Difference between revisions of "2010 Summer Workshop"

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[[Image:SilvertreeSView.jpg]]
  
GEM will be holding its annual summer workshop June 21-26, 2009 at the Snowmass Conference Center in Snowmass, Colorado.  Registration can be made at the [http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html GEM Workshop Web Site] by June 14, 2009. The GEM Workshop Web Site also provides the workshop [http://www.ece.vt.edu/GEM-2009/ agenda]. 
+
GEM will be holding its annual summer workshop at the Snowmass Conference Center in Snowmass, Colorado during June 20-25, 2010A special student program will be held on Sunday, June 20.
  
The following GEM sessions are calling for presentationsPoster titles must be submitted to the workshop website no later than Friday, June 12.
+
Logistical information and workshop agenda can be found at the [http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html GEM Workshop Web Site].   
  
(Calls for presentations are being added to this page.)
+
Listed below are the call for presentations by various GEM focus groups before the Workshop. (Note: In the e-mail addresses below the symbol @ is replaced by " [at] ".)
  
 
== GGCM Metrics and Validation ==
 
== GGCM Metrics and Validation ==
 +
 +
''Conveners: Aaron Ridley <ridley [at] umich.edu> and Masha Kuznetsova <Maria.M.Kuznetsova [at] nasa.gov>''
 +
 +
A new Dst index metrics study is added to the GEM Modeling Challenge
 +
organized by the GGCM Metrics and Validation Focus Group. Community
 +
Coordinating Modeling Center (CCMC) is supporting the Challenge.
 +
To participate in the Challenge please submit your model results using
 +
the web interface prior to June 1st, 2010.
 +
 +
The results of the Challenge will be discussed at the GGCM Metrics and
 +
Validation Session at the GEM 2010 Summer Workshop. Joint publication
 +
by all participants is planned. For more details, go to the Challenge
 +
Web site: http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/support/GEM_metrics_08/
 +
 +
Please send questions, comments and suggestions to: Masha Kuznetsova
 +
(Maria.M.Kuznetsova[at]nasa.gov) and Aaron Ridley (ridley[at]umich.edu).
  
 
== GGCM Modules and Methods ==
 
== GGCM Modules and Methods ==
  
Conveners: John Dorelli <john.dorelli at nasa.gov>
+
''Conveners: Brian Sullivan (bsullivan [at]artemis.sr.unh.edu); John Dorelli (john.dorelli [at] nasa.gov)and Michael Shay (shay [at] udel.edu) ''
  
The GGCM Methods and Modules Focus group would like to invite participants
+
The GGCM Methods and Modules Focus Group will hold 2 sessions at the
to two sessions to be held at the summer GEM workshop in Snowmass June 21-26.
+
upcoming GEM Summer Workshop in Snowmass (June 20-25, 2010). The
Both sessions will be held Wednesday, June 24:
+
sessions will be at 10:30 and 1:30 on Wednesday.
  
'''Session 1 (10:30 am):  What role does electron dissipation play in open
+
The overarching goal of this focus group is to understand the physics
boundary condition simulations of magnetic reconnection?'''
+
of collisionless magnetic reconnection on magnetospheric length scales
 +
(100-1000 ion inertial lengths). We invite potential contributors to
 +
participate with short presentations on the following topics:
  
In this session, we would like to continue where we left off last year,  
+
1. Scaling of reconnection with local and kinetic scale parameters in
addressing the following issues:
+
MHD, multifluid, and kinetic models.
  
1. What is the role of secondary magnetic islands?  Are they an irrelevant
+
2. Plasmoid instabilities in high Lundquist number current sheets
by-product, or do they play an essential role in determining the aspect
 
ratio of the dissipation region?
 
  
2. What limits the aspect ratio of the electron dissipation region?
+
3. Dependence (or independence) of the dayside reconnection rate on
 +
solar wind parameters.
  
3. How does the reconnection rate scale with dissipation scale parameters
+
or any other topics of interest to the focus group. This is the final
(e.g., resistivity or electron mass) in simulations (electron MHD, Hall MHD,
+
year of the GGCM Methods and Modules Focus Group. Looking forward, as
hybrid, fully kinetic)?
+
this focus group comes to an end, a major goal for this year's
 +
sessions will be to agree on a way to present the most significant
 +
results of geophysical magnetic reconnection research to the greater
 +
GEM community and to identify a few outstanding questions to address
 +
as we plan for future focus groups centered on the multi-scale physics
 +
of reconnection in the magnetosphere. A more detailed description of
 +
the objectives of this focus group can be found at
  
'''Session 2 (1:30 pm):  How do we accurately model magnetospheric reconnection
+
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG2._GGCM_Modules_and_Meth
on a global scale?'''
+
ods
  
Topics for this session include:
+
Potential Contributors are encouraged to contact Brian Sullivan
 +
(brian.sullivan [at] unh.edu) with the title of their presentation.
  
1.  How does the physics of reconnection depend on the ad hoc resistivity
+
== Plasma Entry and Transport into and within the Magnetotail (PET) ==
model used in global MHD codes?  In particular, how does reconnection scale
 
with resistivity in the high Lundquist number limit? What is the effect of
 
numerical resistivity? Can we reproduce Petschek reconnection by localizing
 
the plasma resistivity? What is the effect of current dependent resistivity?
 
  
2. How does dayside magnetopause reconnection work in global MHD codes?
+
''Conveners: Antonius Otto <ao [at] how.gi.alaska.edu>,Jay R. Johnson <jrj [at] pppl.gov>, and Simon Wing <Simon.Wing [at] jhuapl.edu>''
Is reconnection locally controlled or externally driven?  Does the Cassak-
 
Shay formula apply to the dayside magnetopause?
 
  
3.  What is the status of global Hall MHD modeling? What are the most
+
We would like to invite contributions to the PET focus group at the
robust numerical approaches? What are the new results coming from the  
+
upcoming GEM workshop in Snowmass on June 21-25, 2010.  The sessions
latest generation of global Hall MHD magnetosphere codes?
+
will be held in a workshop (NOT AGU) style in which each speaker will
 +
be allotted time for a 2-3 slides, in order to ensure enough time for
 +
discussionIn order to encourage this, at least one of the slides
 +
should deal with unresolved issues. Speakers are encouraged to end
 +
the presentation with outstanding questions rather than a summary of
 +
what has/have been accomplished. It is expected that there will be
 +
three sessions:
 +
(1) ion outflow effects on the plasma sheet;
 +
(2) Constraints on plasma sheet entry and transport; and
 +
(3) GEM challenge, northward and southward IMF.
  
4.  What is the status of other non-MHD approaches to global magnetosphere
+
All three sessions have been tentatively scheduled on Monday Jun 21
modeling (e.g., global hybrid codes)?  Are there any new ideas on the  
+
(See http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html for the definitive schedule).
horizon?
+
If you have not already done so, please send the title(s) and
 +
session(s) of your contribution(s) to us at your earliest convenience
 +
at the email addresses given above.
  
If you are interested in participating in either of these sessions, please
+
== Physical Processes in the Cusps: Plasma Transport and Energization ==
email one of the focus group co-chairs:
 
  
john.dorelli at nasa.gov or
+
''Conveners: K.J. Trattner(trattner [at] mail.spasci.com), N. Omidi (omidi [at] solanasci.com) and D. Sibeck (david.g.sibeck [at] nasa.gov)''
brian.sullivan at unh.edu.
 
