The search for life in the Universe is a fundamental problem of astrobiology and modern science. The current progress in the detection of terrestrial-type exoplanets has opened a new avenue in the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres and in the search for biosignatures of life with the upcoming ground-based and space missions. To specify the conditions favourable for the origin, development and sustainment of life as we know it in other worlds, we need to understand the nature of global (astrospheric), and local (atmospheric and surface) environments of exoplanets in the habitable zones (HZs) around G-K-M dwarf stars including our young Sun. Global environment is formed by propagated disturbances from the planet-hosting stars in the form of stellar flares, coronal mass ejections, energetic particles and winds collectively known as astrospheric space weather. Its characterization will help in understanding how an exoplanetary ecosystem interacts with its host star, as well as in the specification of the physical, chemical and biochemical conditions that can create favourable and/or detrimental conditions for planetary climate and habitability along with evolution of planetary internal dynamics over geological timescales. A key linkage of (astro)physical, chemical and geological processes can only be understood in the framework of interdisciplinary studies with the incorporation of progress in heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary and Earth sciences. The assessment of the impacts of host stars on the climate and habitability of terrestrial (exo)planets will significantly expand the current definition of the HZ to the biogenic zone and provide new observational strategies for searching for signatures of life. The major goal of this paper is to describe and discuss the current status and recent progress in this interdisciplinary field in light of presentations and discussions during the NASA Nexus for Exoplanetary System Science funded workshop ‘Exoplanetary Space Weather, Climate and Habitability’ and to provide a new roadmap for the future development of the emerging field of exoplanetary science and astrobiology.

There is a strong correlation between coronal mass ejection transients and chromospheric H-α activity. Solar physicists hope to ascertain what causes coronal disturbances, and in our current investigation we are trying to address that problem by assessing the likelihood that a coronal disturbance is associated with other manifestations of the same abrupt, perturbing event such as a flare. The correlation, if any, between filament and flare can be derived by a method of image processing. Our next approach is to give the results of statistical research by studying a century of chromospheric Hα observations. This poster describes the concept and preliminary experiences of deriving the characteristics of a filament and a flare.

Our Sun, a magnetically mild star, exhibits space weather in the form of magnetically driven solar explosive events (SEE) including solar flares, coronal mass ejections and energetic particle events. We use Kepler data and reconstruction of X-ray and UV emission from young solar-like stars to recover the frequency and energy fluxes from extreme events from active stars including the young Sun. Extreme SEEs from a magnetically active young Sun could significantly perturb the young Earth's magnetosphere, cause strong geomagnetic storms, initiate escape and introduce chemical changes in its lower atmosphere. I present our recent simulations results based on multi-dimensional multi-fluid hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic models of interactions of extreme CME and SEP events with magnetospheres and lower atmospheres of early Earth and exoplanets around active stars. We also discuss the implications of the impact of these effects on evolving habitability conditions of the early Earth and prebiotic chemistry introduced by space weather events at the early phase of evolution of our Sun.

Kepler observations suggest that G-type stars produce powerful flares suggesting that the early Earth may also have been exposed to frequent and energetic solar explosive events generated by the young Sun. We show that powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) events associated with superflares impacting the Earth magnetosphere with a frequency of 1 event/day. What was the impact of superflares, CMEs and associated solar energetic particle (SEPs) events on the atmospheric erosion of the young Earth and habitability? In this paper we discuss our three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations that show that frequent and energetic CMEs from the early Sun continuously destroyed the sub-solar parts of Earth's magnetosphere at heights < 1.25 RE. This suggests that CME shock accelerated energetic protons are capable of penetrating into the polar cap region and breaking atmospheric molecular nitrogen, the major ingredient of the early Earth atmosphere, into atomic nitrogen. Photo-collisional dissociation of molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide creates reactive chemistry that efficiently produces nitrous oxide and hydrogen cyanide, the essential molecule in prebiotic life chemistry. This raises an possibility that frequent super-CMEs could serve as a potential catalyst for the origin of life on early Earth.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are one of the most violent phenomena found on the Sun. One model to explain their occurrence is the flux rope ejection model where these magnetic structures firt form in the solar corona then are ejected to produce a CME. We run simulations coupling two models. The Global Non-Linear Force-Free Field (GNLFFF) evolution model to follow the quasi-static formation of a flux rope and MHD simulations for the production of a CME through the loss of equilibrium and ejection of this flux rope in presence of solar gravity and density stratification. Our realistic multi-beta simulations describe the CME following the flux rope ejection and highlight the decisive role played by the gravity stratification on the CME propagation speed.

Both the origin of the quiescent prominences and their eruption related to CMEs event are still a matter of extended studies. The case of high latitudes quiescent prominences producing slow CMEs can be considered as a potential component of the slow wind. A high latitude prominence was observed on November 13 - 14, 2011. A schematic representation of flux rope is proposed to describe the magnetic structure of the prominence prior to its eruption.

