CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Published by the SCOSTEP Secretariat with the assistance of WDC-A for
STP
ORGANIZATION PERSONNEL
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS (ICSU)
President: J. C. I. Dooge
Secretary General: L. J. Cohen
Executive Director: Julia Marton-LefŠvre
ICSU Secretariat, icsu@lmcp.jussieu.fr
SCOSTEP SECRETARIAT
J. H. Allen, Scientific Secretary, N. L. Alkire, Program Assistant
c/o NOAA/NGDC, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80303
Telephone (1 303) 497-7284, Fax (1 303) 497-6513, email:
jallen@ngdc.noaa.gov
SCOSTEP BUREAU
President: C.-H. Liu, T341426@twncu865.ncu.edu.tw
Vice President: H. Oya, oya@stpp.geophys.tohoku.ac.jp
Scientific Secretary: J. H. Allen, jallen@ngdc.noaa.gov
S. Grzedzielski, cospar@paris7.jussieu.fr
A. P. Mitra, apm@sirnetd.ernet.in or apmitra@doe.ernet.in
M. J. Rycroft, rycroft@isu.isunet.edu
B. Schmieder, schmieder@mesiob.obspm.fr
O. L. Vaisberg, olegv@afed.iki.rssi.ru
R. A. Vincent, rvincent@physics.adelaide.edu.au
STEP INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR
J. G. Roederer, jgr@geewiz.gi.alaska.edu
STEP STEERING COMMITTEE
Chairman: G. Rostoker, rostoker@space.ualberta.ca
M.-L. Chanin, marie-lise.chanin@aerov.jussieu.fr
K. D. Cole, cole@mite.gsfc.nasa.gov
M. A. Geller, mgeller@ccmail.sunysb.edu
L. L. Hood, lon@lpl.arizona.edu
S. Kato, Fax (81 775) 33 40 13
K. Labitzke, labitzke@strat01.met.fu-berlin.de
H. Matsumoto, matsumot@kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp
A. Nishida, nishida@gtl.isas.ac.jp
H. Oya, oya@stpp.geophys.tohoku.ac.jp
M. Pick, pick@mesiob.obspm.fr
D. Rees, walnut1@easynet.co.uk
M. A. Shea, shea@plh.af.mil
P. C. Simon, pauls@aero.oma.be
O. L. Vaisberg, olegv@afed.iki.rssi.ru
S. T. Wu, wus@csparc.uah.edu
S-RAMP STEERING COMMITTEE
Interim Chairman: D. N. Baker, baker@orion.colorado.edu
S. Basu, sbasu@nsf.gov
B. J. Fraser, phbjf@cc.newcastle.edu.au
E. Friis-Christensen, efc@dmi.min.dk
Y. Kamide, kamade@stecmu.stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp
A. H. Manson, manson@skisas.usask.ca
H. Matsumoto, matsumot@kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp
G. Ya. Smolkov, smolkov@sitmis.irkutsk.su
NEWSLETTER POLICY ON PUBLISHING INFORMATION
The SCOSTEP Secretariat invites contributions of information about
publications or databases of special interest to scientists
involved in the range of solar-terrestrial disciplines that comprise SCOSTEP
and its main program, STEP. In general, we do not
have time or opportunity to review whole works, but will rely on the
involvement of contributors with STEP and related research or
monitoring of STP phenomena. Probably, it will be best if contributions from
STEP Working Groups are sent through the
organizers of Projects or the Co-Chairs of WGs. At the least, they should
receive a copy of the materials. (see file "publ9601.doc"
in SCOSTEP/NEWSLETT.)
REQUEST FROM ICSU FOR INPUT ON UNCED
The following was prepared from information just received from Julia
Marton-LefŠvre at ICSU Headquarters.
ICSU organized a conference ASCEND 21 in November 1991 as part of its
preparations for the UN Conference on Environment
and Development (i.e. the Rio Conference) which took place in June 1992. The
conference report for ASCEND 21 made
recommendations to the international scientific community for special efforts
and research directed toward activities that promote
environmentally sustainable development and poverty alleviation. It especially
encouraged the evaluation of policy options on a
sound scientific basis.
At a special session in June 1997, the UN will review progress made in
following up results of UNCED. The "Earth Council"
(established in 1992 with ICSU sponsorship) will organize a series of events
in Rio de Janeiro during March 1997, leading up to the
special UNCED session. These are aimed mainly at encouraging non-governmental
bodies to continue to be involved in
environment and development issues.
ICSU will assess past performance and future prospects to achieve sustainable
development by assessing results of ASCEND 21.
To that end, SCOSTEP, and other ICSU Interdisciplinary Bodies, among others,
is requested to evaluate the ongoing process,
influence and success of ASCEND 21 by answering the following questions:
- What are the difficulties you have encountered in the implementation of
the recommendations adopted by ASCEND 21?
- Can you provide a record of proven best practices you may use to promote
the principles in ASCEND 21?
- Do you cooperate with other sustainable development groups, and if so,
what mechanisms are used to achieve this
cooperation?
Responses are due to ICSU Headquarters by the end of November.
The ASCEND 21 Conference Statement fills some 10 pages and will not be
reproduced here. It is available, upon request, from the
Secretariat. Although many of the terms referenced therein are familiar
(e.g., "sustainable develop-ment"), this is the first time the
current Scientific Secretary has seen the document. However, I suspect that
some SCOSTEP activities and program
accomplishments are consistent with the goals and recommendations set out.
The Conference Statement Executive Summary combines the recommendations of
ASCEND 21 into eight statements. These
recommendations are to deal with the highest scientific priority problems,
including: population and per capita resource
consumption; depletion of agricultural/land resources: inequity and poverty;
climate change; loss of biological diversity;
industrialization and waste; water scarcity; and energy consumption.
