Newsletter No15/2019 International Space Weather Initiative

ISWI Newsletter - Vol.11 No.15
01 November 2019

Dear ISWI Participant:

This issue is big.

Thanks to everyone who sent in material !

Cordially yours,
George Maeda
Editor of ISWI Newsletter

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

[1] Obituary of Kiyohumi Yumoto, from Kyushu University (read it)

[2] Job Opening: Research Chair in Space Weather at South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in South Africa (read it)

[3] Prof. Rabiu Babatunde Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto (1951-2019): Exit of a Legend (read it)

[4] Prof. Rabiu Babatunde Ode to Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto (1951-2019) (read it)

[5] AGS Newsletter- Vol.2 No. 010 22 October 2019 (read it)

[6] Uganda Warming Up to Host ISWI Workshop In 2021 (read it)

[7] Report from Space Weather Workshop in Nepal for ISWI Newslette (read it)

[8] Report of the International Colloquium on Equatorial and Low Latitude Ionosphere, 9^th÷13^th September, 2019 University Of Lagos, Nigeria (read it)

[9] Space Weather Nigerian Communication Network Newsletter (SW-NICONET) Vol.1 Iss.7, October. 2019 (read it)

[10] Sharing of ISWI data by working with the International Heliophysics Data Environment Alliance (IHDEA) (read it)

[11] CGMS Operational Space Weather Data User Survey: Space Weather Service Providers (read it)

[12] "SCOSTEP Visiting Scholar" (SVS) program is accepting applications for 2020 (read it)

[13] Published paper: "Training on GNSS and Space Weather in Africa in the framework of the North-South scientific network GIRGEA" (read it)

[1] Obituary of Kiyohumi Yumoto, 24 October 2019

With our deepest sorrow we announce that Emeritus Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto of Kyushu University has passed away on 7 October 2019 at the age of 68 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Prof. Yumoto received his Ph.D. in Geophysics at Tohoku University in 1988 based on his research on global Pc3-4 ULF pulsations. He started his academic career in 1979 at Tohoku University as a research associate. He later joined the Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory (STEL) at Nagoya University in 1988 as an associate professor, and in 1995 he joined Kyushu University as a professor and stayed at that position until his retirement in 2016.

At Kyushu University, Japan, Prof. Yumoto was the executive director of Space Environment Research Center (SERC) which later became International Center for Space Weather Science and Education (ICSWSE). He was also the PI of the MAGDAS/CPMN/210MM ground magnetometer network project. He is also a founding member of the ULTIMA Consortium for an ultra-large terrestrial international magnetic array, and a key member of the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) through this magnetometer array. Prof. Yumoto made numerous pioneering contributions to the development of this global magnetometer network with his international colleagues.

In addition to his outstanding research, Prof. Yumoto will be remembered for his tireless mentorship that motivated both domestic and international students, including many from developing countries. He was truly a friend to many of us all over the world.

Prof. Yumoto should be remembered not only as a remarkable scientist, but also as a global leader of international collaboration. Through the MAGDAS/CPMN/210MM project, he made a great contribution to the nurture of space weather science, especially in Asian and African countries.

We are collecting information, anecdotes, remembrances about Prof. Yumoto's career and life. If you would like to share with us such material, please contact me <mailto:yoshikawa.akimasa.254[at]m.kyushu-u.ac.jp>.

Condolences and other messages will be forwarded to his wife, Shiori Yumoto, through the same address.

Send by Dr. Yoskikawa,

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[2] Job Opening: Research Chair in Space Weather at South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in South Africa

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is searching for a Research Chair in Space Weather, preferably specialising in Solar Physics. The Research Chair would be mainly responsible for undertaking research within the specialised area, providing guidance to the operational space weather centre, and supervising postgraduate students.

The successful candidate will have:

an extensive research track record within an area of Space Weather (preferably Solar Physics)
high and sustained publication record in reputable research journals
international collaborations
lead large projects
raise and manage research funds
lead research groups and postgraduate student supervision and training.

