SolarNews – Volume 2016 Number 3

SolarNews
The Electronic Newsletter of the
Solar Physics Division
American Astronomical Society
Volume 2016 Number 3

Aimee Norton, editor
01 February 2016

Solar Physics: Biannual Solicitation of Proposals for Topical Issues

John Leibacher
16 January 2016

The journal Solar Physics publishes one or two Topical Issues (TIs) per year dedicated to a focused topic, frequently with a small number of survey articles introducing regular unsolicited articles, all of which benefit from appearing together.  Not infrequently, these stem from a monothematic conference or conferences, but all articles submitted for consideration for a TI are handled and refereed in the same way as regular research articles, and submissions not associated with the conference are solicited.  Recent TIs include Solar and Stellar Flares: Observations, Simulations, and Synergies (December 2015), and Radio Heliophysics: Science and Forecasting (September 2015)

To aid in our planning, Back to Table of Contents

Thomas Metcalf SPD Travel Awards for 2016 – Call for Proposals from Meeting Organizers

Todd Hoeksema
21 Jan 2016

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) is pleased to announce the Thomas Metcalf SPD Travel Award Program for 2016. The Thomas Metcalf Travel Fund was established in 2007 with generous contributions from his family and many others to help newer members attend meetings relevant to solar physics.

Two or three meetings will be selected by the Fund on the basis of brief proposals from meeting organizers. Meeting Organizers will select Metcalf Lecturers who can make significant contributions to the meeting. Grants are provided by the fund directly to the Metcalf Lecturers. The program is not limited to meetings of the SPD. The amount available this year for all awards is expected to be about $7000.

Organizers of solar physics meetings that will take place before February 28, 2017 are encouraged to submit proposals to the Chair of the Metcalf Travel Award Committee ([email protected]). Meeting organizers must indicate in their proposal how they plan to maximize the impact of their meeting on the field of solar physics. Proposals must be received by 11 March 2016. Proposals should be no more than two pages. Detailed guidelines can be found at spd.aas.org/docs/metcalf/MTAP_Application.pdf .

Once selected, meeting organizers must seek out qualified applicants. Awards will go to one or more recent PhD’s chosen on the basis of both meeting relevance and the Metcalf Lecturers’ potential for future contributions to the field of solar physics. Metcalf Lecturers must be recognized in the meeting program.

Metcalf Lecturers apply directly to the meeting organizers, not to the Metcalf Travel Award Committee. Applicants must have been awarded their PhD after January 2012 or be a student within one year of completing their degree. Recipients must be a member of the SPD and not have received a Metcalf Travel Award in the past. Lecturers are expected to present their work at the meeting as requested by the meeting organizers, and after the meeting they must submit a one-page report describing their contribution.

For additional information about the program, please see spd.aas.org/spd_metcalf_travel.html

Metcalf Travel Award Committee:

  • Todd Hoeksema, Chair
  • Marc DeRosa
  • Mark Miesch
  • Kathy Reeves

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New EIS Nugget

Deborah Baker
22 Jan 2016

We are pleased to announce a new EIS Nugget by Kyoung-Sun Lee, David H. Brooks, and Shinsuke Imada entitled – Photospheric Abundances in Polar Jets on the Sun Observed by Hinode.  You can view it here: solarb.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/SolarB/nuggets/nugget_2016jan.jsp

Previous nuggets are available here: solarb.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp

We welcome contributions from the community.  Please contact us.

Deb Baker
UCLMSSL

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New HMI Science Nugget #48 Available

Xudong Sun
25 Jan 2016

A new HMI Science Nugget (#48), entitled “Polar Cap Magnetic Field Reversals During Solar Grand Minima: Could Pores Play a Role?” by Michal Švanda, is now available at hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/?p=1380

We welcome contributions related to HMI’s science goals. For more info, please visit hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/?page_id=239

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NASA Ames Summer Program 2016 – Call for Proposals

Susanne Demaree
28 Jan 2016

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California:June 6 – July 1, 2016

Proposal Deadline: March 14, 2016

2016 Topic Areas

• Solar stellar connection
• Space weather impacts on solar and exo-planets
• Achieving helio/astro-physics science goals with small/nano satellites

Purpose

The NASA Ames Summer Program focuses on the physics of space weather events and their interactions with planetary atmospheres. In the heliosphere, the events start at the Sun and influence the atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres of Earth and the other planets in the solar system. Observations of these interactions provide data on the interaction of these bodies with the plasma environment and can be studied to advance theoretical development and validation.