ASCEND recommended:
a. Intensified research into natural and anthropogenic forces and their
inter-relationships, including the carrying capacity of the
Earth and ways to slow population growth and reduce over-consumption;
b. Strengthened support for international global environ-mental research and
observation of the total Earth System;
c. Research and studies at the local and regional scale on: the hydrologic
cycle, impacts of climate change; coastal zones; loss of
biodiversity; vulnerability of fragile ecosystems; impacts of changing land
use, of waste and of human attitudes and
behavior;
d. Research on transition to a more efficient energy supply and use of
materials and natural resources;
e. Special efforts in education and in building up of scientific institutions
as well as involvement of a wide segment of the population
in environment and development problem-solving;
f. Regular appraisals of the most urgent problems of environment and
development and communication with policy-makers, the
media and the public;
g. Establishment of a forum to link scientists and development agencies along
with a strengthened partnership with organizations
charged with addressing problems of environment and development; and
h. A wide review of environmental ethics.
In his closing speech at ASCEND 21, the President of ICSU announced ICSU's
intention to: consolidate the co-operation between,
and coherence of, ICSU's major international research programs; strengthen
ICSU's role in the evolving partnership among science,
government, IGOs, business and industry; strengthen ICSU's capacity to prepare
objective scientific assessments; report on
scientific issues to the general public and decision-makers; strengthen its
own activities in capacity building and help review the
performance of ASCEND 21 after the UNCED.
The President of SCOSTEP will prepare a response to this request for input and
will use the Scientific Secretary to help with that
task. In anticipation that some of you might have suggestions and would be
willing to send comments to the Secretariat, I have
circulated this note by email. Certainly, Juan Roederer has been active in
COSTED, and SCOSTEP has supported scientific
meetings organized by and located in developing countries in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Thanks for any input.
JHA
OPPORTUNITIES
G7 Environment and Natural Resources Management (ENRM)
http://enrm.ceo.org/home.html
The ENRM prototype information server allows free on-line registration and
interactive editing of records for global environmental
information resources. In addition to this, it provides an international
directory of Environmentalists to which all ENRM users
belong.
You are invited to visit the site at the above URL and register your
information on the system. Should you wish to contribute
information about complete datasets held on other servers (of course, you
retain control over all of the entries), or if you have any
queries regarding the service please contact us by email at enrm-admin@jrc.it.
The success of the ENRM initiative relies on your
contribution.
THE ENRM MISSION
The objective of this G7 joint project is to increase the electronic linkage
and integration of sources of data and information relevant
to the environment and natural resources. A group of experts, representing
each participating body, will build on existing
international efforts to create a prototype for a Global Information Locator
Service (GILS), to further interconnect catalogues and
directories around the world and ensure their accessibility to developed and
developing countries, and to facilitate the exchange and
integration of data and information about the Earth for use in a variety of
applications. The project will demonstrate the breadth of
data and information already existing internationally, and show the mutual
benefits of improved accessibility for all levels of policy
makers, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the general public.
THE ENRM PARTICIPATORS
The G7 ENRM project is an initiative of the G7 nations. As such, it involves
the collaboration of organizations from these nations
amongst others: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, United
Kingdom, United States and the European
Community. The following are "some" of the organizations directly involved in
the G7 ENRM MetaInformation Working
Group:
- CEO, European Commission / Centre for Earth Observation
- DLR, German Aerospace Research Establishment
- EEA, European Environment Agency
- ESA, European Space Agency
- ERIN, Environment Resources and Information Network of Australia
- GCOS, Global Climate Observing System
- NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US
- NASDA, National Space Development Agency of Japan
- NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US
- UNEP, United Nations Environment Program
- USGS, US Geological Survey
- WMO, World Meteorological Organization
THE ENRM PROTOTYPE
This prototype system has been developed by the European Commission's Centre
for Earth Observation on behalf of the G7-ENRM
project. The current service provides the following features:
Developed by the Centre for Earth Observation on behalf of the G7-ENRM
Project. phone +39 332 78 5425 fax +39 332 78 5461
email ENRM-Admin@jrc.it
The ENRM Development Team
Earth System Science Pathfinder AO-96-MTPE-01
The following information is copied from a post-card announcement
circulated in mid-July by NASA. The SCOSTEP
Secretariat does not have any additional information about this "AO", but
encourages all who are interested to contact the
name/address given below.
JHA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces the release
of the Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP)
Announcement of Opportunity (AO) in support of the Office of Mission to Planet
Earth (MTPE). This program is intended to
identify and develop small science-driven missions to accomplish objectives in
response to national and international research
priorities that are not being addressed by current programs. ESSP will
provide periodic "windows of opportunity" to accommodate
new scientific priorities and infuse new scientific participation into the
MTPE program.
This AO will be available electronically on or about July 19, 1996, via the
Internet at the Mission to Planet Earth Home Page:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/mtpe/ under the "MTPE Research Announcements" or
via anonymous ftp at:
ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/mtpe.
Paper copies of the AO will be available to those who do not have access to
Internet by calling (202) 358-3552 and leaving a voice
mail message. Please leave your full name and address, including zip code and
your telephone number, including area code.
Questions regarding this AO can be addressed to NASA Headquarters, Code YF,
Washington, DC 20546, Attn: Mr. Kevin
Niewoehner, telephone number (202) 358-0751, FAX number (202) 358-2769. email
address:
kniewoeh@mtpe.hq.nasa.gov
STEP Proceedings and Interlibrary Loan
Richard Donnelly submitted the following item about the published but
largely unknown Proceedings from our STEP meeting in
Maryland in 1992.
The Proceedings for the STEP Symposium held August 24-28, 1992, at the Applied
Physics Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins
University near Baltimore, Maryland, was published as Volume 5 in the COSPAR
Colloquia Series (Baker et al., 1994). Some
members of STEP have not yet seen the Proceedings because their institute's
library does not have it. Libraries at the following
institutes have the Proceedings:
1. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA.
