[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXIV, Issue 27

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXIV, Issue 27
May.15,2017

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

Announcement Submission Website: http://goo.gl/forms/qjcm4dDr4g

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Table of Contents

1. MEETING: Numerical Techniques in MHD Simulations, Cologne, Germany, August 16-18, 2017 - 2nd Call for Abstracts (DEADLINE June 1)

2. MEETING: Workshop on "Active Experiments in Space: Past, Present and Future" – Registration and Abstract Submission Are Open

3. SESSION: ESWW14 Session "Space Weather Effects in the Ionosphere and Thermosphere"

4. VarSITI Newsletter Vol.13

5. RHESSI Science Nugget No. 300

6. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Centre for Space Research at the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

7. JOB OPENING: Rosetta Plasma Data Scientist Postdoctoral Position

8. BOOK: “Kappa Distributions, Theory and Applications in Plasmas” by George Livadiotis

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MEETING: Numerical Techniques in MHD Simulations, Cologne, Germany, August 16-18, 2017 - 2nd Call for Abstracts (DEADLINE June 1)

From: Michael von Papen, Joachim Saur (m.papen at uni-koeln.de)

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: *Numerical techniques in MHD simulations* with PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
    August 16-18, 2017, Cologne, Germany
    mhdsim.uni-koeln.de
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS (DEADLINE June 1)

We invite authors to submit conference abstracts with up to 400 words and to register for the pre-conference workshop. Please find more information on the conference website: http://mhdsim.uni-koeln.de/

    *Abstract*

MHD simulations are an important tool to understand the complex physics of astrophysical and geophysical plasma flows.  As the frontiers are constantly pushed towards more accurate, faster and higher resolved simulations new mathematical approaches are needed to meet these goals. Therefore, the conference focuses on recent developments of numerical techniques, models, and algorithms to address challenging science questions in computational space and astrophysics. Our conference covers various approaches to describe plasmas as a fluid, i.e., single fluid, multi-fluid and Hall-MHD approaches. The aim is to bring together researchers of several fields, such as applied mathematics, computer science, space science and astrophysics in order to foster interdisciplinary discussions and to stimulate future collaborations.

   *Pre-Conference Workshop*

There will be a free pre-conference workshop designed for Master's, PhD students and early Post-Docs. The participants will get a crash course on the development of a modern MHD solver. No former experience in developing a MHD solver is required, except for a sound education in natural sciences or mathematics (or related fields) and some very basic experience in programming e.g. with MATLAB.

    *Keynote Speakers*

Michael Dumbser - University of Trento, Italy
Gabor Toth - University of Michigan, USA
Rony Keppens - KU Leuven, Belgium
Christian Klingenberg - University of Würzburg, Germany
Daniel Price - Monash University, Australia
Helen Yee - NASA Ames Research Center, USA

    *Invited Speakers*

Emmanuel Chané - KU Leuven, Belgium
Alex Lazarian - University of Wisconsin-Madison
John Lyon - Dartmouth College
Daniel Verscharen - University of New Hampshire, USA

    *Scientific Organizing Committee*

Gregor Gassner - Mathematical Institute, University of Cologne
Stefaan Poedts - Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, KU Leuven
Joachim Saur - Institute of Geophysics & Meteorology, University of Cologne
Gabor Toth - Department of Climate and Space, University of Michigan
Stefanie Walch-Gassner - 1st Institute of Physics, University of Cologne


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MEETING: Workshop on "Active Experiments in Space: Past, Present and Future" – Registration and Abstract Submission Are Open

From: Gian Luca Delzanno, Joe Borovsky (delzanno at lanl.gov)

Active Experiments in Space: Past, Present and Future
Sep 11th -14th 2017, Santa Fe (NM)
http://www.cvent.com/events/active-experiments-in-space-past-present-and-future/event-summary-73675ac6ba5745d48d181933c4783454.aspx

The registration and abstract submission for the workshop are open. These are the important deadlines:

Early Bird Registration Deadline: June 1, 2017
Deadline for Invited Abstracts: June 1, 2017
Deadline for Contributed Abstracts: July 15, 2017
Hotel Reservation Deadline: August 11, 2017


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SESSION: ESWW14 Session "Space Weather Effects in the Ionosphere and Thermosphere"

From: Anna Belehaki, Jean Lilensten (belehaki at noa.gr)

The Fourteenth European Space Weather Week will take place in Belgium, Nov 27 - Dec 1, 2017.

We encourage you to submit a contribution to the session:

SPACE WEATHER EFFECTS IN THE IONOSPHERE AND THERMOSPHERE: ADVANCES IN MONITORING, MODELING AND MITIGATION TECHNIQUES

scheduled to be held on Thursday 30/11/2017, 9:45 - 13:00

Session description:
The session aims at exploring recent advances in ionosphere-thermosphere 
measurement techniques (in situ and remote sensing), in modeling, 
nowcasting and forecasting under all possible space weather conditions, 
from quiet to extremely disturbed. Emphasis will be given on new space 
weather products and services derived with the above techniques, 
including indices and proxies to support communication, navigation, 
positioning systems, satellites’ orbitography and mitigation technologies

Please connect to https://register-as.oma.be/esww14/abstract.php to submit your contribution.

Deadline for submissions is 31 May 2017.

Anna Belehaki; Jean Lilensten
Session organizers


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VarSITI Newsletter Vol.13

From: Kazuo Shiokawa  (shiokawa at nagoya-u.jp)

>From Kazuo Shiokawa (shiokawa at nagoya-u.jp)

SCOSTEP's VarSITI (Variability of the Sun and Its Terrestrial Impact, 2014-2018)

VarSITI Newsletter volume 13 has now been published.  The PDF file is available at 
http://newserver.stil.bas.bg/varsiti/newsL/VarSITI_Newsletter_Vol13.pdf
Below are the contents of this volume.  

