[GEM] THE GEM MESSENGER, Volume 28, Number 33

[Newsletter Editor]

***************************
     THE GEM MESSENGER
***************************

Volume 28, Number 33
Aug.01,2018

Announcement submission website: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gem/messenger_form/

============================================================
Table of Contents

1. GEM Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling Focus Group: 2018 Workshop Report

2. AGU Fall Meeting Session SH033: Future Innovation Across Space Physics and Aeronomy

3. AGU Fall Meeting Session SA010: Identifying and Mitigating Challenges Related to “Big Data” in Space Science

4. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Positions in Space Physics at Southern University of Science and Technology

============================================================

------------------------------------------------------------
1. GEM Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling Focus Group: 2018 Workshop Report
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Weichao Tu, Wen Li, Jay Albert, and Steve Morley (wetu at mail.wvu.edu)

In the 2018 GEM Summer Workshop, “Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling” (QARBM) Focus Group had its final year and held three sessions on Wednesday June 20 and Thursday June 21. All of the sessions were well-attended with helpful discussions. There were two invited scene-setting talks, 21 contributed short talks, and one panel discussion over the three sessions, covering a wide range of topics, as listed below:

Session 1 - “RB enhancement”

In the first session nine talks were presented on the observational and modeling studies of the enhancements of relativistic and ultra-relativistic electrons in the Earth’s radiation belts. The session started with an invited scene-setting talk on the recent advances and open questions in radiation belt (RB) enhancements. Among the following contributed talks, three talks were given on statistical data analysis of the RB enhancements, with topics including: a survey of the electron phase space densities during the Van Allen Probes era to resolve what causes RB enhancements, effects of solar wind and magnetospheric processes on the ultra-relativistic electron acceleration in the outer radiation belt, and a correlation study between the initial enhancements of energetic electrons and the innermost plasmapause locations during storm periods. In addition, there were three talks focusing on the modeling results of RB enhancements, including a quantitative analysis of the radiation-belt electron phase-space-density responses utilizing the data-assimilative VERB code, global MHD test particle simulations to quantify the relativistic electron advection during CME-shock driven storms, and VERB simulation for the RB Challenge events selected by our FG. At the end of the session, we had two talks focusing on the nonlinear wave particle interactions which can potentially lead to enhancements in the radiation belts, one on the electrostatic steepening of whistler waves, and the other on the electron nonlinear resonant interaction with short and intense parallel chorus wave-packets.

Session 2 - “RB dropout”

This session focused on observational and modeling studies of radiation belt electron dropouts. The session started with an invited scene-setting talk on recent advances and open questions in radiation belt dropout. The following three contributed talks discussed radiation belt electron loss from the observational perspective, including empirical estimates of electron lifetimes, a statistical survey of radiation belt dropouts, and MeV electron dropouts without MeV proton dropout. The next two talks focused on discussing the role of EMIC waves during the RB Dropout Challenge events selected by our FG. The following talk focused on electron bounce resonant scattering by magnetosonic waves and another one discussed the coherent spatial scale of chorus and hiss. In addition, we had one talk focusing on modeling a non-storm dropout event using the VERB code. Finally, a newly selected REAL CubeSat Mission was presented to show a great potential to improve our understanding of energetic particle precipitation in the near future.

Session 3 - “Wrap-up and Future Outlook”

The final session of the Focus Group started with brief introductions to several other upcoming satellite missions: Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE), Compact Radiation Belt Explorer (CeREs), GTOSat, and Demonstrations and Science Experiment (DSX). This was followed by a summary of the Radiation Belt Simulation “Challenge”; the collected modeling resources will remain available on the GEM website for further work. Finally, an invited panel presented 5 individual perspectives on persistent and new problems in radiation belt studies. Some common themes included better understanding of dropouts, including the roles played by microbursts and magnetopause shadowing; better characterization of wave spatial and temporal coherence scales; the global effects of nonlinear wave-particle interactions and nonlinear/time-domain structures; the puzzling behavior of energetic electrons in the inner zone; and how to best exploit analytical tools like data assimilation and machine learning.


------------------------------------------------------------
2. AGU Fall Meeting Session SH033: Future Innovation Across Space Physics and Aeronomy
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Carrie Black, Joshua L Semeter, Elsayed Talaat, Roshanak Hakimzadeh (cblack at nsf.gov)

Dear Colleagues,

We welcome contributions to AGU session SH033, Visions of Future Innovation Across Space Physics and Aeronomy.   This session builds upon last year's, with a focus on connecting specific gaps in our understanding of the solar-terrestrial system with innovative approaches (techniques, facilities, collaborations) for filling them.   

