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Abstract

The geomagnetic field originates in the Earth’s outer core and reaches into space for several Earth radii. It thereby tells us about variations in the deep Earth, controls the shape and strength of electric currents and particle drift in the ionosphere and magnetosphere, and protects Earth’s life from solar and cosmic radiation. It is therefore important to understand the geophysical processes that lead to geomagnetic variations, and how the solar-terrestrial system is affected by space weather events. Research on geomagnetism, upper atmosphere research and magnetospheric as well as radiation belt physics profit enormously from dedicated satellite missions in low Earth orbit. GFZ’s scientific achievements in these research areas significantly benefit from ESA’s Swarm constellation mission, launched in 2013. GFZ contributed largely to its design and product definition by leveraging experiences from the successful CHAMP mission operated by GFZ during the last decade. Parameters including the geomagnetic and electric field, air density and wind, electron content and temperature are measured with high precision and global coverage. Also, particle flux measurements on the Lomonosov satellite will help us better understand the loss of particles from the Van Allen radiation belts into the atmosphere. The data from these missions are currently also utilized within the GFZ-coordinated Priority Programme 1788 “Dynamic Earth” funded by the German Research Foundation.