Researchers H. Hanzlíková and R. Huth from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics have established a new collaboration with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel within the international SOLARIS-HEPPA project, which focuses on understanding the impact of solar variability on the Earth’s climate system and on improving climate prediction capabilities.
© Barka Fabiánová Photography
The research team has joined the international SOLARIS-HEPPA (Solar and High Energy Particle Precipitation) initiative, which operates within the APARC (Atmospheric Processes And their Role in Climate) project under the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Participation is complemented by a new collaboration with the chemistry-climate modelling group at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany.
SOLARIS-HEPPA brings together experts from leading international institutions to quantify solar signals across different components of the Earth system, improve the representation of solar forcing in climate models, and assess its role in seasonal-to-decadal climate prediction. Within the project, the team contributes to Working Group 2 (WG2), “Solar influence on climate (solar signals, possible mechanisms and processes) and near-term prediction.” The group investigates the mechanisms through which solar variability affects the climate system and explores how this knowledge can improve near-term and decadal climate predictions. This new collaboration builds directly on our ongoing research into how tropospheric circulation responds to solar variability.
Participation in the SOLARIS-HEPPA project will expand this research by integrating advanced modelling and observational approaches, thereby deepening understanding of the links between solar activity and climate variability, particularly in the troposphere. The knowledge gained may help improve climate prediction capabilities and enhance understanding of the processes that shape Earth's environmental conditions. In addition, the collaboration will provide opportunities to test new hypotheses about the propagation of solar signals through the atmosphere and their influence on regional climate patterns.
Prague, 11 June 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) at its June meeting proposed the ambitious Plasma Observatory satellite mission as the primary candidate for its next medium-class scientific mission (M7) planned for launch in 2037. The programme, which will explore the plasma environment around Earth, outcompeted rival candidate missions: a two-spacecraft Mars orbiter and a gamma and X-ray space telescope for observing the early Universe.
Areas of Earth's magnetosphere and the physical processes that the Plasma Observatory will study.
Examples of astrophysical objects in which plasma dynamics play a significant role.
The constellation of seven Plasma Observatory satellites, covering two spatial scales.
Prague, 11 June 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) at its June meeting proposed the ambitious Plasma Observatory satellite mission as the primary candidate for its next medium-class scientific mission (M7) planned for launch in 2037. The programme, which will explore the plasma environment around Earth, outcompeted rival candidate missions: a two-spacecraft Mars orbiter and a gamma and X-ray space telescope for observing the early Universe.
"The Plasma Observatory mission will enable a fundamentally new type of observation of dynamic phenomena in space plasma around the Earth," says Jan Souček, Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who has been involved in the project since its inception and was responsible for coordinating the payload of the proposed mission. This week, the ESA executive has proposed to the Science Programme Committee (SPC) that Plasma Observatory be selected for implementation with a launch foreseen in 2037. The Committee has taken note of this recommendation and will make the formal decision at its next meeting in November 2026.
Plasma, which consists of electrically charged particles (hot, ionised gas), makes up 99% of the visible Universe, and the transfer of energy within it governs how pretty much everything in the Universe works. "Plasma physics is extremely complex because it behaves as a fluid that simultaneously possesses electromagnetic properties. On large spatial and temporal scales, it acts as a fluid; on shorter scales, the ion dynamics manifests while on the smallest scales, the dynamics of free electrons dominates." explains Jan Souček, a space physicist who is one of the mission proposers and a member of the Science Study Team appointed by ESA. Scientists from the Czech Institute of Atmospheric Physics have thus participated in the project from the very beginning.
For the Plasma Observatory mission, Czech space physicists and engineers will develop a plasma wave analyser, an on-board instrument designed for the measurement and digital analysis of electromagnetic waves in space plasmas. This electronic module converts electric and magnetic signals from spacecraft sensors into a digital form, performing onboard signal processing and detection of physically interesting features within the data. This instrument will enable the transmission of data with a high scientific value to ground within the limited telemetry data rate available to the mission. The development and testing of the electronics unit, including firmware and flight software, will be lead by the team from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Prague with contributions from the Laboratory of Physics and Chemistry of the Environment and Space in Orléans, France.
"The team at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics specializes in this type of measurement, and Czech instruments of this kind are already successfully operating onboard the ESA-led Solar Orbiter mission to study the Sun up close, and JUICE, which is currently exploring Jupiter’s icy moons," notes Jan Souček.
The primary objective of the new mission will be to study how electrically charged particles (plasma) from the Sun interact with the protective magnetic bubble (the magnetosphere) that surrounds Earth. In particular, it would look at how the plasma gains energy through its interaction with Earth's magnetic field, how this energy enters and moves around the magnetosphere, and how it spreads to other particles around Earth.
