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  • © 2006

Solar Journey: The Significance of Our Galactic Environment for the Heliosphere and Earth

  • This volume explores uncharted scientific territory, with comprehensive articles discussing the fascinating interdisciplinary field of the effect of our galactic environment on the heliosphere, planetary system and Earth, and written by leading experts who created this field.
  • The breadth of these articles addresses all aspects of this problem, and lay the foundation for future studies of the relevance of our galactic environment to the solar system, Earth and planets.
  • Our detailed knowledge of the heliosphere, combined with the extrapolation of this knowledge to diverse heliosphere boundary conditions, provides a foundation for studies of the astrospheres of external cool stars.
  • Detailed physical models show that the interstellar-modulated heliosphere (the solar wind bubble) governs the flux of cosmic rays at Earth, and models and data indicate this is a major factor in cloud cover and the climate. This major scientific point is discussed from all views, including the cosmic ray modulation for variable interstellar environments, paleoclimate records of this modulation, and the importance of separating interstellar from solar activity modulation of the heliosphere.
  • This volume presents the first full scientific discussion of this topic, still in its infancy, and discusses the physics behind the scientific models and data that are required to understand the topic.

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library (ASSL, volume 338)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxv
  2. Introduction: Paleoheliosphere versus PaleoLISM

    • Priscilla C. Frisch
    Pages 1-22
  3. Heliospheric Variation in Response to Changing Interstellar Environments

    • Gary P. Zank, Hans-R. Müller, Vladimir Florinski, Priscilla C. Frisch
    Pages 23-51
  4. Short-term Variations in the Galactic Environment of the Sun

    • Priscilla C. Frisch, Jonathan D. Slavin
    Pages 133-193
  5. Effects in the Inner Heliosphere Caused by Changing Conditions in the Galactic Environment

    • Eberhard Möbius, Maciek Bzowski, Hans-Reinhard Müller, Peter Wurz
    Pages 209-258
  6. Variable Terrestrial Particle Environments During the Galactic Orbit of the Sun

    • Hans J. Fahr, Horst Fichtner, Klaus Scherer, Olaf Stawicki
    Pages 259-279
  7. Accretion of Interstellar Material into the Heliosphere and onto Earth

    • Ararat Yeghikyan, Hans J. Fahr
    Pages 317-348
  8. Variations of Galactic Cosmic Rays and the Earth's Climate

    • Jasper Kirkby, Kenneth S. Carslaw
    Pages 349-397
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 399-413

About this book

Solar Journey: The Significance of Our Galactic Environment for the Heliosphere and Earth lays the foundation for an interdisciplinary study of the influence of interstellar material on the solar system and Earth as we travel through the Milky Way Galaxy. The solar wind bubble responds dynamically to interstellar material flowing past the Sun, regulating interstellar gas, dust, and cosmic particle fluxes in the interplanetary medium and the Earth. Cones of interstellar gas and dust focused by solar gravity, the magnetospheres of the outer planets, and cosmic rays at Earth all might yield the first hints of changes in our galactic environment.

Twelve articles from leading experts in diverse fields discuss the physical changes expected as the heliosphere adjusts to its galactic environment. Topics include the interaction between the solar wind and interstellar dust and gas, cosmic ray modulation, magnetospheres, temporal variations in the solar environment, and the cosmic ray isotope record preserved in paleoclimate data.

Reviews

"I admire the great care that Priscilla Frisch has taken in the editorial work, the balanced subjects, the attractive and clear figures. Also the general topic is well chosen and the various chapters are presented very clearly." - C. de Jager

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Priscilla C. Frisch

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access