[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXIII, Issue 23

Sun May 8 20:30:27 PDT 2016

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXIII, Issue 23
May.08,2016

Editor: Peter Chi
Co-Editor: Guan Le
Distribution Support: Marjorie Sowmendran, Todd King, Kevin Addison
E-mail: editor at igpp.ucla.edu

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Table of Contents

1. JGR-Space Physics Editor Blog Monthly Highlights

2. “Grand Challenge: Cusp” Initiative

3. Extension of ISAS/JAXA Geotail through March 2019 

4. MEETING:  SPD 2016 -- Scientific Program & Other Meeting Updates

5. MEETING: Solar Physics with Radio Observations - Continued Operation of Nobeyama Radioheliograph, September 9-10 2016, Nagoya, JAPAN

6. RHESSI Science Nugget No. 273

7. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Assistant II, University of Alabama in Huntsville

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JGR-Space Physics Editor Blog Monthly Highlights

From: Mike Liemohn (liemohn at umich.edu)

The big news in April with which I would like your help:  we have augmented the list of Areas of Expertise in GEMS, and I would greatly appreciate it if everyone in the space physics community could log in and update their profile.  Plus, several posts on thanking reviewers.

April 8: Reviewer statistics for 2015

https://liemohnjgrspace.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/reviewer-statistics-for-2015/

April 19:  Thanking reviewers has changed for AGU journals

https://liemohnjgrspace.wordpress.com/2016/04/19/no-more-editorial-thank-yous/

April 27: New "Areas of Expertise" in GEMS:  please update your profile

https://liemohnjgrspace.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/new-areas-of-expertise-in-gems/

Main Website:   http://liemohnjgrspace.wordpress.com/

Mike Liemohn, JGR-Space Physics Editor-in-Chief 

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“Grand Challenge: Cusp” Initiative

From: Doug Rowland (douglas.e.rowland at nasa.gov)

The Grand Challenge Initiative Cusp Project

The Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) is a large-scale international collaboration effort targeting advancement in specific, fundamental issues in space and earth science.  The GCI concept was conceived and developed over the past two years by the Andoya Space Center (ASC) and the University of Oslo.   Their work has culminated in the first GCI project - “GCI Cusp” - to determine the multi-scale physics of heating and charged particle precipitation in the ionosphere specific to the geomagnetic cusp region.

The GCI Cusp Project is designed to advance the common understanding of cusp region space physics through coordinated experimental and theoretical research using ground based instruments, modeling, sounding rocket investigations, and satellite based instruments.  International student participation through space plasma model development and a dedicated student rocket is an essential aspect of the GCI concept.  Strategic use of public outreach, particularly via the tools of social media, is also a vital component of the GCI Cusp Project. 

The core of the GCI Cusp Project is a series of sounding rocket missions independently conceived and developed through the respective space exploration agencies of the US, Norway and Japan.  The rockets will be launched in conjunction with observations of the cusp from an aggregate of state-of-the-art ground-based scientific instrumentation, including incoherent and coherent backscatter radars, all-sky cameras, meridian scanning photometers, magnetometers, and other instruments, which will operate continuously throughout the launch window.  The formulation (and topic) of this initial GCI project followed the recognition of the tremendous increase in scientific return available from coordination of these independently initiated missions.  Additional sounding rocket missions from these agencies as well as other national agencies are under consideration to complement the current project and expand further the scale of international collaboration.  

The core GCI Cusp observational activities will be conducted in the high northern latitude region surrounding the Svalbard archipelago in late 2018 and early 2019.  Additional observational activities related to the GCI Cusp topic during other time intervals - such as a sounding rocket mission currently scheduled for 2017 – can also contribute to the overall GCI Cusp project.  The GCI Cusp sounding rocket missions will be launched from the ASC’s Andoya and Svalrak launch sites while data are simultaneously gathered from the ground-based scientific instrumentation available to study the targeted Cusp and related phenomena.  Further participation in this exciting new “Challenge” is encouraged and anticipated.  

A GCI “Cusp” website will be available soon.  To find more information on this research initiative, please contact anyone of the individuals listed below.

Mr. Kjell Boen, Grand Challenge Initiative Project Manger (Norway – Andoya Space Center)
• kjellb at andoyaspace.no
Mr. John Hickman, GCI Deputy Project Manager (US – NASA Sounding Rocket Program)
• John.C.Hickman at nasa.gov
Dr. Joran Moen, GCI Project Scientist (Norway – University of Oslo)
• joran.moen at fys.uio.no
Dr. Doug Rowland, GCI Deputy Project Scientist (US – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
• douglas.e.rowland at nasa.gov
Mr Kolbjorn Blix, GCI Student Rocket/Public Outreach Coordinator (Norway - ASC)
• kolbjorn at andoyaspace.no

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Extension of ISAS/JAXA Geotail through March 2019 

From: Yoshifumi Saito ( saito at stp.isas.jaxa.jp )

On 13 April, ISAS/JAXA has decided Geotail operation extension for three years. 
After the launch of the joint U.S.-Japan satellite Geotail in 1992, it has been 
continuously operated for more than two solar cycles. Although all the fuel has 
been already exhausted, the spacecraft system is still in good condition and most of the onboard science instruments are in operation. Since new science results are expected by cooperating with MMS, THEMIS and ISAS/JAXA’s ERG spacecraft (planning to be launched in 2016) during the coming years, ISAS/JAXA has decided the Geotail operation extension until the end of March 2019. The acquired data continue to be accessible from the ISAS data center 
DARTS (http://www.darts.isas.jaxa.jp/stp/geotail/).