Previous missions, including ESA's Cluster, found that these interactions happen on different scales in space and time – from a few kilometres up to tens of thousands, and from milliseconds to minutes. But Cluster – made up of four spacecraft – could only study one scale at a time.
Plasma Observatory would be a constellation of seven spacecraft, making it the first mission capable of studying the interactions on different scales of space and time simultaneously. The spacecraft will be separated by distances ranging from tens to thousands of kilometres, allowing scientists to compare data across multiple spatial scales at the same time.
"Combined with computer simulations, this will allow us to understand how particle energization to high energies occurs in space plasmas and how energy is transferred between large and small scales," emphasizes Jan Souček.
The new programme will also be innovative from a technical perspective. "Progress in the miniaturization of scientific instruments has allowed us to reduce the size and cost of the spacecraft themselves, making it feasible to build multi-spacecraft constellations within the strict cost requirements set by ESA," points out space physicist Jan Souček.
By exploring the magnetosphere, Plasma Observatory will provide a deeper understanding of the wider Universe. "Plasma around Earth serves as a natural laboratory for understanding the wider Universe, including the Sun, exploding stars, supernovas, and distant galaxies where direct measurements are impossible," concludes Jan Souček.Prague, April 16, 2026 
Scientists from the Department of the Ionosphere and Aeronomy at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences have published the first results of measurements of the horizontal drifts of sporadic E (Es) layers in the Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics. These layers, which occur at altitudes approximately between 100 and 130 km, fundamentally affect the propagation of radio signals. Although they have been known for decades, their precise dynamics over Central Europe has not been described in detail using Doppler sounding until now.
A sporadic E layer represents a localized and very sharp increase in electron concentration within a narrow altitude range (typically less than 2 km). For radio waves, it acts as a kind of "mirror" that enables signal propagation over long distances (e.g., the reception of distant VHF stations), but it can also shield measurements of higher regions of the ionosphere.
The team led by Jaroslav Chum utilized a multi-point Continuous Doppler Sounder (CDS) system operating at three different frequencies for the research. “By utilizing the time delays between signals reflecting from different locations, we were able to determine how fast and in what direction these ionospheric structures move,” explains Jaroslav Chum from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the CAS.
The scientists analyzed over three hundred occurrences of the semitransparent Es layer, detectable as tilted noise structure in Doppler shift spectrograms (see Figure) and concluded that the average drift speed of these layers is in the tens of meters per second, with the fastest recorded case reaching a speed of 220 m/s. They also confirmed that in summer, the layer occurs primarily during the day, whereas in winter, its activity is more frequent at night.
Understanding the drift of the sporadic E layer is key to refining ionospheric models used by telecommunication services and navigation systems. “Our results regarding drift speeds and azimuths are in good agreement with global models, but for the first time, they provide specific data for the Central European region obtained using this method,” adds Habtamu Marew from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics.
The research shows that the dynamics of the upper atmosphere are closely linked to atmospheric waves and flow (winds) at different heights of the atmosphere, making the sporadic E layer an important indicator of processes throughout the entire atmospheric column.
Link to the publication:
An example of Doppler shift spectrogram. Semitransparent Es layer can be detected as tilted noise structures in each sounding signal path.
- Marew, H., & Chum, J. (2026). Estimating sporadic E horizontal drift parameters over central Europe: First results from Doppler sounding. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 282, 106807. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106807]
Prague, April 14, 2026
Illustration of a thunderstorm. Source: istock.com, credit: User9637786_380
- Kolmašová, I., et al. (2026). Properties of positive narrow bipolar events observed in South-Eastern France. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. [DOI: 10.1029/2025JD045415]
April 8, 2026
The Voyager spacecraft and source locations of lightning on Saturn. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
- Imai, M., Fischer, G., Taubenschuss, U., Kolmašová, I., Santolík, O., & Píša, D. (2026). Polarization measurements and source locations of Saturn electrostatic discharges during the Voyager era. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 131, e2025JE009079. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009079
31 March 2026
Epidemics of acute respiratory infections (especially influenza) represent a major health issue during the winter season. Two recent publications have contributed to a better understanding of how weather has affected influenza activity and human mortality in the Czech Republic over the past four decades (1982–2020).
Hana Hanzlíková et al. (2026) found significant associations between weather – particularly temperature – and the variability and severity of influenza epidemics in terms of their impact on human mortality. Epidemics associated with high mortality tended to follow relatively cold winter periods (below-average temperatures) and were predominantly linked to the A/H3N2 virus subtype. In contrast, epidemics with a weaker impact on mortality were more likely to occur during relatively warm periods (average or above-average temperatures) and were associated with other virus types (such as A/H1N1).
An analysis by Ekaterina Borisova et al. (2026) provided further insight into how respiratory infections modify the impact of cold weather on mortality. The results showed that while cold weather places stress on the human body and increases the risk of death, it also promotes the spread of acute respiratory infections, which in turn contribute to higher mortality. The analysis suggests that approximately 12% of cold-related deaths in the period 1982–2019 could be attributed to the mediating effect of respiratory infections.
