Table of Contents ====================================================================== 1. NOAA Agency Report - Highlight of Activities 2. Report from GEM Liaison to Mexico 3. JOB OPENING: Faculty Position at the University of Michigan ====================================================================== *************************** ** THE GEM MESSENGER ** *************************** Volume 22, Number 28 September 25, 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NOAA Agency Report - Highlight of Activities ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Howard J. Singer NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) Howard Singer reported on NOAA topics relevant to the GEM community. Considering the importance of upstream solar wind observations for both space weather operations and the GEM community's science, he provided an update on the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). DSCOVR is being readied for launch to L1 in 2014. NASA is transferring the satellite and sensors to NOAA, and NOAA received significant funding this year to support the NASA refurbishment of DSCOVR. The USAF is in the process of acquiring a launch vehicle, and beyond DSCOVR, NOAA is investigating long-term commercial solutions for follow-on solar wind observations. The rise to solar maximum is pretty much following predictions to be below average intensity. A peak sunspot number of about 90 is predicted for around May 2013. It is important to keep in mind that, historically, some of the largest geomagnetic storms have occurred during weak solar cycles. In spite of the recent low activity, there is huge growth in new space weather customers. NOAA SWPC's subscription service has grown to over 25,000 subscribers as of June 2012. There is also a large increase in global interactions as indicated by over 18 Nations being represented at this year's Space Weather Workshop. Also, there is a growing visibility for space weather at the highest levels in the US Government, including agreements with partners in many nations. Furthermore, space weather is now included in the Strategic National Risk Assessment from the Department of Homeland Security. These examples are not only important for NOAA, but demonstrate the importance of the work being carried out by the entire space science community. SWPC, benefiting from work by the scientific community and many other partners, has transitioned to operations the Wang-Sheeley-Arge Enlil model for predicting the background solar wind and the arrival at Earth of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Of particular interest to the GEM community, SWPC is working with modelers and the CCMC to evaluate Geospace model(s) for transition into operations, following the successful transition of WSA-Enlil. This year's Space Weather Workshop, carried out in partnership with NASA and NSF, with 353 registered attendees, was the largest ever. Next year's meeting is scheduled for April 16 to 19, 2013 in Boulder. With regard to NOAA satellite data, used by many GEM scientists, the geosynchronous satellites GOES-13 and -15 are operational, with GOES- 14 in storage and ready to be called up when needed. The next series of GOES spacecraft, beginning with GOES-R is scheduled for a 2015 launch. The low-altitude, polar-orbiting POES satellites, NOAA - 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 are currently operational, along with METOP- A, a European satellite with NOAA energetic particle sensors. Two more METOP’s are in development. The follow-on to the POES satellites, NPOESS, is now the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) for NOAA, but these satellites will not carry space environment monitors. Many of the functions for GOES and POES satellites that were carried out in the past by NOAA SWPC have been transferred to NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center where one can obtain satellite data. In addition, NOAA is enhancing its support for understanding and resolving satellite anomalies caused by space weather. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center provides real time measurements of space radiation intensity and issues alerts, warnings and watches. And the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center will complement this effort by providing additional data, products, and expertise for post-satellite anomaly assessment and improved satellite design. SWPC anticipates an NRC Associateship opportunity for the January 2013 application interval. When that is available, an announcement will be placed in the GEM newsletter. And, as a final note, Dr. Tom Bogdan, SWPC Director, moved in January 2012 to lead the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). The selection of a new SWPC Director is underway. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Report from GEM Liaison to Mexico ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Xochitl Blanco-Cano Below we present a brief report of the Space Plasmas Observatories operating at present in Mexico. Observatories related to the study of the influence of solar activity on the Earth environment: Schumann Detector. In 1952 Schumann proposed that the earth and the ionosphere form a resonant cavity which "breaths" at very low frequencies (~8 Hz). We are interested in the detection of these extremely low frequency waves to study the effects in the atmosphere of the solar variability. We have constructed a suitable detector (a coil with 3000 turns) sensible to the magnetic part of the electromagnetic waves, which has shown a good response to the Schumann resonance. This detector is in Mexico City. A second station to detect the Schumann resonance is being built in Michoacan. LAVNet-Mex. The "Latin American Very Low Frequency Network" station at México (LAVNet-Mex) is part of a major project called SAVNet of the Brazilian University Mackenzie. We have designed and built a system that is working since 2010 and detects signals in the 10 - 40KHz range emitted by stations situated around the world. In particular, it detects the VLF waves traveling through the earth-ionosphere waveguide and therefore, is able to measure the response of the lower part of the Ionosphere to