Solar Terrestrial Physics Course | IIT Roorkee | Prof. MV Sunil Krishna
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 95 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Physics |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlocking the Secrets of the Sun-Earth Connection: A Guide to Solar Terrestrial Physics
Have you ever wondered how a burst of energy from the Sun, 150 million kilometers away, can disrupt satellites, affect power grids, and create stunning auroras on Earth? The fascinating field of Solar Terrestrial Physics (STP) seeks to answer these very questions. It is the interdisciplinary science that studies the dynamic and complex interactions between the Sun and Earth's environment, a domain where solar activity directly influences our technological world and planetary climate.
We are thrilled to present a detailed overview of a comprehensive 12-week course on this very subject, designed and instructed by a leading expert in the field, Prof. MV Sunil Krishna from IIT Roorkee. This course offers a structured journey from the heart of the Sun to the upper reaches of our own atmosphere.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. MV Sunil Krishna
The course is led by Prof. MV Sunil Krishna, an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at IIT Roorkee. With a robust academic foundation including a Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Space Physics from IIT Roorkee itself, Prof. Krishna leads a dedicated research group. Their work focuses on a critical modern challenge: understanding space weather. Specifically, they investigate how intense solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) impact the geospace environment, with particular attention to the mesosphere, thermosphere, and ionosphere. His approach uniquely combines satellite data, ground-based measurements, and sophisticated modeling techniques, ensuring the course content is rooted in cutting-edge research.
Course Overview: What is Solar Terrestrial Physics?
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the chain of events that link solar activity to terrestrial phenomena. It moves beyond treating the Sun as a simple light source, instead presenting it as a dynamic, magnetically active star that governs the conditions in interplanetary space.
ABOUT THE COURSE: Solar Terrestrial Physics explores the dynamic interactions between the Sun and Earth's environment. This course offers an in-depth understanding of the Sun and its role in shaping interplanetary space, where solar winds and magnetic fields influence planetary systems. Students will delve into the physics of geospace, focusing on Earth's magnetosphere and its responses to solar activity. A critical component of the course will be the study of dynamo action, which underpins the generation of magnetic fields in celestial bodies. The ionosphere, a vital layer of Earth's atmosphere, will be analyzed for its structure, behavior, and role in radio communication. Finally, the phenomenon of whistlers, electromagnetic waves propagating through the magnetosphere, will be explored, shedding light on the intricate connections between space and terrestrial physics.
Who Should Take This Course?
- INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate students (B.Sc., B.Tech.), Postgraduate students (M.Sc.), and PhD researchers in Physics, Astrophysics, Atmospheric Sciences, and Engineering.
- PREREQUISITES: An elementary understanding of electrodynamics, plasma physics, electricity, and magnetism is recommended to fully grasp the advanced concepts.
Your 12-Week Learning Journey: Course Layout
The course is meticulously structured to build knowledge from fundamental concepts to advanced applications. Here is a week-by-week breakdown:
| Week | Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | The Sun & Interplanetary Space | Solar atmosphere, solar wind, interplanetary magnetic field, solar cycles, cosmic rays. |
| 3-7 | The Physics of Geospace & Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) | Plasma physics, fluid dynamics, derivation of MHD equations, Alfvén waves, magnetic helicity. |
| 8-9 | Dynamo Action & Atmospheric Dynamics | Atmospheric circulation, tidal oscillations (solar & lunar), motion of charged particles, conductivities. |
| 10-11 | The Ionosphere | Formation of ionospheric layers (D, E, F), chemical aeronomy, electric currents, geomagnetic storms, irregularities. |
| 12 | Whistlers & VLF Emissions | Dispersion relations, growth rate calculations, nonlinear effects, and quasilinear theory. |
Essential Reading Materials
To supplement the lectures, the course references several foundational texts in the field:
- M.A. Seeds, “Solar System”, Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning, 2007.
- A.C. Das, “Space Plasma Physics”, Narosa Publishing House, 2004.
- J. K. Hargreaves, “The Solar Terrestrial Environment”, Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series, 2003.
- Syun-Ichi Akasofu & Sydney Chapman, Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Oxford University Press, 1972.
- M.C. Kelley, “The Earth’s Ionosphere”, Academic Press, 2009.
Why Study Solar Terrestrial Physics?
In our technology-dependent age, understanding space weather is no longer just an academic pursuit—it's a necessity. Solar storms can cripple global navigation systems (GPS), induce harmful currents in long-distance power lines and pipelines, and pose radiation risks to astronauts and high-altitude aviation. This course equips the next generation of scientists and engineers with the knowledge to monitor, predict, and mitigate these effects. By combining theoretical principles with observational insights, Prof. Krishna's course provides a robust foundation for anyone looking to contribute to this vital and exciting interdisciplinary domain.
Embark on this 12-week journey to understand the invisible forces that connect our planet to its star, and discover how the fury of the Sun shapes the environment right above our heads.
Enroll Now →