Taken together, these findings highlight that excess winter mortality is driven by a combination of direct temperature effects and indirect effects mediated through infectious diseases. They also demonstrate that the severity of influenza epidemics depends not only on meteorological conditions but also on the circulating virus subtype. This improved understanding is important for anticipating health risks and designing more effective public health responses to seasonal mortality patterns.
Reference:
Epidemics of acute respiratory infections (especially influenza) represent a major health issue during the winter season. Two recent publications have contributed to a better understanding of how weather has affected influenza activity and human mortality in the Czech Republic over the past four decades (1982–2020).
Hana Hanzlíková et al. (2026) found significant associations between weather – particularly temperature – and the variability and severity of influenza epidemics in terms of their impact on human mortality. Epidemics associated with high mortality tended to follow relatively cold winter periods (below-average temperatures) and were predominantly linked to the A/H3N2 virus subtype. In contrast, epidemics with a weaker impact on mortality were more likely to occur during relatively warm periods (average or above-average temperatures) and were associated with other virus types (such as A/H1N1).
An analysis by Ekaterina Borisova et al. (2026) provided further insight into how respiratory infections modify the impact of cold weather on mortality. The results showed that while cold weather places stress on the human body and increases the risk of death, it also promotes the spread of acute respiratory infections, which in turn contribute to higher mortality. The analysis suggests that approximately 12% of cold-related deaths in the period 1982–2019 could be attributed to the mediating effect of respiratory infections.
Taken together, these findings highlight that excess winter mortality is driven by a combination of direct temperature effects and indirect effects mediated through infectious diseases. They also demonstrate that the severity of influenza epidemics depends not only on meteorological conditions but also on the circulating virus subtype. This improved understanding is important for anticipating health risks and designing more effective public health responses to seasonal mortality patterns.
Reference:
- Hana Hanzlíková, Plavcová, E., Kyselý, J., Kynčl, J., Malý, M., Urban, A., 2026: Links between influenza epidemics weather characteristics and all-cause mortality in the Czech Republic, 1982–2020, BMC Public Health, 26 (1), 189, doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25861-9
- Ekaterina Borisova, Ballester, J., Hanzlíková, H., Plavcová, E., Kyselý, J., Kynčl, J., Urban, A., 2026: The mediating role of acute respiratory infections in temperature-mortality associations in the Czech Republic, 1982–2019, International Journal of Biometeorology, 70, 84.
The observatory is located in the Shikoku mountains
At the beginning of the idea was the scientist Masafumi Imai…
… and an enthusiastic citizen scientist who lent the land and helped with the construction
The LWA-Niyodo observatory consists of eight "bow-tie" antennas
"By building the station, we filled an empty spot on the map."
Memorandum of Understanding
It was a major event for the region, television arrived
Data from the station -> Prague
March 25, 2026 
A new study published in the prestigious journal AGU Advances investigates lightning activity during so-called "stealth superstorms" (storms invisible in the optical spectrum) on Jupiter. The work, which included significant contributions from scientists at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, utilizes data from the Microwave Radiometer (MWR) onboard the Juno spacecraft and presents the first-ever measurement of the radio pulse power distribution of Jovian lightning.
Prior knowledge of Jovian lightning relied primarily on night-side imaging (e.g., the Galileo mission). "A common conclusion from these observations was that the optical energy of lightning in Jupiter's atmosphere was similar to the highest-energy terrestrial lightning flashes, known as 'superbolts'. However, this method likely captured only the high-energy tail of the distribution and missed typical lightning activity," says Ivana Kolmašová from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The new measurements were made possible by a unique meteorological state in Jupiter's North Equatorial Belt during 2021–2022. During this time, the region transitioned from an unusually quiescent state into "stealth superstorms"—a phase characterized by isolated convective storms visible primarily in the radio spectrum. Radio waves are another form of electromagnetic radiation produced by lightning and are exceptionally valuable to researchers. They allow for the study of storms even when clouds or other atmospheric components block visual cues.
The isolated nature of these storms allowed researchers to significantly refine the estimate of lightning source power. Analysis showed that the average lightning pulse rate in these storms reached three flashes per second, which is notably higher than previously reported in night-side imaging studies. Furthermore, the MWR instrument likely detected typical lightning pulses rather than just rare high-power outliers.
The study suggests that the radio power of lightning in stealth superstorms may be similar to terrestrial lightning. "Unfortunately, the measurement is subject to significant uncertainty, as energy from multiple lightning discharges can accumulate within a single MWR record (0.1 s), and comparisons with lightning energies measured from Earth's orbit do not yield entirely definitive conclusions. However, we are currently analyzing lightning whistlers—signal records from the Waves instrument on Juno with much better time resolution—and I hope we will soon refine the conclusions obtained from the microwave instrument," explains Czech scientist Ivana Kolmašová from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics.
