[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXV, Issue 70

Thu Nov 8 06:37:34 PST 2018

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXV, Issue 70
Nov.08,2018

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Table of Contents

1. AGU/SPA Volunteer Opportunity

2. Harnessing the Data Revolution: Data Science Corps (HDR DSC) Building Capacity for HDR

3. MEETING: IRIS-10 Science Workshop, November 5-8, 2019, Shenzhen, China -- First Announcement

4. Haystack's Nineteenth Annual Michael J. Buonsanto Memorial Lecture - Tuesday, 20 November at 3:00 pm EST

5. SESSION: Mini GEM FG Session Announcement: “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)” 

6. Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM) Released

7. JOB OPENING: On-site R&D Manager - AER Space Weather Division - Albuquerque/AFRL/Kirtland AFB

8. Graduate Studies in the Solar-Stellar Connection at Georgia State University

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

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AGU/SPA Volunteer Opportunity

From: Christina Cohen, Larry Paxton (cohen at srl.caltech.edu)

AGU/SPA is your community - do you want to know more about what is happening?  Do you want to help foster improved communication?  Do you want to be involved?

We’re looking for a volunteer to work with AGU to manage the SPA section website.  AGU is happy to provide training and guidance on accessing/editing our AGU-hosted webpage and the SPA leadership will be grateful for an improved and updated website.

If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact either Larry Paxton (Larry.Paxton at jhuapl.edu) or Christina Cohen (cohen at srl.caltech.edu).  Students are especially encouraged!

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Harnessing the Data Revolution: Data Science Corps (HDR DSC)  Building Capacity for HDR

From: Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov)

Dear Colleagues, 

A new NSF program solicitation (NSF 19-518) is now available: 

Harnessing the Data Revolution: Data Science Corps (HDR DSC) 
Building Capacity for HDR 

Please see 

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505536 

for details. 

Full Proposal Window: January 28, 2019 - February 4, 2019 

Excerpts from the Program Solicitation: 

The Data Science Corps is one of the components of the NSF Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR) ecosystem, focusing on building capacity for harnessing the data revolution at the local, state, national, and international levels to help unleash the power of data in the service of science and society. The Data Science Corps will provide practical experiences, teach new skills, and offer teaching opportunities, in a variety of settings, to data scientists and data science students. It will also strive to promote data literacy and provide basic training in data science to the existing workforce across communities. 

As a first step in establishing the Data Science Corps, this solicitation focuses specifically on enabling participation by undergraduate students in the Data Science Corps, by supporting student stipends for participation in data science projects and supporting integration of real-world data science projects into classroom instruction. 

Proposals responding to this solicitation must be structured to include one coordinating organization, and one or more implementation organizations. The lead PI’s organization will serve as the coordinating organization and undertake responsibilities related to coordination, monitoring, and evaluation. One or more implementation organizations should be affiliated with each coordinating organization. A single organization may occupy both roles—coordinating and implementation. However, participation by more than one organization is expected in each Data Science Corps award. 

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MEETING: IRIS-10 Science Workshop, November 5-8, 2019, Shenzhen, China -- First Announcement

From: Hui Tian (tianhui924 at gmail.com)

The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) is a small explorer mission of NASA. Its primary scientific objective is to understand how the solar atmosphere is energized. The IRIS investigation combines advanced numerical modeling with a high resolution UV imaging spectrograph. Being jointly organized by Peking University and Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, the IRIS-10 science workshop will be held during November 5-8, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen is the fastest growing city after China’s reform and opening in 1978. It is located in the southern part of China and very close to Hong Kong.

