[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXIX, Issue 65

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXIX, Issue 65
Nov.05,2022

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

Table of Contents

1. Passing of Dr. Ching-I. Meng

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

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 Dr. Ching-I. Meng

From: Robert Erlandson (erlandson at jhuapl.edu)

Ching-I. Meng, a longtime scientist and leader at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), passed away on September 23, 2022 at his home in Mountain View, California.  Ching made fundamental discoveries in the areas of auroral physics, substorms, and optical remote sensing of the aurora.  At APL, Ching pioneered the use of ultraviolet imagers and spectrographic imagers to study the aurora and ITM regions.  

Ching Meng received his B.S. degree from Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan (1961) and master and doctorate degrees in geophysics from the University of Alaska, in 1965 and 1968, respectively.  Ching became an Assistant Professor at the Geophysical Institute in 1968 where he continued the study of the aurora and magnetic substorms.  In 1969, Ching joined the Space Science Laboratory at UC Berkeley as an Associate Research Physicist.  In his 9-years at the Space Science Laboratory, Ching investigated electron precipitation associated with auroral in the polar cap.  In 1978, he joined APL where he spent the reminder of his scientific career.  Ching led APL’s Space Science Branch from 1990-2007 where he spearheaded expansion into new areas of research using ultra-violet imaging of the aurora with imagers on the HiLAT and Polar Bear Spacecraft and a series of spectrographic imaging of the aurora using the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Imager (SUSSI) instruments.

In his early days as a graduate student and research, Ching made foundational discoveries on the relationship of study of auroral phenomena, geomagnetic disturbances associated with magnetic storms and substorms.  His insight as an experimental physicist led to a career of multi-threaded studies on different aspects of the aurora and rich collaborations with scientists both at APL and throughout the world.  The breadth of his collaborations and initiatives are a testament to his energy, insight and ability to conceive of new sensors, missions and initiatives.  He was able to combine his expertise in auroral physics and ultraviolet sensing technology to Air Force and DoD applications, that in turn spawned a series of spectrographic imagers on the DMSP satellite (SUSSI) and a sister instrument (GUVI) on the NASA TIMED satellite.  These instruments are still in operation today and have yielded a treasure trove of scientific results.

Ching spent his retirement in Mountain View, CA where he enjoyed time with his wife, Martha, and his children and grandchildren.

As visionary, an innovator, a leader in the field of auroral physics, and a most productive and respected scientist in the space physics community, he will be greatly missed.


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

AGU SPA Web Site: https://connect.agu.org/spa/home

SPA Leadership Team E-mail: spa.leadership.team at gmail.com

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