2. NCAR, P. O. Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado 80307-3000, USA.
3. NOAA MASC Library, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80303-3328, USA.
Those who would like to borrow the Proceedings and do not have direct access
to these or other libraries that have the Proceedings
may be able to borrow it from their own institute's library via an
interlibrary loan. To achieve such an interlibrary loan, first
determine whether your institute's library participates in that program. Then
ask your library to submit a request for the
Proceedings using either an ALA Form (American Library Association) or an
OCLC Form to, for example, Cheryl Homan-
Wendell (Phone: 303 497 5570; e-mail http://www.bldrdoc.gov/library/
library.htm) at the NOAA MASC Library address given
above. The Proceedings identification numbers are ISBN 0-08-042131-8 and
QC811.S7 1992.
Reference: Baker, D. N., V. O. Papitashvili and M. J. Teague, eds.,
Solar-Terrestrial Energy Program, The Initial Results
from STEP Facilities and Theory Campaigns, Proceedings of the 1992 STEP
Symposium/5th COSPAR
Colloquium held in Laurel, Maryland, U.S.A., 24-28 August 1992, Pergamon,
Elsevier Science, Inc., Tarrytown, New York
10591-5153, USA, 828 pp., 1994.
1995 SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT REPORT
Joint Studies with Oersted, the EISCAT Incoherent Scatter Radars and other
Ground-Based Instruments in Northern
Scandinavia
The following is a report to the SCOSTEP Bureau about use of the 1995 $40K
grant funds allocated to Dr. S. Kirkwood
($10K). The meeting was held at the Geophysical Observatory, Sodankyla,
Finland on 18-19 April 1996. For more information,
contact Sheila Kirkwood at: sheila@sun3.irf.se and/or Hilkka Ranta at:
Hilkka.Ranta@sgo.fi .
In 1995 this project was awarded a supplemental STEP grant of 10,000 USD.
This grant was to be used to collect together the
scientists working with the various ground-based instruments both to plan
measurement campaigns coordinated with the satellites and
to form groups around particular scientific topics which would be studied
using the combined data sets. The launch of the satellite,
which was originally planned for late 1995 is now, unfortunately, delayed
until early 1997. In order not to start the project too
early, we delayed the first planning meeting until April 1996. The program
for the meeting and the participant list are attached.
The meeting was arranged in Sodankyla, Finland, so as to keep travel costs low
for as many participants as possible. The STEP
grant was used to finance 4 of the participants, 1 from Murmansk, 2 from
Apatity and 1 from England (total cost about 3,000
USD)(A further participant from Austria may still need a contribution). The
remainder of the grant will be used for our next
meeting which will take place after the satellite is launched and we have made
the first coordinated measure-ments. This meeting is
tentatively planned to be held in England in the autumn of 1997 together with
the next international EISCAT workshop.
The meeting was very successful. The STEP grant allowed us to widen the group
of attendees to include experts in the field from
outside the Scandinavian countries. In particular, all the European groups
with a long tradition of high-latitude D-region studies were
represented and, by comparing ideas and analysis techniques we were, for
example, able to reach a new consensus on the genuine
geophysical variability of the 'effective recombination coefficient' which
describes the relationship between ionization rate and
electron density. Test and improvement of models for this parameter are one
of the primary objectives of the coordinated
measurement campaigns.
In addition, the meeting was the first chance for the scientists planning
auroral electrodynamics studies with the help of Oersted to
get together, to establish contacts between modelers and imagers, and to have
their questions answered as to just what information
the satellite can be expected to provide (field-aligned currents).
Finally, the meeting provided a focus for the project and has resulted in two
new sources of information for participants -- the
proceedings of the planning meeting have been collected by Hilkka Ranta and
will be distributed soon, and a project homepage on
WWW:
http://silicon.irf.se/~sheila/oerstedGB/.
Sheila Kirkwood
PUBLICATIONS
Science Information Systems Newsletter (Vol I, 1996, Issue 38)
This massive "newsletter" (56 pages) is actually a book about many activities
within various NASA programs involving the
collection and distribution of data and information. On first look, the total
information available is a bit daunting. But anyone
interested in what is available from NASA should try to get a copy of this
publication or access the version on WWW. The address
on the Internet is: http://techinfo.jpl.nasa.gov/jpltrs/sisn/sisn.html.
Comments may be sent to Sandi Beck at: sandi_beck@iplmail.jpl.nasa.gov.
Probably you could contact Sandi about getting a
printed copy -- I don't know the size of their press run or its distribution.
JHA
STEP GBRSC NEWS Serial No. 16 (Vol 6, No 1, July 1996) Distributed
Prof. H. Oya, Chairman of the Japanese STEP Project Team and National
Committee of STEP in Japan, distributed copies of this
25-page volume at the Foxbury House meeting in July. It reviews STEP Activity
in Japan during 1996. This special issue is
beautifully produced, including many color images. Its publication was
supported by the Dept. of Astronomy & Geophysics,
Tohoku University and the Solar-Terrestrial Environment Lab, Nagoya Univ. Dr.
T. Watanabe was the Managing Editor. To
inquire about getting a copy, contact on Internet:
watanabe@env.sci.ibaraki.ac.jp
JHA
MEETING REPORTS
17th NSO/Sacramento Peak International Summer Workshop, SOLERS22 1996
Workshop
Continuing its tradition of bringing the international community together
annually at Sacramento Peak to review and discuss the most
recent results in solar-terrestrial physics, NSO this year hosted the "Solar
Electromagnetic Radiation Study for Solar Cycle 22"
(SOLERS22) 1996 Workshop during the week of June 17. This workshop was a fine
match for NSO's workshop series because it
considered both basic physical processes on the Sun and their terrestrial
consequences, and because NSO leads the Precision Solar
Photometric Telescopes (PSPT) component of the NSF-sponsored Radiative Inputs
from the Sun to Earth (RISE) program.