Tentative Science Sessions:
(1) Fundamental plasma processes
(2) Chromospheric dynamics
(3) Thermal and magnetic coupling through the atmosphere
(4) Solar flares and coronal mass ejections
(5) Science with future facilities

Scientific Organizing Committee:
Hui Tian (Peking University, China; Chair)
Patrick Antolin (University of St Andrews, UK)
Joel Allred (NASA/GSFC, USA)
Jaime de la Cruz Rodriguez (Institute for Solar Physics, Sweden)
Bart De Pontieu (Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, USA)
Louise Harra (University College London, UK)
Lei Ni (Yunnan Observatories, China)
Vanessa Polito (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA)
Brigitte Schmieder (Paris Observatory, France)
Abhishek Kumar Srivastava (Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, India)
Takaaki Yokoyama (University of Tokyo, Japan)
Ding Yuan (Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, China)

Local Organizing Committee:
Ding Yuan (Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen; Chair)
Pingbing Zuo (Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen)
Chaowei Jiang (Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen)
Hong Li (Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen)
Hui Tian (Peking University)
Yajie Chen (Peking University)

This is the first announcement of the meeting to allow potential contributors to save the date. Information about the meeting organization and scientific program will be announced in the next few months.
For further information, please contact Hui Tian at tianhui924 at gmail.com or Ding Yuan at yuanding at hit.edu.cn.

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Haystack's Nineteenth Annual Michael J. Buonsanto Memorial Lecture - Tuesday, 20 November at 3:00 pm EST

From: Phil Erickson (pje at mit.edu)

On behalf of MIT Haystack Observatory, we are pleased to announce the availability of a live stream for the Nineteenth Annual Michael J. Buonsanto Memorial Lecture, presented by

Larisa Goncharenko
Research Scientist
MIT Haystack Observatory

Title:
“How Sudden Stratospheric Warnings Affect the Whole Atmosphere: The Butterfly Effect in Action”

Tuesday, 20 November 2018
3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (20 UTC)
MIT Haystack Conference Room A

The lecture's frontier science topic is directly relevant to both ionospheric and neutral atmosphere studies.  Students, professors, and researchers from the international atmospheric science community are encouraged to attend.  

The lecture will be live streamed beginning at 3 pm EST (20 UTC).  Full details are available now at the Buonsanto lecture series page:

https://www.haystack.mit.edu/buonsanto.html

Note that the live streaming video link will be available at the top of the page shortly before the lecture start.

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SESSION: Mini GEM FG Session Announcement: “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)” 

From: Hyomin Kim, Robert Lysak, Tomoko Matsuo (hmkim at njit.edu)

We invite you to participate in our mini GEM focus group session, “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)”. The main goal of this focus group proposal is to understand the interhemispheric symmetry/asymmetry in geomagnetic fields and its effects on M-I coupling. Observational and modeling studies have shown the interhemispheric differences which are manifested in various signatures, e.g., large-scale current systems, auroral forms, waves, ion upflow, outflow, particle precipitation, high-latitude convection and thermospheric winds. The focus group addresses questions as to how to incorporate interhemispheric differences and their effects on M-I coupling in observations and modeling/simulations. 

More detailed information can be found on the GEM Wiki page at http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki/index.php/FG:_Interhemispheric_Approaches_to_Understand_M-I_Coupling_%28IHMIC%29

Please send your presentation title if you wish to present your research related to the IHMIC FG topics. 

The session will take place in Room 5 (Potomac) from 13:50-15:20, on Sunday December 9th at the Hilton Old Town Alexandria in Alexandria, Virginia (1767 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314). 

More information about the mini GEM Workshop can be found at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem-mini/

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Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM) Released

From: PT Jayachandran (jaya at unb.ca)

We are pleased to announce that the University of New Brunswick Radio Physics Lab has completed the development of the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM) and has released the model for scientific use at https://e-chaim.chain-project.net. E-CHAIM is an empirical model of high-latitude electron density, intended as an alternative to the current International Standards Organization (ISO) recognized ionospheric standard, the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), for applications at or above 50N geomagnetic latitude. The model features versions in Matlab, IDL, and C, with a Python interface under development. The model also features a daily-updated database of geomagnetic (AE, ap, Kp, Dst, PC, etc.) and solar indices (Rz, F10.7, etc.) that can be used as a stand-alone reference. This database is readily available for users at the E-CHAIM website.