  
== Bow Shock Phenomena and their Magnetospheric Impacts ==
+
Presentations are solicited for the CUSP Focus Group to be held during
 +
the 2010 Summer GEM workshop in Snowmass Colorado. This is the last
 +
year of the Cusp Focus Group who's main objective is to utilize
 +
observations, modeling, and theory of the cusp and its role in
 +
particle acceleration and plasma transport. Based on the topics in
 +
earlier years and the discussions during the mini-workshop held during
 +
the 2009 Fall AGU, the Focus Group addresses the following topics:
  
Conveners: N. Omidi <omidi [at] solanasci.com>, D. Sibeck <david.g.sibeck [at] nasa.gov>
+
1. Plasma transport into the cusp.
  
During the 2009 GEM Summer workshop at Snowmass Colorado, a session on the
+
2. Energization of ions in diamagnetic cavities.
bow shock and its magnetospheric impacts will be held on Monday June 22nd.  
 
This marks the last year of the Bow Shock Focus Group and in addition to
 
discussion of recent observations, modeling, and theory of the bow shock and
 
related processes in the foreshock and the magnetosheath we will discuss
 
future plans. In particular, N. Omidi will provide a summary of
 
accomplishments and current status and D. Sibeck will discuss future
 
missions followed by solicitation and discussion of ideas about future
 
directions and plans.
 
  
Those who are interested and wish to show a few
+
3. Origin of waves observed in the cusp and their role in particle
relevant slides are invited to contact the conveners:
+
scattering and acceleration.
  
omidi[at]solanasci.com, David.G.Sibeck[at]nasa.gov.  
+
4. Interaction of FTE's with the cusp.
  
For updated information please see http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html .
+
5. The source region of energetic ions and electrons observed in the
 +
cusp.
  
== Plasma Entry and Tranport into and within the Magnetotail (PET) ==
+
6. Ionospheric signatures of such processes such as Poleward Moving
 +
Auroral Forms
  
Conveners: Larry Kepko <larry.kepko [at] unh.edu>
+
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.
  
The Modes of Transport focus group will hold 2 breakout sessions at
+
Those interested in these topics are invited to attend and contribute
the upcoming GEM Workshop in Snowmass (June 21-26, 2009). Both
+
through showing a few slides and/or participation in the discussions.
sessions will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 23. This focus
+
Information regarding hotel reservations and travel arrangements will
group seeks to improve our knowledge of the physical mechanisms that
+
be posted on the GEM website (http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem) in the near
provide for different dynamical modes of response of the magnetotail
+
future.
to the solar wind.
 
  
1) This first session seeks event, statistical and theoretical studies
+
Those wishing to give a presentation or with questions
of solar wind coupling and magnetospheric response. Topics include
+
regarding the workshop should contact the conveners:
(but are not limited to) sawtooth events, steady magnetospheric
+
''trattner [at] mail.spasci.com, omidi [at] solanasci.com or
convection, and pseudo-breakups.
+
david.g.sibeck [at] nasa.gov.''
  
2) In this second session we seek to: a) Identify questions that can be
+
== Near Earth Magnetosphere: Plasma, Fields and Coupling ==
addressed with global MHD simulations and b) Find events, particularly
 
during the THEMIS era, that can be used to answer the questions
 
developed in (a). This session will be old-school workshop format, so
 
participants are encouraged to bring plots and data for particular
 
events.
 
  
Interested participants should email either Larry Kepko (larry.kepko
+
''Conveners: Focus Group co-chairs: Sorin Zaharia <szaharia [at] lanl.gov>,''
[at] unh.edu) or Bob McPherron (rmcpherron [at] igpp.ucla.edu).
+
''Stan Sazykin <sazykin [at] rice.edu> and Benoit Lavraud <Benoit.Lavraud [at] cesr.fr>''
  
== Dayside Magnetopause Reconnection ==
+
The Near Earth Magnetosphere: Plasma, Fields and Coupling Focus Group
 +
will hold 3 sessions at the upcoming GEM Summer Workshop in Snowmass
 +
(June 20-25, 2010).
  
== Physical Processes in the Cusps: Plasma Transport and Energization ==
+
We invite potential contributors to participate with short
 +
presentations on the following topics:
 +
 
 +
1). Effect of plasma on storm-time electric and magnetic fields
 +
 
 +
2). Plasma sheet effect on ring current dynamics
 +
 
 +
3). Electric fields in the near-Earth magnetosphere (potential and inductive)
  
== Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling, Electrodynamics and Transport (MICET) ==
+
4). Coupling of physics-based inner magnetosphere with global magnetosphere models
  
== Near Earth Magnetosphere: Plasma, Fields and Coupling ==
+
or any other topics of interest to the focus group. It is the ultimate
 +
goal of the focus group to improve physical knowledge and modeling of
 +
the near-Earth (closer than 10 RE) magnetosphere and its coupling with
 +
the outer magnetosphere; a more detailed description of the focus
 +
group objectives can be found at
  
Conveners: Focus Group co-chairs: Sorin Zaharia <szaharia at lanl.gov>,
 
Stan Sazykin <sazykin at rice.edu> and Benoit Lavraud <Benoit.Lavraud at cesr.fr>
 
 
We would like to invite potential contributors to the Near Earth
 
Magnetosphere: Plasma, Fields and Coupling Focus Group at the upcoming GEM
 
Summer Workshop in Snowmass (June 21-26, 2009) to participate with modeling,
 
theoretical and observational studies related to the topics below. Our focus
 
group will have 3 breakout sessions on June 24 (Wed.) (for the full schedule
 
of the workshop see http://www.ece.vt.edu/GEM-2009).
 
 
(1) Better observational knowledge/empirical models of fields and particles
 
relevant to the near-Earth magnetosphere (including plasma sheet models to
 
be used as input for near-Earth magnetosphere models); studies related to
 
better knowledge of the electric fields (convection and induced) are
 
particularly encouraged.
 
 
(2) Improvements in physics-based modeling, including coupling between
 
different elements in the models (plasma, electric and magnetic fields), as
 
well as inner-outer magnetosphere coupling; studies that address the effect
 
of the above coupling on the inner magnetosphere structure/dynamics,
 
including potential improvement of consistency with observations. A
 
significant part of this session will be devoted to presentations of results
 
related to the Near-Earth Magnetosphere Modeling Challenge. A description of
 
the Challenge can also be found at the Wiki address above.
 
 
Potential contributors are urged to contact the conveners indicating their
 
interest in participating. The sessions will be held workshop-style, with
 
contributers encouraged to limit their number of slides to maximum 5. Please
 
send the title of your contribution to us at the email addresses above.
 
 
Besides the 2 sessions dedicated to the topics above, a 3rd session will be
 
devoted to refining the direction of the focus group in the future;
 
community input is both welcome and appreciated. It is the ultimate goal of
 
the focus group to improve physical knowledge and modeling of the near-Earth
 
(< 10 RE) magnetosphere and its coupling with the outer magnetosphere. An
 
outline of the major topics of interest of the focus group can be found at:
 
 
 
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG8._Near_Earth_Magnetosphere:_plasma%2C_fields%2C_and_coupling
 
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG8._Near_Earth_Magnetosphere:_plasma%2C_fields%2C_and_coupling
 +
 +
Potential contributors are encouraged to contact Sorin Zaharia
 +
(szaharia at lanl.gov) with the title of their presentation.
  