Session Details: 
SH033 Visions of Future Innovation Across Space Physics and Aeronomy II
https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm18/prelim.cgi/Session/50983
Cross listed with SM and SA 
Submission Link

Description:
Our inaugural session on Innovation was received extremely well, indicating the need for outside the box visioning across SPA. This year, we solicit innovative and diverse scientific and technological visions, specifically targeting the areas where there are gaps in our understanding that can and should be filled. Recent results have illustrated gaps in our current framework of science, particularly in coupling interdisciplinary areas. A few examples are: the challenges of transitions in spaceweather R2O2R, the increased need for instrument networks, coupling heterogeneous datasets, model coupling across boundaries, and the stagnant progress on increasing diversity. These gaps prevent closure and stagnate progress. This year, we aim to shed light on these gaps and seek presentations that will bring to bear old questions that can newly be answered leading to new questions that should be targeted. We welcome ideas addressing scientific, technological, and social challenges across the space physics.

Conveners
Carrie Black, National Science Foundation
Joshua L Semeter, Boston University
Elsayed R Talaat, NOAA/NESDIS
Roshanak Hakimzadeh, NASA

Conveners:
Carrie Black | National Science Foundation
Joshua L Semeter | Boston Univ
Elsayed R Talaat | NOAA/NESDIS
Roshanak Hakimzadeh | NASA

Note: Abstract submission deadline is August 1, 23:59 EDT


------------------------------------------------------------
3. AGU Fall Meeting Session SA010: Identifying and Mitigating Challenges Related to “Big Data” in Space Science
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Kshitija Deshpande (deshpank at erau.edu)

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to present your work at our session (SA010): ‘Identifying and Mitigating Challenges Related to “Big Data” in Space Science’ at the 2018 Fall AGU meeting. Abstracts are due 1 August 2018 at 23:59 EDT.

Session ID: 52211 
Session Title: SA010. Identifying and Mitigating Challenges Related to “Big Data” in Space Science 
Section/Focus Group: SPA-Aeronomy 
View Session Details: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm18/prelim.cgi/Session/52211 

Session Description:
Ever larger volumes of many types of observational data are becoming available to the space science community due to the continual addition of ground-based sensors (e.g. photometers, ionosondes, MST radar, etc.) and the growing popularity of CubeSat constellation concepts.  The intent of this session is to explore various aspects of this topic such as: 1) Applying “Big Data”techniques and architecture to current and future constellations and ground sensor networks, 2) Linking available large ground and/or space-based data sets to their ability to address specific science topics alone or in combination, 3) Present ideas for global coverage metrics for specific types of observations, 4) Address the potential of cumulative errors resulting from ingestion of large volume data from sensor networks including their impact on global models.  We welcome presentations that address any of the four listed areas as well observational/modeling science studies utilizing large and multi-sensor data sets.

Here is a link to the abstract submission:
https://fallmeeting.agu.org/2018/abstract-submissions/

Sincerely,
Rebecca L Bishop, Romina Nikoukar, Kshitija Deshpande and Cheryl Y Huang


------------------------------------------------------------
4. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Positions in Space Physics at Southern University of Science and Technology
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Kaijun Liu (liukj at sustc.edu.cn)

Multiple postdoctoral positions are available in the field of space (plasma) physics at Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China with an expected starting date in the beginning of 2019. The selected candidates will work on with Dr. Kaijun Liu and/or Dr. Jian Yang in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences (http://ess.sustc.edu.cn/Index-index.html). The topics will include plasma wave excitation and the related particle scattering in Earth’s radiation belts, auroral dynamics, numerical simulations of Earth’s and planetary magnetospheres. 

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in space physics (or a related field) or soon to be completed. Experience in plasma simulations is highly desirable. The positions are for two years with the possibility of an extension based on performance and funding availability. Salary (typically between 250,000 and 350,000 RMB) and benefits will be commensurate with education and experience.

Interested candidates should send curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, along with a list of three references and contact information to Ms. Anka Chen at chenak at mail.sustc.edu.cn. Please refer to “Space Physics Postdoc” in the cover letter. Inquiries about the positions should be addressed to Dr. Kaijun Liu (liukj at sustc.edu.cn) or Dr. Jian Yang (yangj36 at sustc.edu.cn). Review of applications will begin on Oct. 1, 2018, and will continue until the positions are filled. 


========================================
The Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) program is sponsored by the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

To broadcast announcements to the GEM community, please fill out the online request form at:

http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gem/messenger_form/

To subscribe to the newsletter, please go to the web page at:
http://lists.igpp.ucla.edu/mailman/listinfo/gem
(IMPORTANT: Do not use this web page to post announcements.)

For any other questions, please contact Peter Chi, GEM Communications Coordinator, at <pchi at igpp.ucla.edu>

URL of GEM Home Page:  http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki
Workshop Information:  http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html
========================================