Table of Contents ====================================================================== 1. GEM Mini-workshop Session on "Dayside Field-Aligned Currents and Energy Deposition" 2. GEM Mini-workshop Session for "GGCM Metrics & Validation Focus Group" and "CEDAR-GEM Modeling Challenge" 3. Faculty Position in Atmospheric and Space Sciences at UT Dallas 4. Ph.D. Student Position at ERAU ====================================================================== *************************** ** THE GEM MESSENGER ** *************************** Volume 21, Number 32 November 22, 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. GEM Mini-workshop Session on "Dayside Field-Aligned Currents and Energy Deposition" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Geoff Crowley , Delores Knipp , and Rick Wilder The Dayside Field-Aligned Current (FAC) and Energy Deposition group will hold a GEM mini-workshop session at the Westin San Francisco Market Street hotel on Sunday Dec. 4, 2011 from 12:00-2:00 PM. We would like to invite the community to participate in our session, which will include discussions on the following topics: - Dayside FAC systems, energy sources, and transport for large in-the-ecliptic IMF (By and Bx with Bz +/-) - Sources of dayside Poynting flux. - Dissipation of Magnetospheric Energy in the Dayside Thermosphere - Solar Wind Drivers for Extreme Dayside Poynting Flux Events - MHD Modelling of Extreme Dayside Poynting Flux Events - Magnetospheric Source Regions of Dayside Poynting Flux If you would like to present, please submit the title of your talk to the email addresses listed above. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. GEM Mini-workshop Session for "GGCM Metrics & Validation Focus Group" and "CEDAR-GEM Modeling Challenge" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Masha Kuznetsova , Aaron Ridley , and Barbara Emery Modelers, data providers and users of space weather models are invited to participate in the GGCM Metrics & Validation Focus Group and CEDAR- GEM Modeling Challenge Sessions scheduled back-to-back during the GEM Mini-Workshop to be held on Sunday, December 4th 2011 in the Westin San Francisco Market Street hotel located at 50 Third Street (3rd floor, Franciscan II Room). Topics for discussions and tentative agenda: GGCM Metrics & Validation Focus Group (12:00 pm - 2:00 pm) - Brief review of action items - Operational geospace model validation. - Naming conventions for model output files. - Auroral oval boundaries metrics study - Collaboration with other GEM Focus Groups. Ideas for future projects. CEDAR-GEM Modeling Challenge (2:30 pm - 4:30 pm) - Poynting Flux/Joule Heating metrics study - Role of drivers on ionosphere model results - Global TEC/NMF2/HMF2 metrics study - Climatology study (Nov 21 2007 to Jan 20 2008). - Preparation for 2012 Summer Workshops Modelers are invited to join the Modeling Challenge. Details of the GEM-CEDAR Modeling Challenge and instructions on how to participate can be found at the CCMC Challenge Website: http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/challenges/GEM-CEDAR/. A list of six selected events, lists of physical parameters and available measurements, model output file formats for each metrics study, and submission instructions can be found at the "GEM-CEDAR Metrics Suite" link (http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/challenges/GEM- CEDAR/suite.php). For the new metrics studies (Auroral Oval Boundaries, Poynting Flux/Joule Heating and Global TEC/NMF2/HMF2) to be discussed at the Mini-Workshop it was agreed to focus first on two priority events: E.2006.348: 2006/12/13 00:00 UT – 2006/12/16 00:00 UT (TEC/NMF2/HMF2, Role of Drivers) E.2005.243: 2005/08/31 10:00 UT - 2005/09/01 12:00 UT (Auroral Oval, Poynting Flux/Joule Heating, Role of Drivers). The TEC/NMF2/HMF2 Challenge is the first metrics study for the global time-dependent observational data sets. Model output results will be compared with GPS and COSMIC data in eight 5 deg. geographic longitude sectors with 5 deg. resolution in latitude from -90 to +90. First priority drivers for ionosphere models areWeimer 2005 and AMIE. For Auroral Oval study modelers are requested to submit poleward and equatorward boundaries locations with 1 hour local time resolution (24 points for each boundary for each time step). Notes on how auroral boundaries are defined from observations prepared by Y. Zheng (yihua.zheng at nasa.gov) can be found here: http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov//RoR_WWW/presentations/boundary_options.pdf. Joule heating in the ionosphere can be calculated as a height- integrated quantity using the Pedersen conductance (Sigma_P in mho) and the height integrated ionospheric current density J=sqrt(J_x^2+J_y^2+J_z^2) (in A/m): Wdiss = J^2/Sigma_P (in W/m^2). These quantities are typically provided as output by the ionospheric electrodynamics (IE) models or IE components of coupled models. A satellite's geomagnetic longitude and latitude along its trajectory (see, e.g., http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/challenges/GEM- CEDAR/satellite_traj_mag/spc_DMSP_E.2005.243.txt) is