 
== Space Radiation Climatology ==
 
== Space Radiation Climatology ==
 +
 +
''Conveners: Paul O'Brien (paul.obrien [at] aero.org);Geoff Reeves (reeves [at] lanl.gov), Bob Weigel (rweigel-at-gmu.edu), and Reiner Friedel (friedel-at-lanl.gov)''
 +
 +
 +
It's almost time for the GEM Summer Workshop, joint with CEDAR. The
 +
Space Radiation Climatology Focus Group (FG9) will meet for three
 +
breakout sessions: two on Thursday June 24th: 1:30-3:30 and 3:30-5,
 +
and one on Friday, the 25th, 10:30-12:15. We will be discussing the
 +
past year's results in reanalysis, data assimilation, climatology
 +
models, and long-term data/analysis. One of our sessions (the first
 +
one) will be joint with the new radiation belt focus group.
 +
 +
We already have a number of exciting talks lined up, but there's
 +
plenty of room for more. We encourage interested parties to send talk
 +
ideas to Paul O'Brien, Bob Weigel, and/or Reiner Friedel (Geoff will
 +
not be able to attend this year). If you are presenting an FG9-related
 +
poster, please sign up for the **Thursday** Poster Session and
 +
advertise on the Wiki. http://www.virbo.org/GEM_FG9_2010
 +
 +
To view the FG9 email archive or to join the email group, go to
 +
http://groups.google.com/group/gem-2007-space-radiation-climatology-fg9
  
 
== Diffuse Auroral Precipitation ==
 
== Diffuse Auroral Precipitation ==
  
Conveners: Richard Thorne <rmt [at] atmos.ucla.edu>
+
''Conveners: Richard Thorne <rmt [at] atmos.ucla.edu>''
   
+
 
There will be four separate breakout sessions devoted to the Diffuse Auroral
+
The Diffuse Aurora Focus Group plans to hold 4 breakout sessions at
Precipitation Focus Group at the 2009 GEM workshop.
+
the 2010 GEM meeting in Snowmass this summer. Potential contributors
 +
are invited to contact the session chairs listed below with a title of
 +
their talk, and prepare a brief presentation for the workshop.
 +
 
 +
'''1. Relationship between auroral phenomenology and scattering mechanisms'''
 +
[Co-chairs, Binbin Ni (bbni[at}atmos.ucla.edu)
 +
and Robert Michell (rmichell[at]swri.edu)]
 +
 
 +
*Monday June 21: 10:30-12:15:
 +
 
 +
'''2. Modulation of DA brightness by large-scale magnetospheric processes.'''
 +
[Co-chairs, Marilia Samara
 +
(marilia.samara[at]swri.org) and Jacob Bortnik (jbortnik[at]gmail.com )]
 +
 
 +
*Monday June 21: 1:3-3:00:
 +
 
 +
'''3. Spatial and temporal extent and spatio-temporal occurrence of DA/scattering mechanisms'''
 +
[Co-chairs, Toshi Nishimura
 +
(toshi[at]atmos.ucla.edu) and Richard Thorne (rmt[at]atmos.ucla.edu)]
 +
 
 +
*Monday June 21: 3:30-5:00:
 +
 
 +
'''4. Importance of the DA for Geospace at the system level. Plans for next year.'''
 +
[Chair, Richard Thorne (rmt[at]atmos.ucla.edu)]
 +
 
 +
*Tuesday June 22: 10:30-12:15:
 +
 
 +
== Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interactions (PMI) ==
 +
 
 +
''Conveners: From: Jerry Goldstein <jgoldstein [at] swri.edu> and Maria Spasojevic <mariaspasojevic [at] stanford.edu>''
 +
 
 +
The Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interactions (PMI) focus group will
 +
hold several sessions at the 2010 GEM Workshop, during 20-25 June 2010.
 +
 
 +
We invite short presentations (several slides) related to any of the
 +
PMI's broad topics:
 +
 
 +
+  Wave-Particle Interactions
 +
 
 +
+  Plume Dynamics & Recirculation
 +
 
 +
+  Plasma Density Structure & Evolution.
 +
 
 +
Specific topics of interest:
 +
*  Dynamics of energetic particles
 +
*  Wave theory and observations
 +
*  Simulations or models of acceleration or loss
 +
*  Morphology and dynamics of cold plasma density
 +
*  Global circulation of plasmaspheric plumes
 +
*  Dayside distribution of cold plasma ions
 +
*  Fine scale plasma structure and flow turbulence.
 +
*  Plume plasma and magnetospheric reconnection.
 +
 
 +
or any other topic you feel would be of interest to the PMI focus
 +
group.
 +
 
 +
If you would like to present, please e-mail your tentative title/topic
 +
to:
 +
 
 +
JGoldstein [at] swri.edu.
 +
 
 +
== Substorm Expansion Onset: The First 10 Minutes ==
 +
 
 +
''Conveners: Vassilis Angelopoulos (Vassilis[at] ucla.edu); Kazuo Shiokawa (Shiokawa [at] stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp) ; Andrei Runov (arunov [at] igpp.ucla.edu)  and Shin Ohtani  (Ohtani [at] jhuapl.edu)''
 +
 
 +
Our focus group, "Substorm Expansion Onset: The First 10 Minutes",
 +
will have 4 sessions at the upcoming GEM Workshop in Snowmass (June
 +
20-25, 2010).  They are scheduled on June 24 (Thu) and 25 (Fri). 
 +
 
 +
We have four topical areas identified, which are:
 +
 
 +
1. Onset timing: observations/theory/simulations (Angelopoulos)
 +
 
 +
2. How do onset signatures propagate to near Earth and to the ground?
 +
(Runov)
 +
 
 +
3. Ground-space mapping of physical processes before/during/after
 +
onset (Ohtani)
 +
 
 +
4. Substorm processes near transition between stretched and dipole
 +
field lines (Shiokawa)
 +
 
 +
We would like to invite you to participate, and if you have any
 +
request or question, please contact the person of the topical area of
 +
your interest, whose name is in the parentheses for each topic.
 +
 
 +
The description of our focus group is posted at:
 +
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG12._Substorm_Expansion_Onset:_The_First_10_Minutes
 +
 
 +
== Modes of Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Energy Transfer ==
 +
 
 +
''Convener: Larry Kepko (larry.kepko [at] unh.edu) and Bob McPherron (rmcpherron [at] igpp.ucla.edu)''
 +
 
 +
 
 +
The Modes of Magnetospheric Response focus group will hold three
 +
sessions at the upcoming GEM Workshop (June 20-25) in Snowmass, CO,
 +
covering the following topics:
 +
 
 +
1. Dayside observations during sawtooth events, the role of polar cap
 +
saturation, and implications for the magnetospheric response.
 +
Specifically, are particle injections on the dayside dispersionless or
 +
dispersive? Can sawtooth observations be understood as substorms that
 +
penetrate deep into the inner magnetosphere, or do sawtooth represent
 +
a fundamentally different state of the magnetosphere? We particularly
 +
encourage participants to bring data that addresses the issue of
 +
dayside injection and/or dipolarization.
 +
 
 +
2. Non-linear coupling and the role of pre-conditioning in determining
 +
the response mode. Example topics and questions include: Systematic
 +
errors in activity indices; Seasonal effects on coupling functions;
 +
mass-loading effects on convection; The storm/substorm/SMC
 +
relationship.
 +
 
 +
3. Magnetospheric response and solar wind energy transfer during the
 +
extreme solar minimum.
 +
 
 +
This focus group has as its aim the improvement of knowledge of the
 +
physical mechanisms that provide different dynamical modes of response
 +
of the magnetotail to the solar wind. These include substorms, steady
 +
magnetospheric convection, sawtooth injection events, pseudo breakups,
 +
and poleward boundary intensifications. A complete description of the
 +
FG and its goals can be found at http://bit.ly/beGmTF
 +
 
 +
'''Schedule Change'''
 +
 
 +
To minimize overlap with the "First 10 Minutes" focus group the "Modes of Magnetospheric Response" has been moved to the following dates and times:
 +
 