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MEETING: SPD 2016 -- Scientific Program & Other Meeting Updates

From: P. Piano (ppiano at nso.edu)

MEETING:  SPD 2016 -- Scientific Program & Other Meeting Updates
From:  Valentin Martinez Pillet (vmpillet at nso.edu) 

Dear Colleagues,

Some important information and updates about the upcoming 47th Solar Physics Division Meeting (31 May - 03 June,  2016) in Boulder, CO (http://www.nso.edu/SPD2016). 

•The scientific program has been published.  See: http://www.nso.edu/SPD2016-schedule, or browse it (including abstracts) at: https://spd47.abstractcentral.com/planner.jsp;
•The reservation deadline for SPD-designated hotels is *May 6, 2016*. See http://www.nso.edu/SPD2016-accommodation; 
•The standard online registration deadline is *May 16, 2016*. After this deadline, registration will only be available in person at the meeting.

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MEETING: Solar Physics with Radio Observations - Continued Operation of Nobeyama Radioheliograph, September 9-10 2016, Nagoya, JAPAN

From: Kiyoto Shibasaki (shibasaki.kiyoto at md.ccnw.ne.jp)

First Circular

Solar Physics with Radio Observations - Continued Operation of Nobeyama Radioheliograph -
http://st4a.stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp/SPRO2016/

Date: September 9 (Fri.) and 10 (Sat.), 2016
Venue: Nagoya University
Access: http://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/access/index.html
Campus map: http://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/map/index.html

SOC: K. S. Cho, N. Gopalswamy, M. Ishii, S. Masuda, K. Shibasaki (chair), and Y. Yan
LOC: S. Masuda (chair), ISEE staff
Objective of the meeting:
Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) has been observing the Sun since 1992. After March 2015, International Consortium for the Continued Operation of Nobeyama Radioheliograph (ICCON) took over the operation from NAOJ and operated successfully for more than one year.  To enhance science output from NoRH, we wish to organize a symposium to discuss new science results from NoRH and future targets of NoRH.  Recently, many new radio telescopes started solar observations.  This symposium is also a good chance to learn about them and to discuss collaboration with NoRH.

Deadlines for abstract submission and registration:
  July 31, 2016
      http://st4a.stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp/SPRO2016/

Sponsors:
 ICCON, ISEE (Nagoya U.)

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RHESSI Science Nugget No. 273

From: Hugh Hudson (hhudson at ssl.berkeley.edu)

“Electron acceleration and hard X-ray emission from SOL2013-11-09,” by Yuri Tsap and Galina Motorina. Testing the thick-target model in an interesting flare!

See 
http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/RHESSI_Science_Nuggets

listing the current series, 2008-present, and

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/nuggets/ 

for the original series, 2005-2008.

We publish these at roughly two-week intervals and welcome contributions,
which should be related, at least loosely, to RHESSI science.

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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Assistant II, University of Alabama in Huntsville

From: Nikolai V Pogorelov (np0002 at uah.edu)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant II

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is accepting applications for the regular full-time position of Postdoctoral Research Assistant II to work in the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research.  The research will involve modeling of the solar wind interaction with the local interstellar medium with the focus on instabilities and magnetic reconnection occurring locally in the turbulent plasma near the heliopause. The research will be performed using a software suite (Multi-Scale Fluid-Kinetic Simulation Suite, MS—FLUKSS) developed at CSPAR. MS-FLUKSS is built on the Chombo adaptive mesh refinement framework and allows self-consistent solution of MHD, gas dynamics Euler, and kinetic Boltzmann equations.  The code is scalable to over 150,000 computing cores and was ported to major national supercomputers. The successful candidate is expected to have a recent Ph.D. in Physics or Space Sciences, 12-21 months of full-time related work experience, must have extensive experience in object-oriented programing in C++, parallel programming using MPI and OpenMP, and the ability to work with big codes, must have experience in modeling plasma flows on supercomputers. Experience in data analysis and modeling turbulent flows is desired.

The approximate annual salary range for this position is $43,209 - $50,315. Applicants should submit a letter describing their research interests, a curriculum vitae, and reference letters. The appointment will be initially for one year, with the possibility of renewal for another year. Questions should be addressed to Professor Nikolai Pogorelov at np0002 at uah.edu. Qualified applicants should apply on-line at http://uah.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=71283

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER OF MINORITIES/FEMALES/VETERANS/DISABLED

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