We present the results of detailed study of a set of activities developed on one of three enclosed sectors of solar region during the period of February 07–13, 2012. We found the sequence of certain topological perturbations of whole coronal holes (CHs) and their surroundings associated to the eruption of nearby prominence and subsequent Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). Especially, we observe the emergence of small bright points (BPs) and the formation of dimming regions (DRs) close to the filament's channel associated with a pre–evolution of filament/prominence eruption, whereas BPs disappearance and the shrinkage of CH we found associated with the post-eruption evolution of prominence and of CME.

We know Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and flares are the most energetic phenomena happening on the Sun. Until now the information about origin and trigger mechanism of CMEs remains scarce. Also, there is unconclusive information about the association between them and flares although progress has been made in recent years. Multi-spectral observations suggested that the flare energy release occurs in regions from where the decimetric radio emission originates. In this case, investigations of the solar emission in this wavelength range can give us valuable information about these questions. During last solar maximum the Brazilian Solar Spectroscope (BSS) observed the solar radio spectrum (1–2.5 GHz) with high time (100–20 ms) and frequency (50–100 channels) resolutions on a daily (11–19 UT) basis. A survey during the period 1999–2002, shows that a significant fraction (20% –57 events) of CMEs recorded by LASCO has an association with the spectra of radio bursts recorded by BSS. Analysis of the radio spectrum associated to CME shows there is a dominance of continuum and/or pulsation and that the association becomes stronger when we consider the CME acceleration since its origin on the Sun. A statistics of this association between CME dynamics and the characteristics of decimetric radio bursts recorded by BSS is presented. Emphasis is given to observations of the association with CME start time.

Keeping in view of the modern powerful observing tools, among others Hinode (formerly SOLAR-B), STEREO and Frequency-Agile Solar Radiotelescope, and sophisticated modelling techniques, Joint Discussion 3 during the IAU General Assembly 2006 focused on the properties of magnetic field of solar active regions starting in deep interior of the Sun, from where they buoyantly rise to the coronal heights where the site of most explosive events are located. Intimately related with the active regions, the origin and evolution of the magnetic field of quiet Sun, the large scale chromospheric structures were also the focal point of the Joint Discussion. The theoretical modelling of the generation and dynamics of magnetic field in solar convective zone show that the interaction of the magnetic field with the Coriolis force and helical turbulent convection results in the tilts and twists in the emerging flux. In the photosphere, some of these fluxes appear in sunspots with field strengths up to about 6100 G. Spectro-polarimetric measurements reveal that the line of sight velocities and magnetic field of these locations are found to be uncombed and depend on depth in the atmosphere and exhibit gradients or discontinuities. The inclined magnetic fields beyond penumbra appear as moving magnetic features that do not rise above upper photospheric heights. As the flux rises, the solar chromosphere is the most immediate and intermediary layer where competitive magnetic forces begin to dominate their thermodynamic counterparts. The magnetic field at these heights is now measured using several diagnostic lines such as Ca II 854.2 nm, H I 656.3 nm, and He I 1083.0 nm. The radio observations show that the coronal magnetic field of post flare loops are of the order of 30 G, which might represent the force-free magnetic state of active region in the corona. The temperatures at these coronal heights, derived from the line widths, are in the range from 2.4 to 3.7 million degree. The same line profile measurements indicate the existence of asymmetric flows in the corona. The theoretical extrapolation of photospheric field into coronal heights and their comparison with the observations show that there exists a complex topology with separatrices associated to coronal null points. The interaction of these structures often lead to flares and coronal mass ejections. The current MHD modelling of active region field shows that for coronal mass ejection both local active region magnetic field and global magnetic field due to the surrounding magnetic flux are important. Here, we present an extended summary of the papers presented in Joint Discussion 03 and open questions related to the solar magnetic field that are likely to be the prime issue with the modern observing facilities such as Hinode and STEREO missions.

The powerful cosmic ray flare of Sept. 29, 1989 occurred behind the limb and was observed over a wide spectral range. The analysis of optical, radio, and other relevant data suggest two phases of energy release. After an impulsive phase a prolonged post eruption energy release occurred in an extended region of the corona following the eruption of a large coronal mass ejection (CME). This phase is responsible for numerous coronal and interplanetary phenomena including the ground-level increase of cosmic rays.

We review the existing literature on the coronal disconnection events (CDEs) and discuss the importance of these events in understanding coronal structures. We discuss the possible radio signatures of the CDEs and how they may be observed by radio instruments.

We propose a new viewpoint concerning the mechanism for coronal mass ejection (CME) formation in the solar corona. According to developed approach the origin of CME is connected with high-speed movement in the transition zone or lower. The high-speed flows of neutral gas are able to produce explosive events (EEs) and jets in the chromosphere by the critical ionization velocity (CIV) mechanism. They can be sources of eruptive prominences. In this case CIV phenomenon results in ion and electron heating up to tens of eV. In turn high-energy electrons can cause weak flares. The eruptive prominences generate CMEs with velocities ≥ 100 km s−1. Thus, the following chain of phenomena appears to form the observed CME: high-speed movements of neutral gas – its ionization due to CIV phenomenon – eruptive prominences (weak flares) – CMEs.