 +
Wednesday 6/23, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm, and 3:30-5:00 pm
 +
Thursday 6/24, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm
 +
 
 +
Please contact us if you are interested in presenting in one of the sessions [''Larry Kepko (larry.kepko [at] unh.edu) and Bob McPherron (rmcpherron [at] igpp.ucla.edu)'']:
 +
 
 +
1. Dayside observations during sawtooth events, the role of polar cap saturation, and implications for the magnetospheric response. Specifically, are particle injections on the dayside dispersionless or dispersive? Can sawtooth observations be understood as substorms that penetrate deep into the inner magnetosphere, or do sawtooth represent a fundamentally different state of the magnetosphere? We particularly encourage participants to bring data that addresses the issue of dayside injection and/or dipolarization.
 +
 
 +
2. Non-linear coupling and the role of pre-conditioning in determining the response mode. Example topics and questions include: Systematic errors in activity indices; Seasonal effects on coupling functions; mass-loading effects on convection; The storm/substorm/SMC relationship.
 +
 
 +
3. Magnetospheric response, state of the magnetosphere, and solar wind energy transfer during the extreme solar minimum.
 +
 
 +
== Magnetosheath Studies ==
  
'''Session 1'''
+
''Convener: Steven Petrinec (steve.petrinec [at] gmail.com) and Katariina Nykyri (nykyrik [at] erau.edu)''
  
Tu, 23 June, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
+
Magnetosheath focus group will hold sessions at the next GEM workshop
 +
on 21-25th of June, 2010 in Snowmass Village Colorado. We invite short
 +
presentations related to any of the focus group topics.
  
DAP 1:   " Understanding Diffuse Auroral Structure "
+
The Primary Objectives and Expected Activities of the FG:
  
Co-chaired by Marilla Samara (msamara[at]swri.edu) and Robert Michell
+
1. To produce more comprehensive models of large scale magnetosheath
(rmichell[at]swri.edu).
+
flow and field patterns, and geometry of the magnetosheath region
  
We invite contributions relating to the wide range of observable auroral
+
2. To improve understanding of magnetosheath plasma instabilities and
structures and their classification. Diffuse aurora contains a wide range of
+
wave particle interactions: Spatial distribution and characteristics
structures including the most fine scale features. However, the mechanisms
 
causing structure in aurora, whether discrete or diffuse, need to be defined
 
within a larger theoretical understanding, which requires consistency in
 
verification resulting from observations of all types of structures.
 
  
Therefore, we would like to broaden the discussion to include more than what
+
3. To develop a better understanding of the effects on magnetospheric
is often deemed to be diffuse auroral structure. A main re-occurring theme
+
dynamics due to processes occurring in the magnetosheath and due to
is the confusion on what is actually termed diffuse aurora and most
+
characteristic magnetosheath properties.
importantly how to recognize it in optical data.
 
  
Topics for discussion will include:
+
The focus group proposal with specific science questions can be found
 +
at
 +
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawiki/pdf/GEM_FG_MSheath_proposal.pdf.
  
1. Variety of auroral structure (and characteristics) observed to date with
+
We especially encourage data-analysts utilizing in-situ spacecraft
ground imagers, satellite-borne imagers and their counterparts in the in
+
measurements from Themis and Cluster missions, theoretical modelers,
situ particle measurements.
+
global and local modelers to participate in this workshop and present
 +
your findings. We also encourage presentations of studies of
 +
magnetosheaths around other solar system bodies, as they relate to the
 +
terrestrial magnetosheath.
  
2. Working definition of diffuse aurora: Historical context and observations.  
+
See GEM website for further details: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/
Is it ever really structureless?
 
  
3. Current knowledge of what these diffuse auroral structures tell us about
+
== Radiation-Belt and Waves Modeling (RBWM) ==
in situ and wave scattering processes (connection to the other 2 sessions).
 
What future measurements and models will add to the current understanding?
 
  
Input on how to further shape this session is welcome and encouraged.
+
''Conveners: Yuri Shprits, UCLA (yshprits [at] atmos.ucla.edu); Scot Elkington, LASP (Scot.Elkington [at] lasp.colorado.edu); Jacob Bortnik, UCLA (jbortnik [at] atmos.ucla.edu);Craig Kletzing, U. Iowa (craig-kletzing [at] uiowa.edu)''
  
 +
The Radiation-Belt and Waves Modeling (RBWM) focus group will
 +
hold several sessions at the 2010 GEM Workshop, during 20-25 June 2010.
  
'''Session 2'''
+
We invite short presentations (several slides) related to any of
 +
RBWM's broad topics:
  
Tu, 23 June, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
+
- Wave excitation, propagation and distribution (ULF, VLF, etc.)
  
DAP 2:  "The Relationship Between Diffuse Aurora and the Dynamics and Structure of the Magnetosphere"
+
- Dynamical modeling of the radiation belts (acceleration, loss, etc.)
  
Co-chaired by Eric Donovan (edonovan@ucalgary.ca) Marilia Samara and Robert Mitchell
+
- Wave-particle interactions (linear, nonlinear, non-resonant)
  
A number of different types of aurora are classified as diffuse. These
+
The RBWM focus group kicks off this year, and aims to achieve a first-
aurora are caused by a number of distinct precipitation mechanisms which
+
principles understanding of the coupled dynamic variability of the
sometimes overlap in space. Unlike discrete aurora, in most instances
+
radiation-belts, and the wave environment that controls it. A few
diffuse aurora is a more or less direct consequence of a process or
+
sample questions that are of particular interest to this focus group
processes in the magnetosphere, and so temporal variations of and
+
are:
spatial gradients in brightness are thought to convey significant
 
information about those magnetospheric processes. Further, diffuse
 
auroral precipitation plays some role in the loss of magnetospheric
 
particles and in carrying large- and possibly small-scale currents, and
 
so the diffuse aurora is important in the system-level behavior of
 
geospace.
 
  
In this session we will be exploring the use of diffuse aurora to remote
+
- what are the physical processes responsible for wave excitation?
sense magnetospheric dynamics, and the role of diffuse aurora in those
 
dynamics. We encourage contributions about (1) the physical meaning (in
 
terms of magnetospheric dynamics and topology) of diffuse auroral
 
boundaries and their temporal evolution, variations in brightness, as
 
well as (2) the importance of diffuse aurora in carrying large-scale
 
currents and magnetospheric particle loss. We encourage presentations
 
based on observational and theoretical/modelling work. We are hoping for
 
presentations describing work that utilizes coordinated ground-based
 
(ASIs, induction coil & fluxgate magnetometers, riometers, ISRs, etc)
 
and in situ (THEMIS, FAST, Polar, Geotail, LANL, etc) observations.
 
  
Topics for discussion will include
+
- what are the spatiotemporal distributions of various plasma waves
 +
and what are their relative roles in producing acceleration/loss?
  
1. How is the motion of diffuse auroral structures related to
+
- what are the roles of linear, nonlinear, and non-diffusive wave-
magnetospheric convection?
+
particle interactions in RB dynamics?
  
2. The poleward boundary of the diffuse “redline” aurora has been widely
+
- what are the quantitative effects of transport via interactions with
used as a proxy for the open-closed field line boundary. In terms of the
+
ULF waves?
magnetosphere, what does the equatorward boundary of the redline aurora
 
correspond to?
 
  
3. What is the "state of the art" in terms of using intensity ratios to
+
- what is the role of the seed population in radiation belt dynamics?
infer characteristics of precipitating particles?
 
  
4. What is the instantaneous spatial extent of different types of
+
- why do some storms produce flux increases, decreases, or no
diffuse aurora?
+
variation?
  