SOLERS22 has been organized under the auspices of the Solar-Terrestrial Energy
Program (STEP) Working Group on "The Sun as
a Source of Energy and Disturbances". STEP is sponsored by the Scientific
Committee on Solar- Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) of
the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU).
The main goals of SOLERS22 are to monitor, study, model, and interpret the
observed changes in the solar electromagnetic
radiation, both bolometric and in spectral bands from X-ray to infrared and
radio. Since the Sun is a representative of one class of
stars showing cyclic variability, the study of the variability of solar-type
of stars is also an important interest of SOLERS22.
Understand-ing and predicting solar variability, especially on long time
scales, is of extraordinary practical importance because the
solar radiative output is one of the major natural driving forces of the
terrestrial atmosphere and climate system. Therefore,
SOLERS22 is also concerned about the climate impact of solar variability.
More than 100 scientists from many countries attended this year's meeting.
Variations in solar and stellar irradiances and the
climate impact of solar variability were discussed in detail. The contributed
papers will be refereed and published in Solar
Physics. The Workshop Proceedings will be edited by Judit Pap, Claus
Froehlich, and Roger Ulrich and published by Kluwer
Academic Publishers.
Results presented during the Workshop demonstrate that considerable progress
has been made since the SOLERS22 Workshop held
in 1991. Several new measurements of solar irradiance have been performed
from space, from the Upper Atmosphere Research
Satellite (UARS), the ATLAS and EURECA missions, and more recently from the
SOHO mission. These space-borne observations
of the solar radiation have confirmed that solar total and spectral
irradiances have indeed changed in parallel with the solar magnetic
activity cycle. In addition to space observations, considerable efforts have
been made in improving the ground-based observations of
solar activity. Since the satellite-based irradiance monitoring experiments
observe the Sun as a star, high quality spatially resolved
images are necessary to reveal and interpret the causes of the observed
irradiance changes. In addition to the ground-based
observations of solar variability, several experiments on the SOHO mission
provide high resolution solar images to study solar
variability on time scales from minutes to years. Results presented in the
SOLERS22 1996 Workshop have demonstrated that
considerable efforts have been put forward to improve irradiance models using
the results of image decomposition techniques and
new statistical methods. Coupling the studies of changes in solar irradiance
and the frequency of solar oscillations as well as the
solar radius have provided an additional tool for probing the solar interior
and to study the physical causes of irradiance
changes.
Since the current STEP project and its activities will expire in December
1997, the Workshop participants discussed the future of
SOLERS22. SOLERS22 members and Workshop participants agreed that the near-term
SOLERS22 effort will concentrate on the
following: (1) producing a reference solar spectrum from X-ray to far
infrared for solar minimum between cycles 21 and 22; (2)
gathering information about the solar cycle dependence of spectral irradiance
changes; and (3) improving physical models of solar
irradiance variability by incorporating the results gained from image
analysis, radius measurements, and studying the frequency
changes of p-mode oscillations. A better understanding of the physical causes
of irradiance changes will certainly lead to
improvement of the reliability of climate models. Based on the discussions
during the SOLERS22 1996 Workshop, a continuation of
SOLERS22 in the post-STEP era, during the period 1998-2002, has been proposed
to SCOSTEP.
The Workshop was sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research
(AFOSR), European Office of Aerospace Research
and Development; AFOSR/Asian Office of Scientific Research and Development;
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of
Technology; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Optical
Astronomy Observatories, National Solar
Observatory; Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP);
Solar-Terrestrial Energy Program (STEP); and
University of California, Los Angeles.
The Scientific Organizing Committee consisted of R. P. Cebula, R. F. Donnelly,
F. F rnik, C. Froehlich (Co-Chair), D. Gillotay, K.
Harvey, D. F. Heath, J. Kuhn, A. Mecherikunnel, L. November (Co-Chair), H.
Ogawa, J. M. Pap (Chair), G. J. Rottman, P. C.
Simon, G. Thuillier, W. K. Tobiska, C. H. Wehrli, T. N. Woods. The Local
Organizing Committee consisted of R. Altrock, R.
Coleman, R. Elrod, R. Hunter (Chair), R. Kariyappa, J. Kuhn, L. November.
Judit Pap, Claus Froehlich,
Dick Altrock, Doug Rabin
SCOSTEP Meets in England
Foxbury House, Chislehurst, Kent, England
The SCOSTEP Bureau, STEP Steering Committee, S-RAMP Steering Committee, and
the Scientific Program Committee for the 9th
Quadrennial STP Symposium met during the days 11-14 July 1996. Details about
actions arising from the groups and minutes of the
meetings will be published in "STP Newsletter 96-1" in December 1996.
In brief, the Bureau approved Post-STEP programs PSMOS (Planetary Scale
Mesopause Observing System) and EPIC (Equatorial
Processes Including Coupling.) The revised PSMOS proposal was submitted by G.
Shepherd, S. Avery and R. Vincent. The EPIC
proposal (a revision of the previous EATVIP) was submitted by S. Fukao, A.
Richmond, and R. Vincent.
All but one of the Supplemental STEP Projects ($40K) Grant opportunity
proposals submitted were rejected by the Bureau.
Although several were considered very worthwhile projects, most did not meet
the goal to supplement existing STEP programs as
set by the Bureau. The project proposed by T. Kamei to install and maintain
digital magnetometers at Siberian sites to produce data
for use in deriving a timely Auroral Electrojet (AE) Magnetic Activity Index
was partially supported by the Bureau. Other
resources from this block of funding will be used for an S-RAMP Post-Doctoral
Fellow (announcement to be released by D. Baker
by the end of 1996.)
The 9th STP Symposium will be held in Uppsala, Sweden during 4-11 August 1997,
concurrent with the first week of the IAGA
Scientific Assembly and the IAMAS-MAC symposium. There will be six invited
tutorial lectures. One will open each morning of
the Symposium and one will open the Wednesday afternoon session. After each
tutorial, there will be six half-day scientific review
sessions of five invited review papers each. These will cover advances in
STEP Working Group topics during the period 1990-
1997. At Foxbury, the Scientific Planning Committee (SPC) developed a list of
topics and preferred speakers for the half-day
sessions. This will be published when acceptances are secured and topics
refined. Contributed papers are to be sent to IAGA or
IAMAS-MAC topical session organizers.
