[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXVI, Issue 37

Tue Jun 18 04:41:23 PDT 2019

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXVI, Issue 37
Jun.18,2019

***********************************************************************

Table of Contents

1. Policy Action Item - GOES Satellites and 5G Wireless Interference

2. NSF AGS Division Director Update

3. MEETING: Isradynamics 2020, Eilat, Israel, April 19-26, 2020

4. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Magnetohydrodynamics/Solar Physics at the University of Dundee (UK)

***********************************************************************

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

1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

Policy Action Item - GOES Satellites and 5G Wireless Interference

From: Paul Cassak (Paul.Cassak at mail.wvu.edu)

The following message is from Brittany Webster at AGU, and may be of interest to us in SPA.  Action needed by 6/20!!!  On behalf of the SPA Advocacy Committee:

In April, Federal Communications Chairman (FCC) Chairman Pai stated his intention to free up spectrum for wireless services, specifically spectrum frequencies between 1675-1680 megahertz, which is used by the GOES satellites.

AGU, along with many other organizations, previously objected to auctioning off the 1675-1680 MHz band, because shared use will have a detrimental impact on access to GOES real-time data transmissions via GRB, DCS, and HRIT/EMWIN, affecting reliable access to critical weather, water and space weather information by academic, private sector and other non-federal users.

Recently, despite awareness of the scientific community's concerns, the FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to open up this band of spectrum for shared use.  The FCC is asking for comments and responses to specific questions. The FCC hopes to understand the number and character of users and customers of weather satellite imagery.  The FCC is now taking comment (until 11:59 pm ET, Thursday, 20 June 2019) on a set of technical questions related to this proposal.  

If your research relies on data from the GOES Satellites and could be impacted by a loss of quality GOES data, AGU strongly encourages you to respond to the NPRM.  Your action can help to ensure the least harm done to our user communities and their beneficiaries.

Here is a sample outline to help you respond (thanks Jordan Werth):

(1) I am earth scientist and I use or understand the importance of weather data. I or my fellow earth scientists get data from this satellite transmission. I care about this!

(2) Weather data is unique in that the quality of data is based on its consistency, reliability, and timeliness. A sentence or two about a relevant research study or current/past weather event would be appropriate to underscore this.

(3) Direct satellite downlink is the best way to achieve the aforementioned objectives to further science and public safety. Refer to the coalition filings that are more thorough.

(4) NOAA is conducting a comprehensive study. The FCC should wait to decide this until they have heard from them.  

The deadline to respond is 20 June 2019. Comments for Proceeding 19-116 can be filed electronically at www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express. If you have any questions or concerns, please email sciencepolicy at agu.org.

2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2

NSF AGS Division Director Update

From: Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov)

(From Anjuli Bamzai, AGS Division Director)

Job opportunities in AGS
1. Science Analyst https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/534755400 
2. IPA Program Director, Space Weather program  https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/ags19002/ags19002.jsp 
3. Program Director, Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF)  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/536560700  

Departures
1. Dr. Sunanda Basu served as expert in the Geospace Section the past couple of years; she has also been Program Director in the Aeronomy program.  June 6, 2019 marked the end of Dr. Sunanda Basu’s  tenure at NSF.  We thank Sunanda for her tremendous service to the research community and NSF. 
2. Dr. Sherri Hunt returned to the EPA after spending a year as Program Director, Atmosphere Chemistry program. Thanks Sherri!

Arrivals
1. Dr. Soumaya  Belmecheri recently joined AGS as Program Director, Paleoclimate program.  She comes to us as an IPA from University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.  Welcome Soumaya!

Input sought on NSF 2026 
FYI possible interest, NSF received more than 800 idea submissions for the NSF 2026 Idea Machine competition. Entries were judged and 33 are still in the running for the grand prize. Help NSF determine which entries advance to the next stage by watching entrants' video pitches and commenting on the importance and potential impact of their Big Ideas, as well as providing suggestions on how their ideas can be improved. Watch the video pitches and review entries from 05/31/2019 - 06/26/2019 at nsf2026imgallery.skild.com

3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3

MEETING: Isradynamics 2020, Eilat, Israel, April 19-26, 2020

From: Michael Gedalin (gedalin at bgu.ac.il)

Isradynamics 2020 - next bi-annual meeting "Dynamical Processes in Space Plasmas" will be held in Eilat, Israel, 19-26 April 2020: 

https://physics.bgu.ac.il/~gedalin/Isradynamics2020/. 

For contacts: Michael Balikhin, m.balikhin at sheffield.ac.uk; Michael Gedalin, gedalin at bgu.ac.il

4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4

JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Magnetohydrodynamics/Solar Physics at the University of Dundee (UK)

From: David Pontin (d.i.pontin at dundee.ac.uk)

Applications are invited for a three-year postdoctoral research position in the area of Solar Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The position is available to work on a project within an STFC consolidated grant. The project aims to assess the contribution of interchange reconnection to accelerating and structuring slow solar wind. This will involve analysis of the 3D magnetic field topology of the Sun’s corona and designing and performing large-scale MHD simulations of interchange reconnection processes.

The project will be carried out in the MHD group at the University of Dundee, and in collaboration with colleagues at Durham University and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Further details about our group in Dundee can be found here:
http://www.maths.dundee.ac.uk/mhd/

The ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of MHD and solar physics and will have experience of computational MHD/hydrodynamics. Experience in mathematical modelling of plasmas or fluids and/or solar physics observations would also be beneficial. Applicants must hold a PhD in solar physics, plasma physics or applied mathematics by the start of the project.

The position is available for three years, with earliest start date being August 1st 2019. The starting salary will be on Grade 7 of the UK Universities' pay scale, around GBP 32-35K, depending on experience.

For further details, or to make an application, please go to https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BPW695/postdoctoral-research-assistant-in-solar-magnetohydrodynamics

Closing date: 8th July 2019. Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof David Pontin (d.i.pontin at dundee.ac.uk) or Prof Gunnar Hornig (g.hornig at dundee.ac.uk).

***** SUBSCRIPTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT REQUESTS *****

The AGU Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) Section Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. Back issues are available at:
http://spa.agu.org/category/newsletters/

To request announcements for distribution by the newsletter, please use the online submission form at:
http://goo.gl/forms/qjcm4dDr4g

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

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

*************** END OF NEWSLETTER ****************