5. How do large-scale processes (eg., solar wind pressure pulses, ULF
+
If you would like to learn more about this focus group, or submit a
waves including Pi2s, etc) modulate diffuse auroral brightness?
+
presentation, please use the following resources:
  
6. How do diffuse aurora of different types relate to currents?
+
Wiki page
 +
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG:_Radiation_Belts_and_Wave_Modeling
  
7. How do diffuse aurora of different relate to magnetospheric particle
+
We look forward to your participation
loss?
 
  
 +
'''Radiation Belts and Wave Modeling (RBWM) session description:'''
 +
 +
We will have 6 sessions this year: You can submit the title of your presentation online by following the link below to reserve a time slot during each individual session. We invite potential contributions and encourage to limit presentations to approximately 5 min.
 +
 +
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEhELVhvSXg5VS1HQmd3dzhCY3BaMGc6MQ
 +
 +
 +
''Tues PM 1: RBWM 1 -- Dynamical modeling of the radiation belts (Model development, verification, validation) (Scot Elkington and Yuri Shprits)''
  
 +
During this session we will discuss the development of new and improvement of existing models of particle transport, scattering, and acceleration in the radiation belts.  We will discuss future plans for model inter-comparison and for comparison of models with observations.
  
'''Session 3'''
+
 +
''Tues PM 2: RBWM 2 -- Dynamical modeling of the radiation belts (Preparing Radiation Belt models for RBSP data) (Scot Elkington and Yuri Shprits)''
 +
 +
During this session we will concentrate on comparing model results with observations from RBSP and other missions such as ORBITALS, ERG, and BARREL.
  
Wed, 24 June, 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
+
 +
''Wed AM 2: RBWM 3 -- Wave-particle interactions (Particle scattering and transport) (Scot Elkington and Yuri Shprits)''
 +
         
 +
We will discuss quasi-liner and non-liner pitch-angle, energy, and radial scattering and will discuss other potentially important acceleration and loss mechanisms operating in the radiation belts.  
  
DAP 3 "Modeling Electron Scattering Rates by ECH waves and Chorus"
 
  
Co-chaired by Richard Thorne  (rmt[at]atmos.ucla.edu) and Binbin Ni
+
''Wed PM 1: RBWM 4 -- Wave excitation, propagation, and distribution (ULF) (Jacob Bortnik and Craig Kletzing)''
(bbni[at]atmos.ucla.edu).
+
         
 +
We will discuss excitation, propagation and distribution of ULF waves. We would like to invite contributions concerning modeling and observations.
  
This session will examine the global morphology, spectral properties, and  
+
 
variability of two classes of magnetospheric plasma waves, electrostatic
+
''Wed PM 2: RBWM 5 -- Wave excitation, propagation and distribution (VLF) (Jacob Bortnik and Craig Kletzing)''
electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) and electromagnetic whistler mode chorus
 
plasma waves, which are capable of scattering plasma sheet electrons,
 
leading to diffuse auroral precipitation. Theoretical calculations of pitch-
 
angle scattering rates from each class of wave will be presented to assess
 
their potential contribution to the global pattern of diffuse auroral
 
precipitation.
 
  
 +
We will discuss excitation, propagation and distribution of VLF waves. We would like to invite contributions concerning modeling and observations.
  
'''Session 4'''
+
 
 +
''Thur AM 2: RBWM 6 -- Planning session (Jacob Bortnik, Scot Elkington, Craig Kletzing, and Yuri Shprits)''
  
Wed, 24 June, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
+
We will discuss future plans of model development, validation, and verification. We will discuss potential future GEM challenges and will outline a plan for future GEM meetings.
  
DAP 4:  "Required Inputs for Global Modeling: Plans for 2009-2010
+
== Dayside FACs and Energy Deposition--Dayside FED ==
Activities"
 
  
Co-chaired by Margaret Chen (Margaret.W.Chen[at]aero.org) and Richard Thorne
+
''Delores Knipp (delores.knipp [at] gmail.com); Stefan Eriksson (eriksson [a]t lasp.colorado.edu), Geoff Crowley (gcrowley [at] astraspace.net), Ramon Lopez (rlopez [at] uta.edu)''
(rmt[at]atmos.ucla.edu)
 
  
In this session we will discuss how data and theoretical scattering rates
+
We would like to invite contributions to the Dayside FAC and Energy
can best be implemented in future models of the global distribution of
+
Deposition (FED) focus group at the upcoming GEM workshop in Snowmass
diffuse auroral precipitation. We will also outline plans and objectives for
+
on June 21-25, 2010. This new focus group is organizing to explain
the next year of the campaign.
+
the relation between enhanced dayside Poynting flux and field-aligned
 +
currents, sources of field-aligned currents in the solar wind and
 +
magnetosphere and their impacts in the ionosphere-thermosphere system.
 +
The GF goals and other information are at:
  
 +
http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG:_Dayside_FACs_and_Energy_Deposition
  
Anyone interested in contributing to any of these sessions is encouraged to
+
The FED focus group will hold two sessions at the upcoming GEM
contact the relevant session chairs.
+
Workshop (June 20-25) in Snowmass, covering data, theory, modeling
 +
aspects of the following topics:
  
== Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interactions ==
+
- Dayside Poynting Flux, Joule Heating and Their Relation to Field Aligned Currents
  
== Substorm Expansion Onset: The First 10 Minutes ==
+
- Particle Energy Deposition on the Dayside
  
This is the 1st announcement of the focus group "Expansion Onset: The First
+
- Dissipation of Magnetospheric Energy in the Dayside Thermosphere
10 Minutes" for the upcoming GEM workshop in Snowmass (June 21-26, 2009;
 
http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html).
 
  
We will have 4 breakout sessions on
+
- Thermospheric Density Enhancements and Traveling Atmo/Iono- spheric Disturbances
June 25 (Thu) and 26(Fri) (for the current schedule of the overall workshop
 
see http://www.ece.vt.edu/GEM-2009).
 
  
Following are four topics and primary questions we will discuss this year.
+
- Solar Wind Drivers for Extreme Dayside Poynting Flux Events
  
1) Onset Timing
+
We will discuss the types of NSF GEM investigations to bring this
What is the time sequence of onset-related phenomena observed in space and
+
forward toward a conclusion by 2012.
on the ground, and what are the implications for substorm initiation?
 
  
2) M-I Coupling
+
The sessions will be held in a workshop (NOT AGU) style in which each
How does aurora evolve around substorm onsets? How are magnetospheric and
+
speaker will be allotted time for a 3-4 slides, in order to ensure
ionospheric onset signatures connected in terms of auroral precipitation and
+
enough time for discussion.  At least one of the slides should deal
currents, and what can we learn about substorm initiation from simultaneous
+
with unresolved issues. Speakers are encouraged to end their
ground-satellite observations?
+
presentation with outstanding questions that could provide a basis for
 +
a session at next year's joint GEM-CEDAR meeting.
  
3) Onset Signature Propagation
+
Both sessions have been tentatively scheduled on Monday Jun 21
How do onset-related signatures propagate in the magnetosphere?  How does
+
(See http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html for the definitive schedule).
the uncertainty of propagation time affect our understanding of substorm
+
If you have not already done so, please send the title(s) and
initiation?
+
session(s) of your contribution(s) to us at your earliest convenience
 +
at the email addresses listed below.
  
4) Mapping
+
Delores Knipp (delores.knipp [at] gmail.com)
How does the presence and evolution of pre-onset and expansion-phase current
 
systems affect the link between auroral and plasma sheet locations and
 
processes?
 