STEP Results, Applications, and Modeling Phase (S-RAMP) Meeting
Foxbury House, London, England, 11 July, 1996
Attendees: D. N. Baker (Acting Chair), E. Friis-Christensen, Y. Kamide, A. H.
Manson. Other guests: H. Oya, M. Rycroft, B.
Schmeider, R. Vincent
Agenda
Summary of Discussion
A brief discussion of the S-RAMP steering committee membership and status was
presented. The following concerning the program
was noted:
S-RAMP was proposed to the Bureau and approved in the SCOSTEP General Meeting
in Sendai, Japan, during June 1994. Factors
basic to the proposed program were:
A spectacular database has been and will continue to be collected over the
STEP interval 1990-1997. However, most researchers'
efforts to this time have been devoted to the collection of the data and much
less to data analysis.
STEP was designed to promote interaction between the various discipline areas
within the SCOSTEP community (i.e., solar,
heliosphere, magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, middle atmosphere and
regions adjacent to the Earth's surface.) Because of
the extraordinary effort scientists had to make in times of declining
resources, most of the research activity stayed confined to the
disciplines and there was not extensive interdisciplinary activity in the
spirit of the STEP concept.
No infrastructure has been put in place to support the international
solar-terrestrial community in their data analysis efforts or in
procuring resources to carry out such data analysis.
No specific organization has taken on the mandate to bring closer together in
scientific activity those who collect data on the solar-
terrestrial environment and those who develop and implement high performance
computer models of that environment.
Thus, SCOSTEP was invited to develop a 5-year data analysis and modeling
interval over the period 1998-2002 to facilitate the
optimization of the study and analysis of the data acquired during the STEP
period 1990-1997. The major objectives were:
- To focus on the study of the coupling mechanisms between the various
regions of the sun-geospace system.
- To assist in the development of an effective information transfer
mechanism between the experimental, theoretical and
computer modeling communities.
- To publicize the tangible products of the STEP endeavor which can form the
basis for future scientific programs within the
solar-terrestrial discipline and which can be of use to other scientific
disciplines and to applied research.
The Committee members and guests present reflected on the stated objectives
and prospects for S-RAMP. Issues included
questions of how to share data, how to involve developing countries, what
should be "rules of the road" in such cooperation, and
how S-RAMP could lead by example. Dr. Oya noted that whereas Japan and many
other countries are very strong technologically,
these same countries are still developing their database and information
systems capability. He urged that S-RAMP strive to help
bring all nations to an acceptable level of data sharing and that scientists
be given due credit for such sharing.
Dr. Baker presented an example from his group's work which tied together data
from solar, interplanetary, magnetospheric, and
ionospheric satellite missions plus a variety of ground-based data. The point
was made that remarkable new tools (such as the World
Wide Web - WWW) are making data exchange and analysis vastly easier and more
rapid. A goal of S-RAMP should be to bring
this set of new tools into the hands (or at least into the sphere of
knowledge) of all SCOSTEP-affiliated scientists.
Dr. Schmeider discussed her group's efforts to develop solar databases and
catalogues along with relevant simulation tools. She
noted the important goal of providing internet access as well as CD-ROM
development plans. She discussed SOHO-YOHKOH team
collaborations as a prototype of what S-RAMP might foster. She described the
importance of also attracting the ground-based solar
community into such collaborations.
Dr. Manson noted that scientists (and their students) who become involved in
S-RAMP programs would "buy into" interesting
problems. They would then do the work. The S-RAMP Steering Committee (S.C.)
would not have to, in any sense, lead all of the
work -- nor should it. Dr. Manson urged that S-RAMP get going sooner than its
nominal 1998 start date. He noted that this would
roll naturally into a complementary support for the other post-STEP approved
programs of SCOSTEP (PSMOS and EPIC). Dr.
Vincent strongly supported this view and noted that the latest STEP data can
be used right now for extremely productive
science.
Drs. Vincent and Manson noted that formatting and sharing of space-based and
ground-based data now would help future SCOSTEP
programs improve their return. They urged that S-RAMP use some of its (meager)
budgeted funds to become more proactive. Dr.
Vincent raised the possibility of a dedicated S-RAMP scientist to facilitate
this proactivity (see below.)
The committee and group present felt that some revision of the stated S-RAMP
objectives was in order. These were reworked to
state that S-RAMP's objectives are:
- To facilitate and enable the detailed study and understanding of coupling
mechanisms between regions of the Sun-Earth
system.
- To facilitate and enable effective data and information transfer and
feedback between the experimental, theoretical, and
computer modeling communities.
- To demonstrate products and benefits of the STEP endeavor to funding
organizations, the media, and the public at large as
the basis for future scientific programs, cross-discipline studies, and
applications.
In order to achieve these revised objectives, the group strongly supported
the suggestion made concerning a dedicated S-
RAMP scientist. This basic recommendation therefore emerged:
SCOSTEP Fellow Concept:
Elements of Job Description:
Desirable Qualities:
[This concept was presented to the SCOSTEP Bureau the following day and was
greeted rather warmly. With full S-RAMP S.C.
support, we will proceed apace.]
Concerning the other matters on the agenda, the committee felt that S-RAMP
should continue and extend the STEP Catalogue. It
was felt it should include references to - - or even summaries of - -
measurement techniques. An example of this was cited in the
case of the Japanese MAP Handbook. It was urged that the extended catalogue
be placed on-line.
