[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXVIII, Issue 48

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXVIII, Issue 48
Sep.21,2021

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

Table of Contents

1. Passing of Prof Roger L. Arnoldy

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

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

Passing of Prof Roger L. Arnoldy

From: Marc Lessard (marc.lessard at unh.edu)

We regret to report that Prof. Roger L. Arnoldy, 87, passed away on Sept. 12, 2021. He was born on May 30, 1934 in La Crosse, Wisconsin and grew up in nearby Minneiska, Minnesota along the Mississippi River. Coming of age in the Sputnik Era, Roger earned a PhD in physics at the University of Minnesota in 1962. In 1967, he joined the faculty at the University of New Hampshire, where he served as a professor for 35 years. In his later years, he was Director of the UNH Space Science Center. Dr. Arnoldy was also fellow of the American Geophysical Union and has more than 100 publications in refereed space physics journals.

Typical of space science efforts in the early 1960s, Prof. Arnoldy's research initially involved studies of Earth's radiation belts using data from the NASA Explorer VI satellite. These efforts were followed by the development of various particle instruments for four OGO satellites, as well as Pioneer V and then the Low Energy Electron-Proton Experiment for ATS-6 at geostationary orbit, which led to a series of important papers on auroral substorms. In fact, one of his most highly-cited papers, "Signature in the Interplanetary Medium for Substorms" provides the first evidence showing the fundamental role that solar wind negative Bz plays in substorm development.

Also during the mid-1960s, he became involved with NASA's rocket program and eventually had the role of PI or CoI on dozens of sounding rockets up until the time of his retirement. Although the vast majority of these missions were related to some aspect of aurora, he also collaborated with his former advisor, Prof Winckler to support the ECHO series of rockets that explored Earth's magnetic fields using electron beams emitted from onboard the rockets.

In 1973, Prof. Arnoldy began work on Ultra-Low Frequency wave studies and teamed up with Prof. Lawrence Cahill at the University of Minnesota to install an induction coil magnetometer at Siple Station in Antarctica. This was followed by the installation of an identical system in Roberval, Canada, the magnetic conjugate to Siple Station. Additional systems were then installed in various locations in Greenland, Canada and across Antartica, including onboard the Automated Geophysical Observatories (AGO) in the 1990s. He remained a United States Antarctic Research Program Principal Investigator until his retirement, producing numerous papers over the years, highlighted by his paper "Review of hydromagnetic wave studies in the Antarctic" in 1988.

As an advisor and mentor to his students, he showed by example and with unfailing patience the methods and practices of an honorable scientist. From some of his former students, "Roger was the most gracious, instructive and considerate advisor a graduate student could have", "Professor Arnoldy's kindness and love for his work were immediately apparent", "Roger presented me with a grand opportunity and provided guidance through it all to help keep me on the rails" and "I was fortunately one of those privileged students – he taught me to work seriously, not to give up and to get to the successful end – thank you Roger from so many of us."

Faith and family were central to Roger’s life. He and Marian, his wife of 54 years, attended daily Mass at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Durham, NH. At family gatherings, he loved croquet, card games, and sharing a laugh. Roger is survived by his six children and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Marian, his three brothers, and a grandson, Matthew Roger Arnoldy.  

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 317, Maryknoll, NY 10545.


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

The AGU Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) Section Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. Back issues are available at:
http://lists.igpp.ucla.edu/pipermail/spa/

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, and Kevin Addison

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