  
Sessions will be scheduled based on responses to this announcement.  Those
+
Stefan Eriksson (eriksson [a]t lasp.colorado.edu)
who are interested in participating in the discussion are encouraged to
 
email to Andrei Runov (arunov at igpp.ucla.edu), the session coordinator,
 
with c.c. to other conveners.
 
  
We look forward to seeing you there.
+
Geoff Crowley (gcrowley [at] astraspace.net)
  
Vassilis Angelopoulos (vassilis at ucla.edu)
+
Ray Lopez (rlopez [at] uta.edu)
  
Kazuo Shiokawa (Shiokawa at stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp)
+
== [Special breakout session] Comparative Planetary Magnetospheric Physics ==
  
Andrei Runov (arunov at igpp.ucla.edu)
+
Conveners: ''Larry Kepko (larry dot kepko at nasa dot gov) and Mike Liemohn (liemohn at umich dot edu)''
  
Shin Ohtani (ohtani at jhuapl.edu)
+
We invite all interested GEM attendees to participate in a special "comparative planetary magnetospheric physics" breakout session at the upcoming GEM workshop on Tuesday from 3:30-5:00 pm. The focus will be on how to utilize the knowledge gained from examining similar physical processes in the different systems to further the goals of GEM. These processes include MI coupling, dayside interactions, solar wind energy coupling, etc., and span the entirety of the GEM focus areas. We do not anticipate formal presentations. Rather, this is an open forum for discussion. Please bring your thinking caps!
  
== Modes of Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Energy Transfer ==
+
GEM will also have two related plenary session tutorials, one by Margaret Kivelson, "Learning about Earth's plasma processes from studies of other magnetospheres," on Tuesday morning and a second by Jim Slavin, "Reconnection in planetary magnetic tails," on Thursday morning.

Latest revision as of 08:27, 4 June 2010

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GEM will be holding its annual summer workshop at the Snowmass Conference Center in Snowmass, Colorado during June 20-25, 2010. A special student program will be held on Sunday, June 20.

Logistical information and workshop agenda can be found at the GEM Workshop Web Site.

Listed below are the call for presentations by various GEM focus groups before the Workshop. (Note: In the e-mail addresses below the symbol @ is replaced by " [at] ".)

GGCM Metrics and Validation

Conveners: Aaron Ridley <ridley [at] umich.edu> and Masha Kuznetsova <Maria.M.Kuznetsova [at] nasa.gov>

A new Dst index metrics study is added to the GEM Modeling Challenge organized by the GGCM Metrics and Validation Focus Group. Community Coordinating Modeling Center (CCMC) is supporting the Challenge. To participate in the Challenge please submit your model results using the web interface prior to June 1st, 2010.

The results of the Challenge will be discussed at the GGCM Metrics and Validation Session at the GEM 2010 Summer Workshop. Joint publication by all participants is planned. For more details, go to the Challenge Web site: http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/support/GEM_metrics_08/

Please send questions, comments and suggestions to: Masha Kuznetsova (Maria.M.Kuznetsova[at]nasa.gov) and Aaron Ridley (ridley[at]umich.edu).

GGCM Modules and Methods

Conveners: Brian Sullivan (bsullivan [at]artemis.sr.unh.edu); John Dorelli (john.dorelli [at] nasa.gov)and Michael Shay (shay [at] udel.edu)

The GGCM Methods and Modules Focus Group will hold 2 sessions at the upcoming GEM Summer Workshop in Snowmass (June 20-25, 2010). The sessions will be at 10:30 and 1:30 on Wednesday.

The overarching goal of this focus group is to understand the physics of collisionless magnetic reconnection on magnetospheric length scales (100-1000 ion inertial lengths). We invite potential contributors to participate with short presentations on the following topics:

1. Scaling of reconnection with local and kinetic scale parameters in MHD, multifluid, and kinetic models.

2. Plasmoid instabilities in high Lundquist number current sheets

3. Dependence (or independence) of the dayside reconnection rate on solar wind parameters.

or any other topics of interest to the focus group. This is the final year of the GGCM Methods and Modules Focus Group. Looking forward, as this focus group comes to an end, a major goal for this year's sessions will be to agree on a way to present the most significant results of geophysical magnetic reconnection research to the greater GEM community and to identify a few outstanding questions to address as we plan for future focus groups centered on the multi-scale physics of reconnection in the magnetosphere. A more detailed description of the objectives of this focus group can be found at

http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG2._GGCM_Modules_and_Meth ods

Potential Contributors are encouraged to contact Brian Sullivan (brian.sullivan [at] unh.edu) with the title of their presentation.

Plasma Entry and Transport into and within the Magnetotail (PET)

Conveners: Antonius Otto <ao [at] how.gi.alaska.edu>,Jay R. Johnson <jrj [at] pppl.gov>, and Simon Wing <Simon.Wing [at] jhuapl.edu>

We would like to invite contributions to the PET focus group at the upcoming GEM workshop in Snowmass on June 21-25, 2010. The sessions will be held in a workshop (NOT AGU) style in which each speaker will be allotted time for a 2-3 slides, in order to ensure enough time for discussion. In order to encourage this, at least one of the slides should deal with unresolved issues. Speakers are encouraged to end the presentation with outstanding questions rather than a summary of what has/have been accomplished. It is expected that there will be three sessions: (1) ion outflow effects on the plasma sheet; (2) Constraints on plasma sheet entry and transport; and (3) GEM challenge, northward and southward IMF.

All three sessions have been tentatively scheduled on Monday Jun 21 (See http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html for the definitive schedule). If you have not already done so, please send the title(s) and session(s) of your contribution(s) to us at your earliest convenience at the email addresses given above.

Physical Processes in the Cusps: Plasma Transport and Energization

Conveners: K.J. Trattner(trattner [at] mail.spasci.com), N. Omidi (omidi [at] solanasci.com) and D. Sibeck (david.g.sibeck [at] nasa.gov)

Presentations are solicited for the CUSP Focus Group to be held during the 2010 Summer GEM workshop in Snowmass Colorado. This is the last year of the Cusp Focus Group who's main objective is to utilize observations, modeling, and theory of the cusp and its role in particle acceleration and plasma transport. Based on the topics in earlier years and the discussions during the mini-workshop held during the 2009 Fall AGU, the Focus Group addresses 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 [at] mail.spasci.com, omidi [at] solanasci.com or david.g.sibeck [at] nasa.gov.

Near Earth Magnetosphere: Plasma, Fields and Coupling

Conveners: Focus Group co-chairs: Sorin Zaharia <szaharia [at] lanl.gov>, Stan Sazykin <sazykin [at] rice.edu> and Benoit Lavraud <Benoit.Lavraud [at] cesr.fr>

The Near Earth Magnetosphere: Plasma, Fields and Coupling Focus Group will hold 3 sessions at the upcoming GEM Summer Workshop in Snowmass (June 20-25, 2010).

We invite potential contributors to participate with short presentations on the following topics:

1). Effect of plasma on storm-time electric and magnetic fields

2). Plasma sheet effect on ring current dynamics

3). Electric fields in the near-Earth magnetosphere (potential and inductive)

4). Coupling of physics-based inner magnetosphere with global magnetosphere models

or any other topics of interest to the focus group. It is the ultimate goal of the focus group to improve physical knowledge and modeling of the near-Earth (closer than 10 RE) magnetosphere and its coupling with the outer magnetosphere; a more detailed description of the focus group objectives can be found at

http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG8._Near_Earth_Magnetosphere:_plasma%2C_fields%2C_and_coupling

Potential contributors are encouraged to contact Sorin Zaharia (szaharia at lanl.gov) with the title of their presentation.