In the matter of the Newsletter, it was felt that an S-RAMP Newsletter was
imperative. It was suggested that a hardcopy of such a
newsletter to each "address" (suitably defined) would be adequate: Not every
individual would need a hardcopy. After discussion, it
was urged that all post-STEP and other SCOSTEP activities be part of the
newsletter. It was felt that perhaps a monthly electronic
newsletter and a quarterly hardcopy shipped from the SCOSTEP Secretariat (in
Boulder) would be the right way to proceed.
It was strongly endorsed to have an S-RAMP Homepage on the WWW. This could
share all manner of information and could serve
bulletin board, research, and access functions.
It was recommended that the S-RAMP membership be extended. Dr. Paul Newman
(NASA/GSFC) was suggested as a person with
suitable atmospheric science credentials. Dr. Rycroft also expressed
willingness to serve on the committee and brings a wealth of
experience. All of the guests at the Foxbury House meeting added immeasurably
to the dialogue and would (in the Chair's opinion)
be very welcome members.
Finally, there was discussion of appointment of a permanent S-RAMP chair.
Some sentiment was expressed in so-appointing D.
Baker. Such an appointment will require the concurrence of the full Steering
Committee and the approval of the SCOSTEP
Bureau.
Daniel N. Baker
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
Working Group 5 Workshop, Solar Variability Effects in the Human
Environment
October 17-18, 1996, Boulder, CO
This Workshop will be hled in the Damon Room at NCAR. Everyone should talk on
her/his special subject relevant to the TTO,
and we suggest for all a 40-minute talk followed by 20 minutes discussion. We
suggest the following schedule:
Thursday, 17 October:
H. van Loon: TTO, 9--10.00
10--10.30 coffee
L. Hood: U, 10.30--11.30
J. Haigh: Modeling, 11.30--12.30
12.30--14.00 Lunch, NCAR Cafeteria
J. G. Roederer: Biogeomagnetics, 14.00--15.00
D. Cayan: Ocean temperatures, 15.00--16.00
S. Hameed: Climate Data, 16.00--17.00
Friday, 18 October
K. Labitzke: TTO & QBO, in winter, 9.00--10.00
10.00--10.30 coffee
D. Rind: Modeling, 10.30--11.30
K. Yamazaki (or K. Kodera(?)), 11.30--12.30
12.30--14.00 Lunch
B. Tinsley: Particles (?), 14.00--15.00
Please make your own arrangements for hotels, but Liz Stephens at NCAR
(STEPHENS@ UCAR.EDU) would help you, if needed.
Out of our STEP etat we can cover your hotel and food expenses, if this is
necessary for you.
Please send me a quick email, that you are coming. With our best regards,
looking forward to a nice meeting with fruitful
discussion, Karin Labitzke and Lon Hood.
Prof. Dr. Karin Labitzke
tel.: (49 30) 838 71166; fax.: (49 30) 838 71167
email: labitzke@strat01.met.fu-berlin.de
AGU Fall Meeting December 15-19, 1996, San Francisco, CA
SPA Special Sessions
Contacts:
Edmond C. Roelof (SH) (edmond.roelof@jhuapl.edu)
Odile de la Beaujardiere (SA) (delabe@nsf.gov)
Thomas E. Moore (SM) (t.e.moore@msfc.nasa.gov)
P Planetology (Joint Session with SPA)
P04 Galileo at Jupiter (Joint with A, SPA-SM, VGP)
The Galileo spacecraft has been in orbit about Jupiter since December 7, 1995.
This special session will highlight results from the
spacecraft's first three orbits of the giant planet as well as the continuing
analysis of the Probe results. The presentations will cover
observations of all aspects of the Jovian system: the magnetosphere, Galilean
satellites, and Jupiter's atmosphere. The session will
consist of a combination of invited talks and contributed oral and poster
papers.
SA SPA-Aeronomy
SA01 Sun-Earth Connections: Implementation of the Space Weather Program
(Joint with SM and
SH)
Our civilization is relying more and more on technology that is affected by
conditions in the space environment. To
prepare ourselves to deal with these vulnerabilities, the National Space
Weather Program has been implemented. This session will
focus on research, observations, models, and education, the four "pillars"
that support the space weather forecast and specification
effort.
SA02 Results from the Recent Tether Experiment (TSS-1R) and the Physics
of Charge Collection in
Space
Results from the TSS-1R mission will be presented, including current
collection, ionization, and effects on charging. Theoretical
papers on the physics of charge collection in space and the energetics of
particles in the TSS-1R environment are solicited.
SA03 Excited Atoms and Molecules in the Atmosphere: Laboratory Studies
and Related Atmospheric Models (Joint
with A)
Over the last several years, new experimental techniques have been developed
to study transient chemical entities of atmospheric
significance. Papers are invited that describe new laboratory measurements
relating to electronic, vibrational, rotational, and
translational excitation in atoms and molecules, which have or could have
impact on atmospheric processes. Theoretical and
modeling treatments that highlight omissions and deficiencies in the
experimental databases are also requested.
SA04 Meteor Metals in the Ionosphere - Dynamics and Chemical
Processes
This session combines data and analysis from various disciplines: meteoritics,
radar observations, mass spectrometric
measurements, lidar data, supporting laboratory measurements, and modeling.
The aim of the session is to reach a substantial
picture which unifies the morphology of meteors from the point of their entry
in the earth's atmosphere to the point where the
individual species are condensed and transported to ground. The session will
include steady-state layers and sporadic or sudden
layers.
SH SPA-Heliospheric Physics
SH01 Sun-Earth Connections: Imaging of Space Plasmas (Joint with SA,
SM)
Imaging has already been proven a fundamental tool in solar and ionospheric
physics, most recently with the SOHO and Polar
missions. In the near future, interplanetary (IPS--radio, SMIE--white light),
planetary (Mars96, Cassini--ENA), and magnetospheric
(SAC-B, IMAGE--ENA, EUV) missions should reap a comparable scientific harvest
for space plasma physics. Recent imaging
results and their interpretation will be featured in invited talks, along with
descriptions of upcoming missions and instruments.