The position is based in Hermanus in South Africa, and would be for an initial 5 year period renewable for an additional 5 years based on performance. The applicants do not have to be South African – this is a global recruit initiative for a specialised scarce skill area.

You can fnd out more about SANSA at the following links: http://www.sansa.org.za; http://spaceweather.sansa.org.za and http://research.sansa.org.za

SANSA has 3 campus locations. The position is to be based at the Hermanus Campus within the Western Cape province of South Africa. Here is a link to more information on Hermanus https://www.whalecoast.info/ https://hermanus-tourism.co.za/

More information including full requirements and application process can be found at: <https://www.sansa.org.za/2019/07/29/sansa-sarchi-chair-in-space-weather/>

Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell
Managing Director Space Science
T: +27 28 312 1196 | F: +27 28 312 2039
Web: http://www.sansa.org.za
Hospital Street, Hermanus 7200
PO Box 32, Hermanus, 7200

Send by Lee-Anne, SANSA

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[3] Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto (1951-2019): Exit of a Legend

See this

Send by Prof. Rabiu Babatunde,

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[4] Prof. Rabiu Babatunde Ode to Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto (1951-2019)

See this

Send by Prof. Rabiu Babatunde,

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[5] AGS Newsletter- Vol.2 No. 010 22 October 2019

Dear Subscribers,

We dedicate this issue to a Legend, Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto (1951-2019); first of the international scientists to set up ground observational facility known as Magnetic Data Acquisition System MAGDAS in Africa.

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:

(1) 2020 SCOSTEP VISITING SCHOLAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

(2) ERG SCIENCE AND SPACE WEATHER WORKSHOP

(3) MEETING REPORT- WORKSHOP ON NEQUICK IONOPAHERIC ELECTRON DENSITY MODEL: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW IMPLEMENTATIONS.

(4) PROFESSOR KIYOHUMI YUMOTO (1951-2019): EXIT OF A LEGEND

(5) POEM OF THE MONTH: WE ALL CAN FLY!

Send by Aderonke Obafaye,

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[6] Uganda Warming Up to Host ISWI Workshop In 2021

(Script by Dr. Florence M. D’ujanga, Assoc. Prof., Physics Dept., Makerere University.)

Uganda announces the workshop on “Equatorial and Low Latitude Ionosphere” to take place in 2021

See this

Send by George Maeda,

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[7] Report Workshop on Space Weather and Upper Atmosphere Physics (WSWUAP) Kathmandu, Nepal, September 23-27, 2019

The WSWUAP has been jointly organized by the
*Dept. of Physics, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal* and
*The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy.*

The Resource Persons of the workshop were:
Prof. Christine Amory, Sorbonne Universities/ICTP,
Yenca Migoya-Orue, ICTP,
Katy Alazo-Cuartas, ICTP,
Prof. Narayan Chapagain, TU,
Dr. Shri Ram Sharma, TU.

The workshop brought together a total of 43 participants (14 Faculties and PhD Scholars) and 29 BSc Students from different parts of the country.

The Objectives of the Workshop were:

+ Build a theoretical background on Space Weather Physics, Ionosphere, Ionospheric Modeling and the Ionospheric Data Collection from GNSS observables.
+ Develop necessary skills for Space Weather data processing, TEC calibration and ionospheric models through hands-on sessions.

During the workshop mornings the participants received lectures on the following subjects: Space Weather, Ionosphere, GNSS, Ionospheric Data from GNSS observables, Airglow measurements for ionospheric irregularities, Thunderstorm and extreme Weather events and Ionospheric Modelling. During the afternoons the students assisted to hands-on and tutorials sessions related to: Space Weather indices and useful sites, GNSS data collection, TEC Calibration laboratory and Use of NeQuick model.

The participants, organized in 8 groups, have been engaged in a problem solving experience regarding ionosphere characterization and Space Weather events and made a presentation the last day. They were cooperative and succeeded in performing the exercises and the final presentation, even though the participants’ levels of expertise were different.

The workshop was also an opportunity to give and gain mentorship. A number of students expressed their interest in continue their studies in Space Weather and Upper Atmosphere and also study the link between Lower and Upper Atmospheres.

