[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER Volume XXXI, Issue 26

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXXI, Issue 26
Apr.28,2024

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Table of Contents

1. HPAC Nominations

2. 21th SCOSTEP/PRESTO Online Seminar

3. GeoDAWG Seminar Series

4. JOB OPENING: Research Associate/ Research Scientist Position for In-situ Instrumentation at Embry-Riddle

5. JOB OPENING: Ionospheric Scientist with the Space Dynamics Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM

6. JOB OPENING: Discipline Scientists at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI, Bern)

7. Announcing Three New RHESSI Nuggets

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


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HPAC Nominations

From: Janet Kozyra (janet.kozyra at nasa.gov)

Heliophysics Advisory Committee – Member nominations due June 30, 2024

The NASA Heliophysics Division seeks community members to serve on the Heliophysics Advisory Committee (HPAC), the Federal Advisory Committee that advises NASA on Heliophysics science. 
The HPAC draws on the expertise of its members to provide advice and make recommendations to the Heliophysics Division Director, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters on Heliophysics programs, policies, plans, and priorities. The HPAC’s recommendations and analysis can be used to inform decisions on the programmatic scope and priorities, as well as the implementation of Heliophysics programs. In addition, the HPAC will provide a regular forum for broad discussions of Heliophysics and the role of Heliophysics within and outside of NASA. 

NASA Heliophysics Division openly solicits nominations of individuals who are affiliated with U.S. institutions for membership on the HPAC. U.S. citizens may submit self-nominations for consideration to fill vacancies on the committee. There will be member vacancies from time to time throughout the year, and NASA will consider self-nominations to fill such intermittent vacancies. Nominees will be contacted only if a vacancy should arise, and the expertise of the nominees is appropriate for that specific vacancy. All member appointments are non-compensated. However, NASA does cover travel and per diem expenses for all member appointments. 

Members shall be selected by the Director, Heliophysics Division, following written consultation with the Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate. Appointment letter(s) and reappointment letter(s) will be signed by the Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate. The HPAC shall consist of 13-15 members for up to a three-year term, renewable at the discretion of the Director, Heliophysics Division. The Director, Heliophysics Division, shall ensure a balanced representation in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed. Diversity shall be considered as well. NASA is committed to selecting members to serve on these committees based on their individual expertise, knowledge, experience, current/past contributions to the relevant subject area, and overall diversity of the committee.
Interested community members are asked to complete and submit the form using the link below by Friday June 30, 2024.

https://science3.nasa.gov/researchers/nac/hpac-2024

If you have any questions, please reach out to Janet Kozyra (janet.kozyra at nasa.gov).


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21st SCOSTEP/PRESTO Online Seminar

From: Loren Chang (loren at g.ncu.edu.tw)

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the SCOSTEP/PRESTO Online Seminar by Dr. Hanli Liu will be held via online on April 29, 2024, 2300-2400 UT as below. To join the seminar, please register via the following zoom address.

With best wishes,
Loren Chang, PRESTO Pillar 2 co-leader

21st SCOSTEP/PRESTO Online Seminar

Title: It's YES for NO, O/N2 and e: Perturbative and transport effects by gravity waves in the mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere
Speaker: Dr. Hanli Liu
Affiliation: High Altitude Observatory, NCAR, USA
Date/time: April 29, 2024, 23:00-24:00 UT
Zoom Registration URL (Register in advance for this webinar):
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X0BIuiL6Qd2lRw7ta-yMxg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Abstract:

WACCM-X (Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere/ionosphere extension) shows significance biases in representing several key constituents in the middle and upper atmosphere, including nitric oxide (NO) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT), the O/N2 in the thermosphere, and the plasma density in the ionosphere F-region. These biases are thought to be related to transport, though the exact causes are not well understood. Moreover, perturbative effects of the gravity waves are not accounted for in current parameterization schemes, but they are known to be important for processes in the middle and upper atmosphere, for example temperature dependent chemical reactions, traveling atmospheric/ionospheric disturbances (TADs/TIDs), and ionospheric irregularities. These challenges motivate the development of the high-resolution (HR) capability of WACCM-X, and in this study we examine the HR simulation results. The resolved gravity waves and characteristics of TIDs from the HR simulations compare well with available observations in the middle and upper atmosphere. MLT NO, column integrated O/N2 and F-region plasma density show overall improvements. By analyzing the high-resolution simulation results and comparing with control simulations at regular resolution, we elucidate the effects of the resolved gravity waves on the transport from the MLT to the upper thermosphere, by altering both mean circulation and wave mixing.


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GeoDAWG Seminar Series

From: Tomoko Matsuo, David Themens, Anthony Sciola, Adam Michael (adam.michael at jhuapl.edu)

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to attend the monthly seminar series of the IAGA “Geospace Data Assimilation Working Group” (GeoDAWG). GeoDAWG’s purpose is to provide a forum to aid in the discussion of data assimilative modeling methods across the geospace sciences. More information can be found on our website: https://sites.google.com/view/geodawg/home

Seminars are held virtually at 11 am Eastern Time on the first Tuesday of every month. 

The next seminar will be on May 7th by Joe Hughes titled “Relative Merits of Ionosondes, Ground GNSS TEC, and Radio Occultations for Ionospheric Data Assimilation.”

A link to join the seminar via Zoom can be found on the GeoDAWG website: https://sites.google.com/view/geodawg/seminars, along with the current GeoDAWG seminar schedule.

You can request to join our mailing list, https://sites.google.com/view/geodawg/mailing-list, if you would like to receive our regular newsletter where we share research highlights and information relevant to the community.

