The EGU conference will be held in Vienna, Austria, and online from May 3 to May 8, 2026. The deadline for abstract submission is 15 January 2026, 13:00 CET. Sessions relevant to ATST can mostly be found in the ST Programme Group, in the following sub-programmes:
- ST1 – The Sun and Heliosphere
- ST2 – Magnetosphere
- ST3 – Ionosphere and Thermosphere
- ST4 – Space Weather and Space Climate
You will find below sessions that have been specifically advertised to ATST.
Session ST1.3 — Solar Orbiter: A new perspective on the Sun and the heliosphere
Session ST1.11 – The physics of the large scale heliosphere: measurements, theory and modeling
Conveners: Kostas Dialynas, André Galli, Eleonora Puzzoni, Pontus Brandt
If you are planing to participate in the next European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly (Vienna, 3-8 May 2026), kindly consider submitting your abstract(s) to our Session (ST1.11), which focuses on discussing the science results and open questions pertaining to the physics of the large scale heliosphere (theory, models and measurements):
Our sun’s astrosphere, that we call the Heliosphere, is formed by the interaction of the solar wind (SW) with the Very Local Interstellar Medium (VLISM). The ground-breaking observations of the two Voyager spacecraft provided in-situ particle and fields measurements throughout the upwind direction of the heliosphere, confirming the formation and position of the termination shock (TS) where the free expansion of the supersonic SW terminates and transitions into the heated non-thermal plasma region called the heliosheath (HS). The latter acts a reservoir of ions and electrons which extends to the heliopause (HP), the interface between our solar bubble and the interstellar environment. Those measurements were placed in a global context by the remotely sensed Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) observations from IBEX, SOHO/HSTOF, as well as Cassini/INCA. As the Voyagers continue to provide invaluable information from the VLISM, a region in space that may become accessible again by a future Interstellar Probe mission, the New Horizons spacecraft is providing important observations of Pickup Ions (PUIs) in the supersonic SW. New Horizons is expected to reach the TS in the 2027-2034 time frame, where it will obtain continuous plasma moments and high resolution data of PUIs and energetic particle spectra at the TS and in the heliosheath. With new ENA measurements from the IMAP mission, the focus of the heliospheric community (e.g. the SHIELD NASA-DRIVE Center) is turned to combining all available observations and advanced models to construct a predictive model for the large scale heliosphere and examine its role in modulating the Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs). Further, recent research examines the effects of the Sun’s passage through massive interstellar clouds on the shape and size of the heliosphere, as well as the resulting implications for Earth’s climate and biodiversity. The session welcomes contributions that are related (but not limited) to: analyses of spacecraft observations, numerical and analytical models concerning the large-scale structure and dynamics of the heliosphere and other astrospheres, the interaction of our heliosphere with the VLISM over its journey through the galaxy and its effects on Earth’s climate, as well as the science (open questions, puzzles and discussions) that drive the requirements for measurements and instrumentation from future spacecraft missions to better understand the physics of our heliosphere and its interstellar environment.
(Transmis par Dimitra Koutroumpa)
Session NP6.1/ST1/PS4 –Turbulence in Space Plasmas: Structures, Waves, and Dissipation
Conveners: Sergio Servidio, Luca Sorriso-Valvo, Julia Stawarz, Giulia Cozzani, Louis Richard
The session is dedicated to advancing our understanding of plasma turbulence across diverse environments, from the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres to astrophysical systems. We welcome contributions spanning observational, theoretical, numerical, and laboratory approaches, with a focus on open questions regarding coherent structures, wave-particle interactions, dissipation mechanisms, and cross-scale energy transport.
We encourage submissions related to space science, astrophysical plasmas, near-Earth processes, heliospheric physics, turbulence theory, high-performance numerical simulations, and innovative satellite data analysis. In particular, we seek contributions utilizing data from current and past missions – including Wind, Cluster, MMS, STEREO, THEMIS, Van Allen Probes, and DSCOVR – with a special emphasis on new findings from Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.
(Transmis par Giulia Cozzani)
Session ST2.2/NP3/PS4 – Unveiling plasma energization and energy transport in Geospace via multiscale observations
Conveners: Matthew Taylor, Oreste Pezzi, Giulia Cozzani, Markku Alho.
This session focuses on understanding how plasma is energized and how energy is transported across scales in the Earth’s Magnetospheric System. Key processes include shock dynamics, magnetic reconnection, turbulence, wave-particle interactions, and plasma jets. While past missions such as Cluster, MMS, and THEMIS have revealed important single-scale physics, fully capturing cross-scale coupling requires true multi-scale observations. The multi-scale approach is central to the Plasma Observatory (PMO) mission concept.
We welcome contributions from observations, simulations, theory, and instrumentation, as well as studies linking in-situ, remote-sensing, and ground-based measurements. Submissions highlighting multi-scale or cross-scale dynamics are particularly encouraged.