This kind of activities are organized in the framework of ICTP’s mission and ISWI (International Space Weather Initiative) Education and Training Objective. Christine Amory is member of the ISWI Steering Committee and Yenca Migoya-Orue is currently ISWI National Co- Coordinator for Italy.

The participation of the ICTP team has been supported by the Office of External Activities (OEA) of ICTP.

Send by Yenca Migoya-Orue,

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[8] Report of the International Colloquium on Equatorial and Low Latitude Ionosphere, 9^th÷13^th September, 2019 University Of Lagos, Nigeria

The International Colloquium on Equatorial and Low-Latitude Ionosphere (ICELLI) organized by the Centre for Atmospheric Research, ‘CAR-NASRDA’ and Network of Space- Earth Environmentalists ‘NSEE’ took place at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria on 9-13 September, 2019 with forty (40) participants in attendance. Six (6) lecturers including Prof. Babatunde Rabiu and Prof. Victor Chukwuma took the participants through rigorous sessions of learning.

See this PDF

Send by Dr. Amaechi Paul,

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[9] Space Weather Nigerian Communication Network Newsletter (SW-NICONET) Vol.1 Iss.7, October. 2019

See this PDF:

Send by Bola R. Abdulrahim,

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[10] Sharing of ISWI data by working with the International Heliophysics Data Environment Alliance (IHDEA)

The third meeting of the IDHEA was hosted by the Heliophysics Science Division (HSD) of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, on October 16-18, 2019.

The primary goal of the meeting was to establish the IHDEA (https://ihdea.net) which has the goals of fostering coordinated development of common data standards and services, and promoting their use to enable efficient and effective sharing of heliophysics data (from space, ground, and models) so as to enhance the scientific return of the data and facilitate new discovery. The successful 2.5 day meeting had 33 attendees (2 participating remotely) representing the NASA GSFC HSD, ESA-ESAC, ESA-ESTEC, CNES, Observatoire de Paris, Nagoya University-ISEE, UCLA, JHUAPL, UC Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and the University of Iowa.

After reviewing the data archiving and distribution tools of several major heliophysics data archives, tools for data display and analysis, and standards for data formats, metadata, and access protocols, the meeting was concluded by the completion of the drafts of the IHDEA Charter and Bylaws documents. After final editing and reviews in the next few month, these foundational documents will be released to the international heliophysics community with a formal announcement of the establishment of the IHDEA.

Since the ISWI open data policy
<http://newserver.stil.bas.bg/ISWI/PDFsJ/ISWI_DataPolicy_1.3.4_finaldraft.pdf> is consistent with the IHDEA goals, the ISWI can benefit from leveraging the IHDEA efforts in promoting data sharing based on the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

Send by Dr. Shing F. Fung,

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[11] CGMS Operational Space Weather Data User Survey: Space Weather Service Providers

Dear Space Weather Users and Service Providers,

Thanks to all who have sent in replies to the survey so far – they are much appreciated!

The focus of actions to be undertaken by the CGMS Members in deploying space weather instrumentation and improving ground segment delivery mechanisms will be significantly guided by the results of the analysis of surveys received. It is essential that we obtain further survey responses to add weight to the analysis and justify budgets needed to implement these improvements. I would kindly request those who have not yet replied to find a some moments to fill out the survey as far as possible in the coming week.

If we receive your survey by 8 November, we should be able to analyse it in time for the European Space Weather Week discussion meeting planned for 22 November, where initial directions for improvement actions will be proposed and discussed.

If you do NOT intend to submit a survey response, I would appreciate your feedback.

Surveys received after that time will still be welcome of course.

Best regards, Andrew Monham
Space Weather Coordination Group Rapporteur.

Editor's note: The Excel file is CGMS-Space-Weather-Data-User-Survey-V1.xlsx (25KB, 25 pages)

ISWI Newsletter - Vol.11 No.1501 November 2019

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

ISWI Newsletter - Vol.11 No.15
01 November 2019