used to obtain the local value of Wdiss. For questions/comments/suggestions on Poynting Flux/Joule Heating study please contact Lutz Rastaetter and Delores Knipp . To be included in the first round of Auroral Oval Boundaries, Poynting Flux/Joule Heating and Global TEC/NMF2/HMF2 metrics studies -- please submit simulation results for the first priority events prior to the Fall AGU. For questions/comments/suggestions on Global TEC/NMF2/HMF2 please contact Ja Soon Shim and Barbara Emery . In support of simulation results analysis modelers are requested to submit time series for all physical parameters in the list http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/challenges/GEM-CEDAR/studies.php including the Joule heating integrated over each hemisphere in GW and cross polar cap potential in northern and southern hemispheres. Submissions for all six selected events are also encouraged. The Action Plan from the Summer 2011 Workshop can be found at: http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/challenges/GEM-CEDAR/action_plan.php Short presentations on topics listed above are welcome. If you are interested to present your ideas (1-5 slides) – please contact Masha Kuznetsova . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Faculty Position in Atmospheric and Space Sciences at UT Dallas ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Rod Heelis The University of Texas at Dallas invites applications for a faculty position in Atmospheric and Space Sciences in the Department of Physics and the Center for Space Sciences. A successful candidate will be expected to expand the research activity in this area to include the use of remote and in-situ observations of the region extending from the lower atmosphere to the magnetosphere. They should have a PhD in space sciences or physics with an emerging record of research accomplishment and a strong commitment to teaching, at both the undergraduate and advanced graduate level. Appointment will be made at a rank appropriate to the experience of the candidate The University of Texas at Dallas, located just north of Dallas in Richardson, Texas now has an enrollment of nearly 20,000 students. It has been designated by the State of Texas as one of seven emerging universities to be encouraged to become major research campuses. Interested persons should complete an online application at http://go.utdallas.edu/pnw111107 Questions can be addressed to the chair of the search committee, R.A. Heelis at heelis@utdallas.edu or at 972-883-2822 Indication of gender and ethnic origin for affirmative action purposes is requested as part of the application but is not required for consideration. Review of application material will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. The University of Texas at Dallas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance the diversity of the University's faculty and administration. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Ph.D. Student Position at ERAU ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Anatoly Streltsov The Department of Physical Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) at Daytona Beach, FL invites applicants for the Ph.D. graduate study program in engineering physics with a specialization in computational space plasma physics. The program includes training and education in space plasma physics, magnetohydrodynamics, electromagnetism and numerical methods. It focuses on preparation of young scientists for development of comprehensive geophysical models and highly efficient numerical algorithms describing electromagnetic waves and wave-particle interactions in the Earth's magnetosphere and the ionosphere. Students will apply results from their educational/research projects for interpretation of geophysical data collected by ground stations and satellites in several high-profile NASA and NSF programs, such as Space Weather Forecast, Radiation Belts Remediation and Active Ionospheric Experiments. Currently the Aviation and Aerospace Engineering Program at Embry-Riddle is ranked #1 in the USA by US News, and the Physics Department provides excellent conditions for studying modern geophysics including a high-performance computational facility on campus. For further details about ERAU, Physics Department and our Ph.D. program visit http://www.erau.edu and http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/coas/physical-sciences/index.html. For specific questions regarding Ph.D. in computational space plasma physics, contact Prof. Anatoly V. Streltsov, Department of Physical Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (streltsa at erau.edu). +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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. | | | | GEM Messenger is also posted online via newsfeed at | | http://heliophysics.blogspot.com and | | http://www.facebook.com/heliophysics | | | | Back issues are available at ftp://igpp.ucla.edu/scratch/gem/ | | | | URL of GEM Home Page: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki | | Workshop Information: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+