Space and astrophysical plasmas: Pervasive problems

The observations and measurements given by Earth orbiting satellites, deep space probes, sub-orbital systems and orbiting astronomical observatories p oint out that there are important physical processes which are responsible for a wide variety of,phenomena in solar-terrestrial, solar-system and astr ophysical plasmas. In this review these topics are exemplified both from-an observational and a theoretical point of view.