Contributed talks and posters are solicited over the wide range of topics in
present and future space plasma imaging relevant to
illuminating Sun-Earth connections.
SH02 Plasma Dynamics and Energetic Particles in the Outer
Heliosphere
The Pioneer 10/11, Voyager 1/2, and Ulysses probes over the last two decades
have revealed marked, often surprising,
fluctuations in the solar wind plasma (flow, density, temperature),
electromagnetic fields (mean IMF, turbulence, plasma waves),
and suprathermal particle distributions (low energy solar particles, pickup
ions, anomalous and galactic cosmic rays). Invited papers
will address a wide range of topics. The heliospheric termination shock might
be encountered soon by the deep space probes. The
observed radial and latitudinal gradients of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) are
leading to a reevaluation of the theory of both GCR
transport and the heliospheric magnetic field. Observations of pickup ion (PI)
spectra near the Sun and anomalous cosmic ray (ACR)
spectra in the outer heliosphere are shedding new light on the problem of the
pre-acceleration of PI, their injection, and conversion
to ACR. We encourage contributed oral and poster papers dealing with the
above-mentioned topics, as well as observational and
theoretical aspects of topics such as the continued presence of recurrent
plasma structures to at least 50 AU, the role of pickup and
superthermal solar ions in pressure balance structures (e.g., at
interplanetary MHD discontinuities), and the spatial evolution of the
IMF and plasma turbulence with radius and latitude.
SH03 Global Coronal Disturbances and Mass Ejections
This all-contributed special session (oral and poster) offers researchers an
unstructured opportunity to present a wide range of recent
results on observations of solar disturbances and correlated magnetospheric
activity (SOHO, Spartan, Yohkoh, WIND, Ulysses,
Sampex, etc.), theory, and simulations, as well as consensus and/or
controversy stemming from recent meetings on the subject (e.g.,
Chapman Conference on CMEs, Bozeman, Montana, August 1996). Papers addressing
the relationship between global coronal
disturbances and geomagnetic substorms, as well as application of scientific
results to prediction of sun-Earth connections will be
welcomed.
SH04 Helioseismology
Helioseismology utilizes observations of the properties of waves that
propagate throughout the Sun's interior and become visible at
the Sun's surface to understand internal structure and dynamics. Exciting new
results from the GONG network and the SOHO
spacecraft are changing our view of the Sun and challenging existing theories.
This session will feature invited papers on latest
developments, and contributed oral and poster papers are solicited on relevant
observations and theory.
SH05 Has the Sun Changed the Climate? (Joint with A)
It has long been speculated, based on the observed variation of sunspots and
cosmogenic isotopes, that the irradiance of the Sun has
varied. Satellite observations since 1978 show that the Sun's irradiance does
vary over the 11-year cycle, but only by an amount
(0.1%) that is too small to influence the Earth's climate. Yet, correlations
between solar features and terrestrial temperatures and
observations of sun-like stars suggest that there may have been larger
variations of the solar irradiance on longer time scales. If this
is true, then solar-irradiance variations may have played a non-negligible
role in variations of the Earth's climate, both prior to and
during the period of instrumental temperature observations. Such
solar-irradiance-induced changes in Earth's climate would have
major implications for understanding climate change in general, and
anthropogenically induced climate change in particular. Even if
the total solar irradiance has not varied significantly, variations in solar
UV radiation may have influenced tropospheric climate
through variations in stratospheric ozone, perhaps as a nonlinear dynamical
system. Thus, the main purpose of this special session is
to review the most recent results obtained from observations, theory and
modeling of both the Sun and climate. The following two
topics will be covered during the session: (1) What do solar, stellar and
isotopic observations, theory and models tell us about solar-
irradiance variability?, and (2) What do climate observations, theory and
models tell us about the contribution of solar-irradiance
variability to changes of the Earth's climate? In addition to papers that will
be invited for this special session, contributed oral and
poster papers are solicited.
SM SPA-Magnetospheric Physics
SM01 Sun-Earth Connections: ISTP/GGS Correlative Results (Joint with
SA, SH)
The international solar-terrestrial science community is moving into a new era
of solar-terrestrial research as opportunities for
coordinated analysis of space and ground-based data are being identified
following the launch of key spacecraft such as Geotail,
Wind, Polar, SOHO, and Interball. A tremendous international coordination
effort has been going on to provide a rich source of
correlative data from space and ground-based measurements. This session is
devoted to the presentation of correlative results from
these new ISTP missions. In addition, this session will support "interactive
poster" papers allowing direct access to ISTP correlative
data.
SM02 Terrestrial Plasma as an Active Element in Substorms and Storms
(Joint with SA)
This all-contributed special session (oral and poster) offers researchers an
unstructured opportunity to present a wide range of recent
observational or simulation/theoretical results on this topic and to explore
consensus and/or controversy in theory/interpretation
stemming from recent publications on the subject.
SM03 Substorm Processes in the Near-Earth Plasma Sheet (Joint with
SA)
Understanding the physical processes of substorm triggering is a primary
challenge of magnetospheric physics. However, after three
decades of intensive theoretical and observational studies, opinions on the
physical processes of substorm onset have been diverging
rather than converging. Recently a large number of theoretical and
observational studies of substorms targeted the near-Earth plasma
sheet, with an emphasis on the region within 15 RE. This region is
characterized by the large gradients in physical quantities, such
as the equatorial magnetic field strength or plasma pressure, especially at
the end of the substorm growth phase. The investigation of
substorm onset mechanism requires the understanding of (1) pre-onset plasma
sheet configurations, (2) the physics of triggering
instabilities, and (3) the morphology of substorm onset in the near-Earth
plasma sheet. This special session will include invited
papers that address theoretically and/or observationally any of the above
issues. The primary objective of this session is to
emphasize interaction between theoretical and observational work. For this
purpose each theoretical paper is required to provide a
list of predictions that can be tested experimentally, and each observational
paper is required to provide a list of constraints that
should be considered in the future modeling effort of substorm onset.