Space Radiation Climatology

Conveners: Paul O'Brien (paul.obrien [at] aero.org);Geoff Reeves (reeves [at] lanl.gov), Bob Weigel (rweigel-at-gmu.edu), and Reiner Friedel (friedel-at-lanl.gov)


It's almost time for the GEM Summer Workshop, joint with CEDAR. The Space Radiation Climatology Focus Group (FG9) will meet for three breakout sessions: two on Thursday June 24th: 1:30-3:30 and 3:30-5, and one on Friday, the 25th, 10:30-12:15. We will be discussing the past year's results in reanalysis, data assimilation, climatology models, and long-term data/analysis. One of our sessions (the first one) will be joint with the new radiation belt focus group.

We already have a number of exciting talks lined up, but there's plenty of room for more. We encourage interested parties to send talk ideas to Paul O'Brien, Bob Weigel, and/or Reiner Friedel (Geoff will not be able to attend this year). If you are presenting an FG9-related poster, please sign up for the **Thursday** Poster Session and advertise on the Wiki. http://www.virbo.org/GEM_FG9_2010

To view the FG9 email archive or to join the email group, go to http://groups.google.com/group/gem-2007-space-radiation-climatology-fg9

Diffuse Auroral Precipitation

Conveners: Richard Thorne <rmt [at] atmos.ucla.edu>

The Diffuse Aurora Focus Group plans to hold 4 breakout sessions at the 2010 GEM meeting in Snowmass this summer. Potential contributors are invited to contact the session chairs listed below with a title of their talk, and prepare a brief presentation for the workshop.

1. Relationship between auroral phenomenology and scattering mechanisms [Co-chairs, Binbin Ni (bbni[at}atmos.ucla.edu) and Robert Michell (rmichell[at]swri.edu)]

  • Monday June 21: 10:30-12:15:

2. Modulation of DA brightness by large-scale magnetospheric processes. [Co-chairs, Marilia Samara (marilia.samara[at]swri.org) and Jacob Bortnik (jbortnik[at]gmail.com )]

  • Monday June 21: 1:3-3:00:

3. Spatial and temporal extent and spatio-temporal occurrence of DA/scattering mechanisms [Co-chairs, Toshi Nishimura (toshi[at]atmos.ucla.edu) and Richard Thorne (rmt[at]atmos.ucla.edu)]

  • Monday June 21: 3:30-5:00:

4. Importance of the DA for Geospace at the system level. Plans for next year. [Chair, Richard Thorne (rmt[at]atmos.ucla.edu)]

  • Tuesday June 22: 10:30-12:15:

Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interactions (PMI)

Conveners: From: Jerry Goldstein <jgoldstein [at] swri.edu> and Maria Spasojevic <mariaspasojevic [at] stanford.edu>

The Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interactions (PMI) focus group will hold several sessions at the 2010 GEM Workshop, during 20-25 June 2010.

We invite short presentations (several slides) related to any of the PMI's broad topics:

+ Wave-Particle Interactions

+ Plume Dynamics & Recirculation

+ Plasma Density Structure & Evolution.

Specific topics of interest:

  • Dynamics of energetic particles
  • Wave theory and observations
  • Simulations or models of acceleration or loss
  • Morphology and dynamics of cold plasma density
  • Global circulation of plasmaspheric plumes
  • Dayside distribution of cold plasma ions
  • Fine scale plasma structure and flow turbulence.
  • Plume plasma and magnetospheric reconnection.

or any other topic you feel would be of interest to the PMI focus group.

If you would like to present, please e-mail your tentative title/topic to:

JGoldstein [at] swri.edu.

Substorm Expansion Onset: The First 10 Minutes

Conveners: Vassilis Angelopoulos (Vassilis[at] ucla.edu); Kazuo Shiokawa (Shiokawa [at] stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp) ; Andrei Runov (arunov [at] igpp.ucla.edu) and Shin Ohtani (Ohtani [at] jhuapl.edu)

Our focus group, "Substorm Expansion Onset: The First 10 Minutes", will have 4 sessions at the upcoming GEM Workshop in Snowmass (June 20-25, 2010). They are scheduled on June 24 (Thu) and 25 (Fri).

We have four topical areas identified, which are:

1. Onset timing: observations/theory/simulations (Angelopoulos)

2. How do onset signatures propagate to near Earth and to the ground? (Runov)

3. Ground-space mapping of physical processes before/during/after onset (Ohtani)

4. Substorm processes near transition between stretched and dipole field lines (Shiokawa)

We would like to invite you to participate, and if you have any request or question, please contact the person of the topical area of your interest, whose name is in the parentheses for each topic.

The description of our focus group is posted at: http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG12._Substorm_Expansion_Onset:_The_First_10_Minutes

Modes of Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Energy Transfer

Convener: Larry Kepko (larry.kepko [at] unh.edu) and Bob McPherron (rmcpherron [at] igpp.ucla.edu)


The Modes of Magnetospheric Response focus group will hold three sessions at the upcoming GEM Workshop (June 20-25) in Snowmass, CO, covering the following topics:

1. Dayside observations during sawtooth events, the role of polar cap saturation, and implications for the magnetospheric response. Specifically, are particle injections on the dayside dispersionless or dispersive? Can sawtooth observations be understood as substorms that penetrate deep into the inner magnetosphere, or do sawtooth represent a fundamentally different state of the magnetosphere? We particularly encourage participants to bring data that addresses the issue of dayside injection and/or dipolarization.

2. Non-linear coupling and the role of pre-conditioning in determining the response mode. Example topics and questions include: Systematic errors in activity indices; Seasonal effects on coupling functions; mass-loading effects on convection; The storm/substorm/SMC relationship.

3. Magnetospheric response and solar wind energy transfer during the extreme solar minimum.

This focus group has as its aim the improvement of knowledge of the physical mechanisms that provide different dynamical modes of response of the magnetotail to the solar wind. These include substorms, steady magnetospheric convection, sawtooth injection events, pseudo breakups, and poleward boundary intensifications. A complete description of the FG and its goals can be found at http://bit.ly/beGmTF

Schedule Change

To minimize overlap with the "First 10 Minutes" focus group the "Modes of Magnetospheric Response" has been moved to the following dates and times:

Wednesday 6/23, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm, and 3:30-5:00 pm Thursday 6/24, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm

Please contact us if you are interested in presenting in one of the sessions [Larry Kepko (larry.kepko [at] unh.edu) and Bob McPherron (rmcpherron [at] igpp.ucla.edu)]:

1. Dayside observations during sawtooth events, the role of polar cap saturation, and implications for the magnetospheric response. Specifically, are particle injections on the dayside dispersionless or dispersive? Can sawtooth observations be understood as substorms that penetrate deep into the inner magnetosphere, or do sawtooth represent a fundamentally different state of the magnetosphere? We particularly encourage participants to bring data that addresses the issue of dayside injection and/or dipolarization.

2. Non-linear coupling and the role of pre-conditioning in determining the response mode. Example topics and questions include: Systematic errors in activity indices; Seasonal effects on coupling functions; mass-loading effects on convection; The storm/substorm/SMC relationship.

3. Magnetospheric response, state of the magnetosphere, and solar wind energy transfer during the extreme solar minimum.

Magnetosheath Studies

Convener: Steven Petrinec (steve.petrinec [at] gmail.com) and Katariina Nykyri (nykyrik [at] erau.edu)

Magnetosheath focus group will hold sessions at the next GEM workshop on 21-25th of June, 2010 in Snowmass Village Colorado. We invite short presentations related to any of the focus group topics.