AGU Advances publishes only studies with extraordinary impact. The work of the Czech scientists helps not only in understanding the dynamics of Jupiter's atmosphere but also provides better insight into the physics of lightning in general. Understanding these processes is crucial for future space missions, such as the European JUICE spacecraft currently en route to Jupiter.
Link to the study:
NASA's Juno spacecraft passed north to south (yellow track) over Jupiter's atmosphere in August 2022, detecting a cluster of radio pulses from lightning (turquoise circles). A background map from the Hubble Space Telescope identified the lightning source as an isolated "stealth superstorm". The inset shows a previous stealth superstorm plume from JunoCam data. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Björn Jónsson (JunoCam); AGU Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025av002083; HST and Juno MWR.
- Wong et al. (2026). Radio Pulse Power Distribution of Lightning in Jupiter’s 2021–2022 Stealth Superstorms. AGU Advances. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025AV002083
February 17, 2026
The small icy moon Enceladus, with its famous water geysers, has an unexpectedly powerful influence on Saturn's entire magnetic field. Data from the Cassini spacecraft has revealed that the moon's influence extends to a record distance of over 500,000 kilometers—more than 2,000 times the moon's radius. This is the first time scientists have observed such a massive electromagnetic reach from such a small body. The Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences participated in this international study.
The world was recently surprised by the discovery that the small icy moon Enceladus, located at the edge of Saturn's rings, meets key conditions suitable for extraterrestrial life. The Cassini mission—a unique collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI)—has now yielded further fascinating data. It shows that the small icy moon’s influence on Saturn’s environment is far more extensive than experts previously thought.
"In the space upstream of Enceladus, we discovered a complex web of reflected electromagnetic waves that do not just travel within the orbital plane, but blast high toward Saturn’s north and south poles. Our analysis shows that Enceladus pumps energy into the entire vicinity of the giant planet," says Czech scientist David Píša from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the CAS, who is a co-author of the extensive international study. The study was published this February in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, a renowned journal in the field of space physics.
Thanks to the Cassini mission's research, we know that Enceladus is not just a ball of ice, but a geologically very active body. Geysers of water vapor and dust erupt from fissures in the ice surface of Enceladus' southern hemisphere. When exposed to radiation, the water molecules and particles from these plumes become ionized, creating plasma. As this plasma flows around Enceladus, it interacts with Saturn’s magnetic field. This influence is so dominant that it affects energy flows throughout the entire system of Saturn’s moons and rings.
The Invisible Pipelines of Alfvén Wings
David Píša, a data analysis expert on plasma waves, points out that the research provides new evidence of the phenomenon known as Alfvén wings. These are specific vibrations that propagate along magnetic field lines, much like a wave on a string. Waves in the primary Alfvén wing bounce back and forth between Saturn's ionosphere and the Enceladus plasma torus; in combination with reflected waves, they facilitate a complex exchange of energy between the moon and Saturn's ionosphere.
"These waves function as invisible pipelines for energy transfer along magnetic field lines. Thanks to this, the moon and the planet effectively communicate even over vast distances," the physicist explains.
The research team sifted through thirteen years of archives from four instruments aboard the Cassini spacecraft. In thirty-six instances, the probe entered regions of magnetic connection between the moon and the planet. It was revealed that the waves are not just large and uniform, but that they split into fine filaments due to turbulence. "It is these tiny structures that can alter the trajectories of charged particles, which subsequently create specific auroras at Saturn’s poles," says David Píša.
The new discovery may help scientists understand other unexplored parts of the universe—such as Jupiter’s icy moons or distant exoplanets. In 2040, the European Space Agency (ESA) plans to send another probe to Enceladus, which is intended to land on the moon. Scientists are already working on instruments capable of studying Enceladus' fascinating electromagnetic interactions with Saturn in even greater detail.
Link to study:
- L. Z. Hadid, T. Chust, J.-E. Wahlund, M. W. Morooka, E. Roussos, O. Witasse, J. Rabia, D. Pisa, et al. (2026). Evidence of an extended Alfvén wing system at Enceladus: Cassini’s multi‐instrument observations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 131, e2025JA034657. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JA034657
27 February 2026
The MAVEN spacecraft, a planetary probe designed to study the Martian atmosphere.
Artist's rendition of an electrical discharge on Mars – illustrative image (Source: Milan Machatý, MFF UK and IAP CAS).
- Němec, F., Rosická, K., Kolmašová, I. and Santolík, O., 2026: Lightning-generated waves detected at Mars. Sci. Adv., 12, doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeb4898.
- Sound of a captured whistler after frequency and duration adjustment (Source: Charles University, Czech Academy of Sciences)
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