Parallel sessions

Electrical currents play a key role in space plasma research in a variety of different regimes. Small-scale currents are a large part of the microphysics currently being investigated by MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale) at Earth, shedding light on reconnection, turbulence, and shocks. At larger scales, field-aligned currents (also known as Birkeland currents) electrodynamically communicate stresses between different areas of planetary magnetospheres; these have been investigated with local in-situ measurements at Earth (e.g. Swarm), Jupiter (Juno) and Saturn (Cassini), as well as global-scale measurements at Earth with AMPERE (the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment). Currents flow above the ionosphere, connected to large-scale plasma flows, which are a key area of interest for understanding how the ionosphere reacts to external stimuli from the solar wind. And, finally, geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) flow at Earth's surface as a result of the ionospheric current flows. Understanding these small- and large-scale current systems is vital to understanding solar wind-magnetosphere interactions through the solar system. This session aims to bring people working on current systems in all contexts together and we particularly encourage people to submit abstracts concerning the following topics: Currents in solar or stellar contexts; The relationship between different current systems (e.g. ionospheric currents and GICs) ; Large-scale statistical analysis of current systems; Modelling of current systems; Current systems relevant to microphysics