Similar processes occur around other stars and their exo-planets. The wide variety of exoplanet systems being discovered offers a rich ground to explore. Even when restricted to Sun-like stars, the variety of activities is large; our limited lifespan offers us a only a brief sample of solar activities, whereas comparative stellar astrophysics enables us to effectively study solar conditions over much longer timescales and so to explore solar and heliospheric activity of the distant past and future.

The “Comparative Heliophysics Summer Program 2016” at NASA Ames will focus on the foundations of heliophysics and related disciplines as applied to stars like the Sun and planets like those in the solar system with similar formation histories and that are relevant to understanding the formation, evolution, and present state of our immediate space environment. The program offers also the opportunity to explore approaches to sensor development that address space-weather impact on planetary atmospheres. It is intended to offer the participants an opportunity to carry out a serious program of research while interacting with colleagues. The primary focus is to seed and encourage new multi-disciplinary research through interactions with scientists of various backgrounds. It is expected that the investigations will lead to high-impact publications and opportunities to expand into new research areas.

Up to 25 students will be selected through a competitive process organized by the UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs. In addition, three to five advisors will be recruited from NASA’s Ames Research Center to participate in the Summer Program. The program will last for four weeks from June 6 to July 1, 2016.

Successful candidates are:

• Currently enrolled as advanced undergraduate students* or graduate students in any phase of training, or first or second year postdoctoral fellows. [* undergraduates in physics in their final years (Junior, Senior) with strong background in applied mathematics, numerical methods, and computer science including advanced programming language skills in C++ , Python, and/or FORTRAN.]

• Majoring in physics with an emphasis on astrophysics, geophysics, plasma physics, and space physics, or experienced in at least one of these areas.

• Pursuing a career in heliophysics, or astrophysics or planetary science.

For additional information on this program, submitting a proposal and instructions on how to apply, please visit the Heliophysics website at www.vsp.ucar.edu/Heliophysics/ames-overview.shtml

For further information, call (303) 497-1605 or e-mail [email protected]

The Living With a Star program of the Heliophysics Division in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate sponsors the NASA Ames Summer Program. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Visiting Scientist Programs collaborates with NASA in administering the program. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is an EE/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace. Images courtesy of NASA.

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SPD Popular Writing Awards

Monica Bobra
29 Jan 2016

The Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society solicits nominations for the Popular Writing Award, which is awarded annually to authors of popular articles about the Sun or the effects of the Sun on the Earth’s environment. One award is given for an article written by a scientist; another award is given for an article written by a journalist.

The Popular Writing Award committee will judge articles based on the following criteria: relevance, educational value, accuracy, clarity, and impact. The article must be published in 2015 in a North American newspaper or magazine, or on a website. Digital media are eligible for the award.

Any living scientist or journalist is eligible to receive the award. The cash amount of each award is $500. Awards will be accompanied by a certificate.

Please send the following information to submit a nomination: the title and author(s) of the article, the name and date of the publication, and the category (scientist or journalist). Self-nominations are welcome.

For more information, see: spd.aas.org/spd_bylaws_200801.html#PRIZES

Please contact Monica Bobra at bobra [at] stanford [dot] edu by March 11 to submit nominations.

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Space Weather: Special Issue “Sun to Earth: Heliospheric Remote Sensing Observations Applicable to Space Weather” – First Announcement

Mario Bisi
31 Jan 2016

Dear Colleagues.

We are soliciting statements of interest for contributions to a special issue in AGU’s Space Weather Journal (SWJ) focused on scientific aspects of remote sensing techniques that support improvements in understanding and predicting space weather.  The special issue will document scientific results of the Third Remote Sensing of the Inner Heliosphere and Space Weather Applications Workshop held in Morelia, Mexico, 20 – 24 October 2015, and we welcome non-workshop manuscripts related to inner heliosphere remote sensing of space weather, especially those emphasizing radio techniques.  The special issue will highlight: 1) Advances in heliospheric Sun to Earth remote-sensing techniques for space weather, and ancillary measurements; 2) ground-based observations of interplanetary scintillation (IPS) and radio polarisation; and 3) the recently-established space-weather service in Mexico (SCiESMEX) including the dedicated IPS array near Morelia, Mexico. See www.sciesmex.unam.mx/workshop2015/ for further information on the Morelia workshop.