Speaker suggestions or questions can be also submitted online: https://sites.google.com/view/geodawg/contact-us, or you can email us directly at iaga.geodawg at gmail.com


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JOB OPENING: Research Associate/ Research Scientist Position for In-situ Instrumentation at Embry-Riddle

From: Aroh Barjatya (barjatya at erau.edu)

The Center for Space and Atmospheric Research at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL campus, invites applications for a postdoctoral Research Associate or Research Scientist position for in-situ instrumentation and ionospheric physics. The primary function of this position is to support the ongoing ionospheric research in the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Laboratory (https://sail.erau.edu).

Qualifications
This position requires a Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, or a related field. The successful candidate should have experience designing and using in-situ instruments (preferably electrostatic probes) and programming skills in C and Matlab/IDL/Python/Julia. The position is geared explicitly towards someone within 5 years of attaining their PhD, although more experienced applicants with suitable skills will also be considered.

Duties & Responsibilities:

- Oversee the construction, testing, and calibration of Langmuir probes, electric field probes, ionization gauges, magnetometers, etc. slated to fly on multiple upcoming sounding rocket missions and small satellites to study the electrodynamics of Earth’s upper atmosphere;
- Analyze and interpret data collected from in-situ observations and collaborate with Co-Investigators who will provide ground-based remote sensing data;
- Operation of a plasma chamber with a variety of diagnostic instruments;
- Present results at relevant conferences and in peer-reviewed literature;
- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students, as well as collaborate with other researchers in the Center for Space and Atmospheric Research - Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab

This is a 2-year, 100%-time appointment with applicable University benefits and a possibility of renewal for the third-year contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued availability of funds. The position allows (and expects!) the candidate to increase their independence by developing key questions and pursuing proposals to appropriate agencies.

Interested applicants should submit the following materials:

- A cover letter describing background, qualifications, and experience relevant to the position
- A full curriculum vitae (CV) - detailing education, awards, publications, research experience, etc.
- Contact information for three professional references

Please submit all application materials via https://embryriddle.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/details/Postdoctoral-Research-Associate-Research-Scientist--Center-for-Space-and-Atmospheric-Research_R307730

Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled. The start date is also expected to be as soon as a selection is made, preferably no later than August 2024. For questions or additional information, contact Dr. Aroh Barjatya at barjatya at erau.edu.   

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University:  

At Embry-Riddle, we take pride in our position as the world's largest and most comprehensive university dedicated to aviation and aerospace. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, our esteemed residential campuses offer a prestigious educational experience. Embry-Riddle is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Embry-Riddle is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We continually strive to recognize, respect, and celebrate differences and cultural identities among individuals as we recruit, support, and embrace our diverse community. We work to provide a safe and inclusive environment and to create a climate free of discrimination where cultural competency is fostered through leadership, integrity, care, and respect.


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JOB OPENING: Ionospheric Scientist with the Space Dynamics Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM

From: Riley Troyer, Michael Negale, Kris Robinson (riley.troyer at sdl.usu.edu)

The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) Geospace group is seeking a scientist to support investigations of the Earth’s ionosphere and its impacts on defense-related systems through basic research and applied science. Candidate should be a US citizen and possess familiarity in one or more areas: atmospheric and ionospheric chemistry and dynamics, empirical and physics based ionospheric models, information propagation through disturbed environments, and radar signal propagation. This position is located on the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you'd like more information please reach out to: riley.troyer at sdl.usu.edu

The applications is live and available here: https://spacedynamicslaboratory.applytojob.com/apply/SdZzLx4nnV/Ionospheric-Scientific-Researcher](https://spacedynamicslaboratory.applytojob.com/apply/SdZzLx4nnV/Ionospheric-Scientific-Researcher


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JOB OPENING: Discipline Scientists at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI, Bern)

From: T. Dudok de Wit (ddwit at issibern.ch)

The International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland, invites applications for Discipline Scientists in each of the areas: 1) Exoplanet Sciences 2) Planetary Science and 3) Climate Science (Earth Observations from Space).

We are looking for three active mid-career or senior, internationally recognised, scientists with demonstrable and broad scientific contributions in the disciplines above. Experience with space missions is desired. Discipline Scientists are expected to commit to 20 – 40 working days (negotiable) per year at ISSI in Bern, where they work with ISSI Directors to establish initiatives aimed at fostering scientific discussions on important topics in the scientific areas they are experts of. These are not full time positions.

For more information, see: https://www.issibern.ch/ds-application/


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Announcing Three New RHESSI Nuggets

From: Hugh Hudson (hugh.hudson at glasgow.ac.uk)

No. 466, “Unexpected Asymmetry in GeV Emission,” by Bruno ARSIOLI and Elena ORLANDO. The high-energy solar gamma radiation shows inexplicable but fascinating properties.

No. 467, "Sun-as-a-star Analysis of the M8.7 Flare 0n 2022 October 2 Using H-alpha and EUV Spectra Taken by SMART/SDDI and SDOEVE,” by Takato OTSU. Whole-Sun spectroscopic observations can readily detect ejecta.

No. 468, “Is there HOPE for Hyder flares?” by Hugh HUDSON. Filament eruptions/Hyder flares/disparitions brusques may all show Hot Onset Precursor Events.

We welcome almost any contribution to the RHESSI Nuggets. The topic may wander some distance away from specifically RHESSI results if it is generally interesting. See https://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/RHESSI_Science_Nuggets for these and others. Comments about specific flares can often be found by searching for their SOLyyyy-mm-dd identifier from this home page.


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