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			 **   THE GEM MESSENGER   **
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						     Volume 9, Number 43
						     November 30, 1999

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Joint Tail/M-I Coupling GEM Activity:  Space Weather Prediction Challenges
and GEM Modeling of M-I Coupling Under Steady Solar Wind Driving Conditions
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From: Terry Onsager (tonsager at sec.noaa.gov)
      Michael Wiltberger (wiltbemj at myst.dartmouth.edu)

GEM Miniworkshop:  Joint Tail/M-I Coupling GEM Working Group Meeting
15:15 to 17:15 PST,  Sunday, December 12 
Salon 1 and 2,  San Francisco Marriott (55 Fourth St.)

This GEM Miniworkshop will be an opportunity to discuss two specific Space
Weather Prediction Challenges and to discuss a GEM activity to test our
ability to model solar wind/magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling under
conditions of steady solar wind driving. 

Two Space Weather Prediction Challenges were initiated at Space Weather Week
(April, 1999 at the NOAA Space Environment Center) to quantitatively compare
numerical models for space weather prediction.  The areas covered in this
initial Prediction Challenge are: auroral electrojets and geomagnetic
indices.  The time interval chosen for the prediction challenge is March
19-20, 1999.  This workshop will be an opportunity to discuss the solar wind
conditions during this interval and the observed ground magnetometer
response.  Further information about the challenges can be found at the
following web locations:

http://sec.noaa.gov/~swc/sww99/ElectroChallenge.html

http://sec.noaa.gov/~swc/sww99/GIPC/GIPC.html

In addition, it was suggested at the 1999 GEM Snowmass Workshop that the
March 19-20, 1999 time period also be the basis for a broader GEM effort to
model the magnetospheric response to relatively steady solar wind driving.
This time period with its long interval of steady southward IMF and
relatively constant solar wind ram pressure provides an excellent
opportunity to extend the GGCM modeling efforts.  We would also like to
encourage presentation of modeling efforts that cover only a limited region
of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, as these models may provide more
accurate results in that region and could become part of a larger scale
coupled model.

Those who are planning on modeling this time period in response to the
Prediction Challenge and/or the broader GEM activities are encouraged to
attend to discuss their progress issues with modeling this event.  If you
would like to give a brief presentation on the current status of your
effort, please send email to either Terry Onsager (tonsager at sec.noaa.gov)or
Michael Wiltberger (wiltbemj at myst.dartmouth.edu).

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