The E-CHAIM parameterization is described in detail in Themens et al. [2017] and [2018]. The model applies a new approach to modeling the bottomside that avoids the need for a piece-wise approach, features an update to the IRI and NeQuick’s topside function, and is capable of resolving large-scale high-latitude features, such as the Main Ionospheric Trough (MIT) and the reduced altitude of the ionosphere in the auroral oval, that are not resolved by current standards. The model profiles and spatial variability are explicitly doubly differentiable, analytically differentiable, and continuous, making the model basis ideal for application in data assimilation frameworks. 

Additional features, such as functions for producing the analytically-derived derivatives of the model parameters and functions to generate maps of the E-CHAIM fitting errors, are under development and will be released as we build on user feedback over the coming year. 

E-CHAIM was funded under the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)’s All Domain Situational Awareness Program.

References:

Themens, D.R., et al. (2018). Topside Electron Density Representations for Middle and High Latitudes: A Topside Parameterization for E-CHAIM based on the NeQuick, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 123, doi: 10.1002/2017JA024817.

Themens, D.R., P.T. Jayachandran, I. Galkin, and C. Hall (2017). The Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM): NmF2 and hmF2, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, doi: 10.1002/2017JA024398.

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JOB OPENING: On-site R&D Manager - AER Space Weather Division - Albuquerque/AFRL/Kirtland AFB

From: Richard A Quinn (rquinn at aer.com)

Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) has an immediate need for a senior technical professional to manage multiple Research and Development teams on site at the Air Force Research Laboratory at the Kirtland AFB, NM location. AER’s R&D efforts at AFRL span basic and applied research, software development and integrated technology support in the areas of space environment and space weather. AER supports operations regarding the data collection, processing and distribution of both satellite and ground-based measurements. Candidates will support mentoring, training and coordination of project management activities, development and application of software best practices and customer interface and business development activities. Additional activities will include assisting with the research, development, technical support, and data center continued upgrades, and design for the future integration of additional physical models. Proven ability to manage R&D teams and projects, address complex software problems, oversee data quality, supervise scientific and engineering employees and strong customer communication is required. Successful applicant will have opportunities to manage and contribute to scientific research, presentations & publications, as well as corporate R&D efforts. Skill writing effective proposals and managing contracts and subcontracts is a plus. Strong leadership skills are essential. Background in space weather highly desirable. Full description and application available at: https://careers.verisk.com/viewjob.html?optlink-view=view-61658&ERFormID=newjoblist&ERFormCode=any

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Graduate Studies in the Solar-Stellar Connection at Georgia State University

From: Jane Pratt (jpratt7 at gsu.edu)

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) invites applications from prospective graduate students interested in the solar-stellar connection.  We seek highly motivated, qualified candidates with initial degrees in Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or Computer Science and a good working knowledge of English.  Experience in programming with MPI-Fortran, Python, or other high-level languages, and knowledge of numerical methods is desirable.  The deadline for application is January 15th, 2019.  Successful candidates will enter the program in Fall 2019.  Research assistantships are available.  Prospective students should apply at https://www.phy-astr.gsu.edu/graduate/admissions/

We study space plasma physics, solar/stellar physics, and space weather.  New PhD projects will focus on one of several areas:
(1) Developing data analytics methods to predict solar flares and eruptions.
(2) Predicting space weather and space climate.
(3) Producing, understanding, and interpreting new helioseismology and astroseismology data.
(4) Theoretical/computational modeling of stars using hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic simulations.

These PhD projects will use new computer systems at Georgia State University, national and international supercomputers, and data from world-class telescopes.   Inquiries about the program and the application process can be directed to Dr. Jane Pratt (jpratt7 at gsu.edu).

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NOTE: Due to the large number of SPA-related sessions at major conferences, the SPA Newsletter can no longer accept announcement requests for individual sessions at AGU, AOGS, COSPAR, EGU, or IAGA Meetings. Titles and web links (if available) of these sessions will be distributed in a special issue of the Newsletter before the abstract deadline.

SPA Web Site: http://spa.agu.org/

SPA Newsletter Editorial Team: Peter Chi (Editor), Guan Le (Co-Editor), Sharon Uy, Marjorie Sowmendran, Todd King, and Kevin Addison

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