models aimed at capturing turbulent processes in the corona are better suited to studying coronal evolution at fine scales, but often use very idealised configurations for modelling coronal structures.
Combined approach to modelling supported by multi-instrument observations
MultiSCORE will, for the first time, capture the interplay between different scales in the solar corona by combining ab initio simulations that self-consistently model large-scale structure formation with targeted adaptive-grid simulations designed to resolve fine-scale dynamics. The simulations will be complemented by novel data from the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, which offer unprecedented resolution, and, combined with data from near-Earth solar observatories, enable reconstruction of the three-dimensional structure of the corona. By bridging the gap between different modelling approaches and integrating novel observational data, the project aims to reveal the fundamental structure of solar coronal loops and determine how the interplay between different scales influences structure formation and the transport of mass and energy in the corona. The project will also pave the way for the next generation of solar models, with broad implications for both fundamental solar physics and practical applications in space weather prediction.