The Primary Objectives and Expected Activities of the FG:

1. To produce more comprehensive models of large scale magnetosheath flow and field patterns, and geometry of the magnetosheath region

2. To improve understanding of magnetosheath plasma instabilities and wave particle interactions: Spatial distribution and characteristics

3. To develop a better understanding of the effects on magnetospheric dynamics due to processes occurring in the magnetosheath and due to characteristic magnetosheath properties.

The focus group proposal with specific science questions can be found at http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawiki/pdf/GEM_FG_MSheath_proposal.pdf.

We especially encourage data-analysts utilizing in-situ spacecraft measurements from Themis and Cluster missions, theoretical modelers, global and local modelers to participate in this workshop and present your findings. We also encourage presentations of studies of magnetosheaths around other solar system bodies, as they relate to the terrestrial magnetosheath.

See GEM website for further details: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/

Radiation-Belt and Waves Modeling (RBWM)

Conveners: Yuri Shprits, UCLA (yshprits [at] atmos.ucla.edu); Scot Elkington, LASP (Scot.Elkington [at] lasp.colorado.edu); Jacob Bortnik, UCLA (jbortnik [at] atmos.ucla.edu);Craig Kletzing, U. Iowa (craig-kletzing [at] uiowa.edu)

The Radiation-Belt and Waves Modeling (RBWM) focus group will hold several sessions at the 2010 GEM Workshop, during 20-25 June 2010.

We invite short presentations (several slides) related to any of RBWM's broad topics:

- Wave excitation, propagation and distribution (ULF, VLF, etc.)

- Dynamical modeling of the radiation belts (acceleration, loss, etc.)

- Wave-particle interactions (linear, nonlinear, non-resonant)

The RBWM focus group kicks off this year, and aims to achieve a first- principles understanding of the coupled dynamic variability of the radiation-belts, and the wave environment that controls it. A few sample questions that are of particular interest to this focus group are:

- what are the physical processes responsible for wave excitation?

- what are the spatiotemporal distributions of various plasma waves and what are their relative roles in producing acceleration/loss?

- what are the roles of linear, nonlinear, and non-diffusive wave- particle interactions in RB dynamics?

- what are the quantitative effects of transport via interactions with ULF waves?

- what is the role of the seed population in radiation belt dynamics?

- why do some storms produce flux increases, decreases, or no variation?

If you would like to learn more about this focus group, or submit a presentation, please use the following resources:

Wiki page http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG:_Radiation_Belts_and_Wave_Modeling

We look forward to your participation

Radiation Belts and Wave Modeling (RBWM) session description:

We will have 6 sessions this year: You can submit the title of your presentation online by following the link below to reserve a time slot during each individual session. We invite potential contributions and encourage to limit presentations to approximately 5 min.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEhELVhvSXg5VS1HQmd3dzhCY3BaMGc6MQ


Tues PM 1: RBWM 1 -- Dynamical modeling of the radiation belts (Model development, verification, validation) (Scot Elkington and Yuri Shprits)

During this session we will discuss the development of new and improvement of existing models of particle transport, scattering, and acceleration in the radiation belts. We will discuss future plans for model inter-comparison and for comparison of models with observations.


Tues PM 2: RBWM 2 -- Dynamical modeling of the radiation belts (Preparing Radiation Belt models for RBSP data) (Scot Elkington and Yuri Shprits)

During this session we will concentrate on comparing model results with observations from RBSP and other missions such as ORBITALS, ERG, and BARREL.


Wed AM 2: RBWM 3 -- Wave-particle interactions (Particle scattering and transport) (Scot Elkington and Yuri Shprits)

We will discuss quasi-liner and non-liner pitch-angle, energy, and radial scattering and will discuss other potentially important acceleration and loss mechanisms operating in the radiation belts.


Wed PM 1: RBWM 4 -- Wave excitation, propagation, and distribution (ULF) (Jacob Bortnik and Craig Kletzing)

We will discuss excitation, propagation and distribution of ULF waves. We would like to invite contributions concerning modeling and observations.


Wed PM 2: RBWM 5 -- Wave excitation, propagation and distribution (VLF) (Jacob Bortnik and Craig Kletzing)

We will discuss excitation, propagation and distribution of VLF waves. We would like to invite contributions concerning modeling and observations.


Thur AM 2: RBWM 6 -- Planning session (Jacob Bortnik, Scot Elkington, Craig Kletzing, and Yuri Shprits)

We will discuss future plans of model development, validation, and verification. We will discuss potential future GEM challenges and will outline a plan for future GEM meetings.

Dayside FACs and Energy Deposition--Dayside FED

Delores Knipp (delores.knipp [at] gmail.com); Stefan Eriksson (eriksson [a]t lasp.colorado.edu), Geoff Crowley (gcrowley [at] astraspace.net), Ramon Lopez (rlopez [at] uta.edu)

We would like to invite contributions to the Dayside FAC and Energy Deposition (FED) focus group at the upcoming GEM workshop in Snowmass on June 21-25, 2010. This new focus group is organizing to explain the relation between enhanced dayside Poynting flux and field-aligned currents, sources of field-aligned currents in the solar wind and magnetosphere and their impacts in the ionosphere-thermosphere system. The GF goals and other information are at:

http://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawikiwiki/index.php/FG:_Dayside_FACs_and_Energy_Deposition

The FED focus group will hold two sessions at the upcoming GEM Workshop (June 20-25) in Snowmass, covering data, theory, modeling aspects of the following topics:

- Dayside Poynting Flux, Joule Heating and Their Relation to Field Aligned Currents

- Particle Energy Deposition on the Dayside

- Dissipation of Magnetospheric Energy in the Dayside Thermosphere

- Thermospheric Density Enhancements and Traveling Atmo/Iono- spheric Disturbances

- Solar Wind Drivers for Extreme Dayside Poynting Flux Events

We will discuss the types of NSF GEM investigations to bring this forward toward a conclusion by 2012.

The sessions will be held in a workshop (NOT AGU) style in which each speaker will be allotted time for a 3-4 slides, in order to ensure enough time for discussion. At least one of the slides should deal with unresolved issues. Speakers are encouraged to end their presentation with outstanding questions that could provide a basis for a session at next year's joint GEM-CEDAR meeting.

Both sessions have been tentatively scheduled on Monday Jun 21 (See http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html for the definitive schedule). If you have not already done so, please send the title(s) and session(s) of your contribution(s) to us at your earliest convenience at the email addresses listed below.

Delores Knipp (delores.knipp [at] gmail.com)

Stefan Eriksson (eriksson [a]t lasp.colorado.edu)

Geoff Crowley (gcrowley [at] astraspace.net)

Ray Lopez (rlopez [at] uta.edu)

[Special breakout session] Comparative Planetary Magnetospheric Physics

Conveners: Larry Kepko (larry dot kepko at nasa dot gov) and Mike Liemohn (liemohn at umich dot edu)

We invite all interested GEM attendees to participate in a special "comparative planetary magnetospheric physics" breakout session at the upcoming GEM workshop on Tuesday from 3:30-5:00 pm. The focus will be on how to utilize the knowledge gained from examining similar physical processes in the different systems to further the goals of GEM. These processes include MI coupling, dayside interactions, solar wind energy coupling, etc., and span the entirety of the GEM focus areas. We do not anticipate formal presentations. Rather, this is an open forum for discussion. Please bring your thinking caps!

GEM will also have two related plenary session tutorials, one by Margaret Kivelson, "Learning about Earth's plasma processes from studies of other magnetospheres," on Tuesday morning and a second by Jim Slavin, "Reconnection in planetary magnetic tails," on Thursday morning.