Contents of VarSITI Newsletter Volume 13

Articles
  1. Arase (ERG) Launch
  2. Digitization of 29,296 Drawings of Sunspots on the Solar Disk made at the Zurich Observatory since 1883

Highlight on Young Scientists
  1. Ryan McGranaghan/ USA
  2. Ville Maliniemi/ Finland

Meeting Report
  1. 40th Annual Seminar“Physics of the auroral phenomena", Apatity, Russia, 13-17 March 2017
  2. The "10 Years Neutron Monitor Data Base" Workshop
  3. Summary report of Data Analysis Workshop on Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and Radio Bursts: Mekelle, Ethiopia

Upcoming Meetings

Short News
  1. "MiniMax" Julia K. Thalmann received EGU Arne Richter Award


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RHESSI Science Nugget No. 300

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

“A Lasso Model for Solar Gamma-Ray Events,” by Hugh Hudson. Retracting large-scale coronal magnetic fields can trap SEP particles to support a long-duration gamma-ray event.

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 Fellowship, Centre for Space Research at the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

From: Marius Potgieter (Marius.Potgieter at nwu.ac.za)

The successful candidate will be expected to play an active role in research on Computational Heliospheric Physics in the Centre for Space Research (CSR) at the North-West University in South Africa. This group has a strong research team with the computational modeling research of the group internationally recognized within the Cosmic Ray, Heliospheric & Space Physics and Astrophysics communities. 

Applicants must have experience in computational modeling and a recently obtained PhD in Computational Space Physics, Heliospheric or Space Physics, Cosmic Ray Physics or Astrophysics. For more information contact the program leader Prof M S (Marius) Potgieter  directly (Marius.Potgieter at nwu.ac.za). 

The successful candidate may also be involved in the teaching of physics and the supervision of research projects for post graduate students. The appointment can be up to three years contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance. 

Candidates should submit electronically a CV before 15 July 2017, including a cover letter describing their research experience and interests, a list of publications and personal information, the names and contact information of three references, to the director of the CSR, Prof Stefan Ferreira (Stefan.Ferreira at nwu.ac.za) with a copy to Prof Marius Potgieter.  The North-West University (http://www.nwu.ac.za) is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment


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JOB OPENING: Rosetta Plasma Data Scientist Postdoctoral Position

From: Pierre HENRI (pierre.henri at cnrs-orleans.fr)

A data scientist postdoctoral position has become available at the CNRS laboratory LPC2E, located in Orléans, France (1 hour south of Paris), for the analysis of in situ space plasma data from the European Space Agency (ESA) cometary exploratory mission Rosetta. The initial contract is for 1 year with a possible extension for a 2nd year. 

CONTEXT
Rosetta landed on comet 67P/CG in Sept. 2016, after more than two years of operations. The Rosetta scientific teams are now focusing on data analysis and multi-instrument cross-calibration. Cross-calibrated dataset will eventually be archived on the ESA’s Planetary Science Archive. The Mutual Impedance Probe experiment (RPC-MIP) on board the ESA Rosetta spacecraft, under CNRS PIship (LPC2E laboratory), is designed to measure the plasma density, in order to characterise the cometary ionosphere/induced magnetosphere of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its interaction with the solar wind, in collaboration with the other experiments of the Rosetta Plasma Consortium (RPC).

JOB DESCRIPTION
-   Rosetta RPC data treatment, analysis and associated science, focusing on the dynamics of the highly variable ionised cometary environment;
-   inter-calibration between RPC-MIP data and other Rosetta/RPC dataset;
-   support to data archiving on ESA’s Planetary Science Archive (PSA).

REQUIRED SKILLS
-    Physics and mathematics skills (plasma / fluid dynamics, waves, or similar topics);
-    data analysis, signal processing, statistics;
-    computational skills (IDL or equivalent);
-    team work and interactions with international research teams.

Contact for details: Pierre HENRI (pierre.henri at cnrs-orleans.fr)


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BOOK: “Kappa Distributions, Theory and Applications in Plasmas” by George Livadiotis

From: George Livadiotis (glivadiotis at swri.edu)

“Kappa Distributions, Theory and Applications in Plasmas” presents the theoretical developments of kappa distributions, their implications in plasmas, and how they affect the underpinnings of our understanding of space plasma physics.

The book is separated into three major parts, (A) theoretical methods, (B) analytical methods in plasmas, and (C) applications in space plasmas. Part (A) presents basic aspects of the theory of kappa distributions, beginning with the connection of kappa distributions with statistical mechanics. Part (B) is devoted to analytical methods related to kappa distributions on basic plasma topics, spanning linear/nonlinear plasma waves, solitons, shockwaves, and dusty plasmas. Part (C) focuses on applications of theoretical and analytical developments in space plasmas.

- Answers important questions, such as how plasma waves are affected by kappa distributions and how solar wind and planetary magnetospheres can be modeled using kappa distributions.
- Presents the features of kappa distributions in the context of space plasmas, including how kappa indices, temperatures, and densities vary among the various species populations in different space plasmas.
- Provides readers with the information they need to decide which specific formula of kappa distribution should be used for a certain occasion and system.

More information, including the table of contents, can be found at the official Elsevier website: 
https://www.elsevier.com/books/kappa-distributions/livadiotis/978-0-12-804638-8


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