Table of Contents ============================================================================ 1. Solicitation of Contributions to the 2008 GEM Session on "Dayside Magnetopause Reconnection" 2. Diffuse Auroral Precipitation Sessions at 2008 GEM Workshop ============================================================================ *************************** ** THE GEM MESSENGER ** *************************** Volume 18, Number 15 May 14, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Solicitation of Contributions to the 2008 GEM Session on "Dayside Magnetopause Reconnection" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jean Berchem Nick Omidi The GEM focus group on "Dayside Magnetopause Reconnection" will meet on Monday, June 23 (1:30 PM to 3:00 PM - Interlaken) during the GEM annual summer workshop at the Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah (http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/ ) The goal of the "Dayside Magnetopause Reconnection" working group is to enhance our understanding of the properties and consequences of magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. During our last meeting in San Francisco, we identified the following topics to be discussed: 1) Large-scale properties of reconnection at the magnetopause (e.g., merging patterns) 2) The physics of magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause (e.g., effects of density asymmetries) 3) Quasi-steady and time dependent reconnection (e.g., FTEs) 4) Plasma transport (e.g., particle entry and energization at the dayside magnetospheric boundary) 5) Impacts of transients on the dayside magnetopause (e.g., RD and TD interactions) Observational and theoretical contributions to this session are hereby solicited. Please e-mail a title of your contribution to Jean Berchem or Nick Omidi . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Diffuse Auroral Precipitation Sessions at 2008 GEM Workshop ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Richard Thorne There will be four separate breakout sessions devoted to the Diffuse Auroral Precipitation Focus Group at the 2008 GEM workshop. ............................................................... Thu, 26 June, 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. DAP 1: "Electron Pitch-Angle Scattering: Wave Observations and Theory" Co-chaired by Richard Thorne (rmt@atmos.ucla.edu) and Nigel Meredith (nmer@bas.ac.uk). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This session will examine the global morphology and variability of two classes of magnetospheric plasma waves, electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) and electromagnetic whistler mode chorus plasma waves, which are capable of interacting with plasma sheet electrons, leading to precipitation into the atmosphere. Theoretical calculations of pitch-angle scattering rates from each class of wave, under different levels of geomagnetic activity, will also be presented to assess their potential contribution to the global pattern of diffuse auroral precipitation. Presentations will me made by Nigel Meredith (CRRES wave distributions), Binbin Ni (Chorus scattering) and Richard Thorne (ECH scattering). Others are solicited. ............................................................... Thu, 26 June, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. DAP 2: "The Origin of Diffuse Auroral Structure" Co-chaired by Eric Donovan (edonovan@ucalgary.ca) and Mike Henderson (mghenderson@lanl.gov). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this session, we will explore the origin of structure in the diffuse aurora, with a particular focus on advancing our understanding of the following: 1) The modulation of diffuse aurora by pressure pulses, ULF pulsations and transients, and rapid and slow variations in convection (e.g., pulsating aurora, streamers, optical Pi2s, etc). 2) The variation in diffuse auroral boundaries due to changes in magnetospheric topology, convection, and large- and small-scale waves and instabilities (e.g., giant undulations, Omega bands, growth phase variation of the trapping boundaries, patchy aurora, etc.). 3) The spatial distribution of regions of strong and weak pitch angle diffusion (e.g., what do diffuse auroral boundaries correspond to in the magnetosphere) This session will contain presentations by Tom Sotirelis (Boundaries), Mike Henderson (Giant Undulations), Marc Lessard (patchy/pulsating aurora), Dave Knudsen (small scale structure), and Eric Donovan (ULF modulation of diffuse aurora). Others are solicited. ............................................................... Thu, 26 June, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. DAP 3 (Joint with FG on Near Earth Magnetosphere): "Plasma Sheet Ion Scattering" Co-chaired by Shawn Young (Shawn.Young@kirtland.af.mil) and Mark Lessard (marc.lessard@unh.edu) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Diffuse Auroral Precipitation and Near Earth Magnetosphere focus groups are holding a combined session on "Plasma sheet ion scattering." The plasma sheet and magnetic field structure are tightly coupled. The plasma pressure stretches the field lines, which leads to current sheet scattering of ions into the atmosphere where they excite the diffuse ion aurora. The equator- ward edge of the diffuse aurora can provide valuable information on the magnetic structure in the magneto-tail. Ion precipitation can also be associated with features of the ring current. The plasma sheet ion scattering session will focus on theory, modeling and observations of the plasma sheet, magneto-tail structure and the diffuse ion aurora. ............................................................... Fri, 27 June, 10:30 - 12:15 p.m. DAP 4: "Planning session for 2008-2009 activities" Co-chaired by Jacob Bortnik (jbortnik@gmail.com) and Tom Sotirelis (tom.sotirelis@jhuapl.edu). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this session Jacob Bortnik and Tom Sotirelis will discuss available data sources on waves and precipitating particles. We will also outline plans and objectives for the next year of the campaign. ............................................................... Anyone interested in contributing to any of these sessions is encouraged to contact the relevant session chairs. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |To subscribe GEM Messengers, send an e-mail to | | with the following command in the body of your e-mail message: | | subscribe gem | |To remove yourself from the mailing list, the command is: | | unsubscribe gem | | | |To broadcast a message to the GEM community, please contact Peter Chi at | | | |Please use plain text as the format of your submission. | | | |Workshop Information: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html | |GEM Wiki Page: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+