the solar quiescent and transient inputs. Radio Jove is a 20 MHz Receiver with a dipole antenna intended to support and help a high school project at UNAM. CALLISTO is a solar radio spectrometer and is part of the network ETH in Switzerland. Our station operates at the 200 - 800 MHz frequency range. Since 2009. The Short Base Solar Radio Interferometer (RIS). The RIS detects the total Intensity, polarization and position of the center of emission (interferometric channels) of the solar radiation at 7.5 GHz. The millimeter Radio telescope (RT5) is in construction at Sierra Negra Volcano (4200 m of altitude), it has a primary mirror diameter - 5 m in the initial phase will work at 4, 7.5, 12 and 43 GHz, but we are planning to cover higher frequencies up to 400 GHz. Cosmic Ray Observatories: There are two cosmic ray observatories in Mexico; one is located at the UNAM campus in Mexico City registering low energy cosmic rays (from 8.2 to 100GV) by means of two detectors: a neutron monitor (6NM) and a muon telescope. This observatory has been working continuously since 1990. There is another cosmic ray detector at the top of the Sierra Negra volcano at 4600m asl, it is a Solar Neutron Telescope, dedicated mainly to study the high energy particles emmited from the Sun in large flares. Micropulsations Observatories: There are two micropulsations observatories in Mexico; one is located at the UNAM Campus Juriquilla, Queretaro, and other with the same kind of instrument in Nuevo Leon University, Campus Linares, Monterrey, both registering Ultra Low Frequency geomagnetic pulsations (from 0.001 to 2 Hz) by means of flux gate magnetometers. The first observatory has been working continuously since 2002. The second one since 2005, these instruments are dedicated mainly to study of magnetospheric storms and low latitude geomagnetic micropulsations, and the relation with solar activity. GPS stations: We control two GPS stations for ionospheric studies, one locate at UNAM, Campus Juirquilla, Queretaro, and one at Coeneo, Michoacan. Both instruments are expected to be integrated to the Mexican GPS network, to improve upon the continuous monitoring of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere over Mexico. MEXART. The Mexican Array Radio Telescope consists of a 64x64 (4096) full wavelength dipole antenna array, operating at 140 MHz, with a bandwidth of 2 MHz, occupying about 9,660 square meters (69m x 140m) (http://www.mexart.unam.mx). This is a radio array for Interplanetary Scintillation (IPS) observations located at: latitude 19o 48' N, longitude 101o 41' W. The main objective of the MEXART is to perform studies of solar wind disturbances employing the IPS technique. The IPS technique can be applied to track solar wind disturbances between the Sun and the Earth and it is a useful tool for space weather surveys. The operation of MEXART will allow us a better coverage of solar wind disturbances, complementing the data provided by other instruments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. JOB OPENING: Faculty Position at the University of Michigan ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Mary Nehls-Frumkin The University of Michigan Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences (AOSS) is seeking applications for a tenure/tenure- track faculty position. The position is to be filled with an experimentalist with a strong research interest in scientific instrumentation, in particular space flight hardware development, related to Space, Planetary or Earth Science. Space Science faculty research interests include: solar-heliospheric physics, magnetospheric physics (including planetary magnetospheres), magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, aeronomy, and planetary atmospheres (including atmospheres of small bodies and planetary satellites). AOSS faculty are engaged in observational, theoretical and computer simulation studies. Over the last six decades AOSS and its Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL) have designed, built, flown and analyzed more than 100 rocket experiments and nearly 40 space instruments and are actively involved in developing nanosatellites and suborbital platforms. Earth Science faculty research interests include: global climate change (emphasizing atmospheric and aerosol chemistry), regional and urban air pollution, glaciology, chemical kinetics, radiative transfer, remote sensing, aerosol-cloud-climate interactions, and atmospheric dynamics. AOSS faculty are extensively involved in observations of the Earth from space, focusing in particular on measurements of atmospheric and ocean surface phenomena in the microwave and infrared. AOSS also develops instruments for and participates in ground-based, balloon and airborne field campaigns to study the dynamics and composition of the ocean, atmosphere and space environment. The successful candidate will be expected to (1) develop a widely recognized experimentally focused research program, (2) attract external funding, (3) mentor graduate students, and (4) participate in the graduate and undergraduate educational mission of AOSS and the College of Engineering. Candidates capable of developing collaborative research and educational relationships between AOSS and other U-M departments are of particular interest. A PhD in a relevant science or engineering discipline is required. Applications should include a cover letter, CV, concise personal statement describing the candidate’s research and education vision, and a list of at least four references. For full consideration applications should be received before 1 November 2012. Applications and questions should be sent (as a single pdf file) to UMEXP-AOSS@umich.edu. Informal inquiries may also be made to: Prof. Tamas Gombosi, Chair, Faculty Search Committee, AOSS, tamas@umich.edu. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity of the academic community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. The University is also responsive to the needs of dual career couples. A Non-discriminatory, Affirmative Action Employer. http://aoss.engin.umich.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 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+