Summary
Space weather impacts on some important modern technologies, particularly those that depend on satellites. The La Trobe Space Physics Research Group studies the basic physical causes of space weather phenomena in geospace, the interface between Earth and interplanetary space. The investigations are based primarily on three experimental techniques: the Tasman International Geospace Environment Radar (TIGER) dual HF radar system; optical spectrometers used to study auroral and airglow emissions; and GPS tomography using the Australian satellite FedSat. Future plans include development of rocket instruments to be flown from Woomera. This paper will first present a brief overview of some relevant aspects of solar windmagnetosphere- ionosphere coupling that are the main drivers of space weather in geospace. The La Trobe research program will be described and recent research results of storm-related structure in the plasmasphere, sub-auroral motions and thermospheric wind fields will be presented and discussed. Finally, future research directions will be described.