(Transmis par Giulia Cozzani)
Session ST3.6 – Polar and midlatitude ionosphere–atmosphere studies through ground-based observations
Conveners: Maxime Grandin, Veronika Haberle, Gaël Cessateur, Jia Jia, and Mathieu Barthelemy
The Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere are subject to significant variability associated with solar and space forcing. While this is predominantly relevant at high latitudes, midlatitudes can also be affected as observed during severe geomagnetic storms that occurred e.g. in 2024–2025. While in situ observations of the ionosphere and mesosphere–lower-thermosphere are only possible with spacecraft and sounding rockets, a wealth of information is obtained thanks to remote sensing techniques using ground-based instruments.
For instance, ground-based magnetometers, used in dense networks, routinely enable the derivation of ionospheric currents and geomagnetic indices. Optical instruments not only encompass imagers observing auroral and airglow emissions, but also consist of scanning Doppler imagers, Fabry-Perot interferometers, and lidars which measure upper atmospheric winds and temperatures, in particular in the thermosphere and mesosphere. Besides, visible spectrometers disentangle the spectral signatures of different auroral processes, enabling discrimination between precipitation-driven emissions and signatures of thermospheric heating. Ionospheric parameters can also be measured with radars, spanning a wide range of active (ionosondes, meteor radars, coherent and incoherent scatter radars, VLF transmitters) and passive (riometers, VLF receivers, GNSS receivers) systems. With increased interest in understanding space weather and atmosphere coupling as a system, polar atmospheric composition measurements of the middle atmosphere are also valuable. Finally, citizen science data such as images taken by aurora chasers are increasingly used to complement observations from instruments.
Combining ground-based observations from various instruments enables the development of novel data analysis methodologies that can provide access to physical quantities previously difficult to quantify, such as Joule heating. Ground-based measurements are also increasingly valuable for data assimilation into numerical models, thanks to which we can both enhance our understanding of the underlying physics of ionosphere–atmosphere processes and improve our space weather forecasting capability.
In this session, we invite contributions featuring the use of ground-based instruments in studies of the ionosphere–atmosphere system at polar and mid-latitudes. We welcome contributions of space weather and ionospheric–atmospheric physics processes of various time and spatial scales.
Session ST4.4 – Are We Ready for the Next Extreme Space Weather Events? Current state-of-the-art forecasting frameworks, knowledge gaps, and plans for mitigation of future severe risks
Conveners: Rungployphan Kieokaew, Simone Di Matteo, Judith de Patoul, Maxime Grandin, Alexi Glover
Extreme space weather events, such as X-class flares and Kp9 geomagnetic storms, pose systemic risks to global power grids, satellites, and navigation. While historical events like the 1859 Carrington Event and recent 2024 storms provide vital data, these « once-in-a-century » scenarios continue to challenge the limits of our current operational frameworks. This session evaluates the state of the art in physics-based and machine learning forecasting models, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific theory and infrastructure resilience.
Key Objectives:
- Evaluate the reliability and limitations of current monitoring tools.
- Identify data and modeling gaps needed to improve extreme event surveillance.
- Define worst-case scenarios and their socio-economic impacts.
- Develop concrete mitigation strategies and cross-sector communication channels.
We invite submissions from academia and industry focused on extreme impacts within the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere.
(Transmis par Rungployphan Kieokaew)
Session ST4.6 – Modelling and observations of the near-Earth space weather environment
Conveners: Jorge Amaya, Melanie Heil, Antoine Resseguier
We would like to invite all entities and research groups working of the development of instruments and computer models used for the monitoring, analysis, and forecasting of the near Earth environment, to submit an abstract to this comprehensive EGU session, presenting their latest advancements and concepts. We will highlight the unique capabilities and features of the latest instruments dedicated to monitoring the ionosphere, the thermosphere, the aurora, and the radiation belts, and their interactions. This session will also feature presentations on computer models that transform complex data into valuable understanding, enabling us to anticipate and address the challenges posed by space weather. Join us to be inspired by opportunities for scientific collaboration and see how these innovations support operational monitoring for end users, ultimately helping to safeguard our technology and society.
Session ESSI1.18 – Machine Learning in Planetary Sciences and Heliophysics
Conveners: Hannah Theresa Rüdisser, Gautier Nguyen, George Miloshevich, Valentin Tertius Bickel
The rapid growth of missions, observatories, and monitoring systems in the heliosphere, across the Solar System and from terrestrial or airborne facilities has created an unprecedented volume and diversity of data. Making sense of these observations requires methods that can both process large datasets efficiently and extract meaningful physical insight. Machine learning has become an important tool in this effort, complementing established physics-based approaches by enabling new ways of discovering patterns, building predictive models, and working with complex or incomplete measurements.
In recent years, increasing attention has been given to hybrid methods that combine machine learning with physical models. These approaches are now being applied across planetary and heliophysical domains, from forecasting solar eruptions and solar wind conditions, to automating the analysis of planetary surfaces or improving on-board data handling. They demonstrate how data-driven methods can benefit from physical knowledge, while physics-based models can be improved through modern data analysis techniques.
This session aims to provide an inclusive and interdisciplinary forum for researchers applying machine learning in planetary sciences and heliophysics, as well as those developing methods at the intersection between data-driven and physics-based approaches. We particularly encourage contributions that illustrate the wide range of applications, encourage exchange between disciplines and showcase the transition from research to operations.
(Transmis par Hannah Rüdisser)