Fifth International School/Symposium for Space Simulations (ISSS-5)
13-19 March 1997, Kyoto, Japan
The Second Announcement has been distributed. It will be held at RASC, Kyoto
University, and the Chairman of the Organizing
Committee is Prof. H. Matsumoto (RASC, Kyoto University, Japan.) Prof. Y.
Omura is Chairman of the Scientific Program
Committee. A series of lectures and invited talks will be given on:
- Observation, Theory and Simulations of Microscale Phenomena (nonlinear
wave generation, particle acceleration and
heating, etc.);
- Observation, Theory and Simulations of Mesoscale Phenomena (magnetic
reconnection, shocks, turbulence, irregularities,
etc.);
- Observation, Theory and Simulations of Macroscale Phenomena (global
modeling of magnetosphere, boundary layer,
particle dynamics, ray tracing, etc.);<
- New Area of Research (dusty plasma, multiscale phenomena, active
experiments, remote sensing, etc.); and (5) New
Technologies for Space Simulations (parallel processing, visualization, Vlasov
simulation, innovative scheme for MHD and parallel
codes, etc.).
Demonstration and exercises of particle codes, fluid codes and visualization
will be given for a limited number of participants during
three night sessions (3 hours each). Those wishing to participate in this
activity are asked to so indicate in the application
form.
Notice of intention to participate is due by 15 October. Registration form
and hotel reservation due by 15 December. Extended
Summary of contributed papers due by 31 January.
More detailed information is available from H. Matsumoto. See also URL:
http://www.kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/isss; or use e-mail to:
isss@kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp; or Fax: 81-774-31-8463.
IAU Colloquium 167: New Perspectives on Solar Prominences
April 28 - May 4, 1997, Aussois, France
This Colloquium will focus on the physical properties of filaments, current
ideas on their formation, destabilization and eruption,
their role in the solar cycle and relationship to the solar dynamo, their
signatures in interplanetary space, and the evidence for
filaments on other stars. In particular, it will bring together recent
insights provided by SOHO, Yohkoh, Ulysses and other current
observational and theoretical programs. The principal topics of the meeting
are:
- Filaments and their Environment
- Birth and Death of Filaments
- Global Patterns
Scientific Organizing Committee: D. M. Rust (U.S.A.) and B. Schmieder
(France); Co-Chairs, O. Engvold (Norway), V.
Gaizauskas (Canada) Z. Mouradian (France, I. Kim (Russia) R. Schwenn
(Germany), E. Cliver (U.S.A.) J-X. Wang (China), T.
Sakurai (Japan) G. Peres (Italy)
Local Organizing Committee: B. Schmieder (Chair), D. Webb, T. Amari, K.
Bocchialini, V. Bommier, C. Brechet, P. Demoulin,
J. M. Malherbe, Z. Mouradian
Contact address: David Webb, Phillips Lab/GPSG. 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom
AFB, MA, U.S.A. 01731-3010
Voice: 617-377-3086; Fax: 617-377-3160 E-mail: webb@plh.af.mil For site
details please refer to
http://www.in2p3.fr/~drevon/CPL.html .
CONGRATULATIONS
Nancy Alkire, Program Assistant to Joe Allen, has been accepted into the
University of Utah Medical School at Salt Lake City and
will be moving there around the middle of September. We congratulate her on
this achievement and wish her well. SCOSTEP
certainly appreciates (and will miss) her very fine work at the
Secretariat.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1996
October 14-18: SOLTIP III Symposium on Solar Transient and Interplanetary
Phenomena. Contact: F.-S. Wei
(weifs@lnshp.cssar.ac.cn)
October 17-18: STEP Working Group 5, Boulder, CO. Contact: Karin Labitzke
(labitzke@strat01.met.fu-berlin.de)
December 2-6: First SPARC General Assembly, Melbourne, Australia. Contact:
D. Karoly
(sparc96@vortex.shm.monash.edu.au)
December 15-19: AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA Contacts: Edmond C.
Roelof (SH) (edmond.roelof@jhuapl.edu); Odile
de la Beaujardiere (SA) (delabe@nsf.gov); Thomas E. Moore (SM)
(t.e.moore@msfc.nasa.gov)
1997
March 13-17: Fifth International School for Space Simulations, Kyoto, Japan.
Contact: H. Matsumoto (isss@kurasc.kyoto-
u.ac.jp)
April 28-May 4: IAU Colloquium 167: New Perspectives on Solar Prominences,
Aussois, France. Contact:
David Webb (webb@plh.af.mil)
May 12-16: Profiler Workshop, Engelberg, Switzerland. Contact:
(pws@atmos.umnw.ethz.ch)
August 4-15: IAGA Assembly, Uppsala, Sweden. Contact: IAGA Secretariat
(iaga@irfu.se)
July 31 & August 2, SCOSTEP Bureau. Contact for this and the following SCOSTEP
meetings in Uppsala: J. H. Allen, SCOSTEP
Secretariat (jallen@ngdc.noaa.gov)
August 1-2: S-RAMP Steering Committee, Uppsala, Sweden
August 4-8: 9th STP Symposium, Uppsala, Sweden
August 4-8: IAMAS Middle Atmosphere Symposium, Uppsala, Sweden
August 4-14: Conference on Global Change and History of Geomagnetism,
Geophysics and Aeronomy, during IAGA Scientific
Assembly, Uppsala, Sweden. Contact: Dr. Wilfried Schroder, Geophysical
Station, Hechelstrasse 8, D-2877 Bremen-
Roennebeck, Germany.
August 4-15: IAGA, Uppsala, Sweden
August 9: SCOSTEP General Council, Uppsala, Sweden. Contact:
(jallen@ngdc.noaa.gov)
August 11-15: ICMA, Uppsala, Sweden
December: Eighth Workshop on Technical and Scientific Aspects of MST Radar
(MST8), Bangalore, India.