Advances in Near-Earth Space and Atmospheric Physics from Ground-Based and Satellite Observations

Within the near-Earth space and the atmosphere, all regions are closely interconnected, forming a multi-coupled complex system. Space weather events originating from the Sun, such as solar flares, energetic particle precipitations and the effects of solar wind disturbances, can cause significant changes in the Earth's environment. These variations manifest in different spheres/regions of the system (such as geomagnetic storms and ionospheric storms). Furthermore, the lowest part of the terrestrial plasma—the ionosphere—is strongly coupled with the neutral atmosphere. Therefore, it is also affected from below by the different types of atmospheric waves associated with phenomena of non-space origin (e.g., severe tropospheric convection, thunderstorms, and tectonic activity). The variability of the plasma environment ranges across broad spatial scales, from local or regional to inter-hemispherical or global changes. Their temporal variability is also diversified, from the 11-year solar cycle variations to rapid changes, which are still difficult to predict and measure in situ. The resulting intense variations in the terrestrial plasma affect communication and navigation systems, spacecraft operations, as well as commercial aircraft operations. Thus, monitoring the processes within the system via ground-based and satellite observations is rather crucial. This Special Issue collects research papers that contribute to improving our understanding of the physical processes within the Earth’s plasma environment coupled with the atmosphere, utilizing the advantages of ground-based and satellite observations.