Upcoming Events

2008 GEM Summer Workshop

GEM will be holding its annual summer workshop June 22-27, 2008 at the Zermatt Resort and Spa in Midway, Utah. More information will be available soon.

Web sites:

• GEM 2008 Summer Workshop web site

• Zermatt Resort & Spa - Utah

Call for Presentations

Physical Processes in the Cusps: Plasma Transport and Energization

Conveners: K.J. Trattner <karlheinz.j.trattner.dr@lmco.com>, N. Omidi and D. Sibeck

During the 2008 Summer GEM workshop in Zermatt Utah, a number of sessions on the physical processes in the cusp will be held. The main objective of these sessions is to utilize observations, modeling, and theory of the cusp and its role in particle acceleration and plasma transport to assess the current status of the field and forge collaborative efforts towards addressing outstanding issues in the future. Based on the topics in earlier years and the discussions during the mini-workshop held during the 2007 Fall AGU, we plan to focus on the following topics:

1. Plasma transport into the cusp. 2. Energization of ions in diamagnetic cavities. 3. Origin of waves observed in the cusp and their role in particle scattering and acceleration. 4. Interaction of FTE's with the cusp. 5. The source region of energetic ions and electrons observed in the cusp. 6. Ionospheric signatures of such processes such as Poleward Moving Auroral Forms

It is the ultimate goal of the workshop to enhance our understanding of the cusp physics, its coupling to other parts of the system such as the bow shock, magnetopause and the ionosphere and the important role it plays in dayside transport and energization. Observational and theoretical contributions to this session are hereby solicited.

Those interested in these topics are invited to attend and contribute through showing a few slides and/or participation in the discussions. Information regarding hotel reservations and travel arrangements will be posted on the GEM website (http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem) in the near future. Those wishing to give a presentation or with questions regarding the workshop should contact the conveners trattner@mail.spasci.com, omidi@solanasci.com or david.g.sibeck@nasa.gov.

Bow Shock Phenomena and their Magnetospheric Impacts

Conveners: N. Omidi <omidi@solanasci.com>, H. Kucharek <harald.kucharek@unh.edu>, and J. Eastwood <eastwood@ssl.berkeley.edu>

During the 2008 Summer GEM workshop in Zermatt Utah, one or more sessions on the bow shock and its magnetospheric impacts will be held. The main objective of the session is to utilize observations, modeling, and theory of the bow shock and related processes in the foreshock and the magnetosheath to assess the current status of the field and forge collaborative efforts towards addressing outstanding issues in the future. Based on the discussions during the mini-workshop held before the 2007 Fall AGU, we plan to focus on the following topics:

1. Morphology of the ion foreshock as a function of IMF orientation 2. Upstream waves and their role in preconditioning of the solar wind 3. Upstream structures such a foreshock cavities and density holes 4. Interaction of solar wind discontinuities (and CME/CIR) with the bow shock and the resulting phenomena such as hot flow anomalies (HFAs) or magnetic reconnection in the sheath 5. Shock structure, dissipation processes and implications for waves in the magnetosheath 6. Magnetosheath turbulence and impacts on the magnetopause

Those interested in these topics are invited to attend and contribute through showing a few slides and/or participation in the discussions. Information regarding hotel reservations and travel arrangements are posted on the GEM website (http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/). Those wishing to give a presentation or with questions regarding the workshop should contact the conveners omidi@solanasci.com, harald.kucharek@unh.edu, eastwood@ssl.berkeley.edu .