The special issue will consist of original research papers on this common theme, which would benefit from being published together.  Manuscripts should clearly describe new space-weather-related science results derived from remotely-sensed observations or from model-data comparison.  All papers will be fully refereed according to AGU publication standards.  Dr. Mario M. Bisi, Dr. J. Americo Gonzalez-Esparza, Dr. Bernard V. Jackson, and Prof. Igor V. Chashei will act as Guest Editors and will assist the SWJ Editor, Dr. Barbara Giles, in seeking referees for the special issue.

The deadline for submission of the statement of interest – consisting of title, preliminary abstract, estimated number of pages, and names and E-Mail addresses of at least three suggestion referees – is Monday, 29 February 2016.  Please provide this information via E-Mail to Mario Bisi (spaceweather-submit.agu.org/cgi-bin/main.plex) will open for submissions that have been coordinated with the Guest Editors on Friday 01 April 2016.  Completed manuscripts must be submitted via GEMS by Friday 01 July 2016.

We will be strict with submission deadlines in order to accommodate an anticipated printing of the special issue by late Fall of 2016.  Papers that are delayed in submission or protracted review can appear individually in later issues of the journal.

Many thanks, best wishes, and we look forward to hearing from you soon,

Mario M. Bisi, J. Americo Gonzalez-Esparza, Bernard V. Jackson, and Igor V. Chashei (Guest Editors).

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Employment Opportunities

PhD position on X-ray observations of solar flares with STIX and MiSolFA

Diego Casadei
21 Jan 2016

STIX is the solar hard X-ray imaging spectrometer of the ESA Solar Orbiter mission, to be launched in 2018.  MiSolFA is a very compact detector to be flown in a near-Earth orbit to complement STIX observations during the next solar maximum, from year 2020.  Together, these instruments will provide cross-calibrated stereo observations of the same solar flare event, which makes them able to observe simultaneously coronal and footpoint sources, and to quantify the directivity of the emission as a function of the photon energy.

A PhD position is available at ETHZ to work on the development of MiSolFA.  The official announcement is available on https://www.psi.ch/pa/stellenangebote/1260

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Post-doctoral Position for Solar Flare Researches at ISAS/JAXA, Japan

Toshifumi Shimizu
21 Jan 2016

The Hinode project at ISAS of JAXA in Japan is currently seeking candidates for a post-doctoral position dedicated to solar flare and space weather researches. This position is for studying the energy storage and trigger mechanisms of solar flares in close collaboration with scientists and PhD students under our new nation-wide project, Project for Solar-Terrestrial Environment Prediction (PSTEP).  Details of PSTEP can be found at www.pstep.jp/?lang=en

This position is expected to work in the following areas:
– Flare and space weather researches with the data from Hinode, SDO and other space- & ground-based observations,
– Modeling of coronal magnetic fields coordinated with the data analysis
– Flare watchdog for improving Hinode capabilities of flare observations.

The position is a JAXA employee for a 1-year period but it can be extended up to 3 years with annual review every year. 

To apply, please send your CV, the list of publications, and a motivation letter together with email addresses of two scientists for reference to Dr. Toshifumi Shimizu (shimizu at solar.isas.jaxa.jp at should be replaced with @).

Closing date for applications is 29 February 2016.

For questions about the post, please also contact Dr. Shimizu.

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NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program 2016 – 2017 Academic Year proposal submission deadline is extended

smd
28 January 2016

Due to the severe winter weather and blizzard conditions experienced in parts of the country and the resultant flooding and other hardship conditions, the proposal submission deadline for the subject program is being extended to 11:59 p.m. on February 8, 2016.

This change will allow additional proposal preparation time for proposers who may have been impacted by these conditions, so that all proposers may prepare high-quality, responsive proposals.

For further information about the NESSF Program contact: Program Administrator for NESSF Earth Science Research – Claire Macaulay at (202) 358-0151 or by E-mail at [email protected].

Program Administrator for NESSF Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research, and Astrophysics Research – Dolores Holland at (202) 358-0734 or by E-mail at [email protected].

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Meeting Announcements

SOHE.it 2016: Meeting of the Italian SOlar and HEliospheric Community

Alessandro Bemporad
15 Jan 2016

This is the first announcement for the meeting of the Italian solar and heliospheric physicists to be held in Rome, Italy on May 30, 31 and June 1, 2016. The meeting will be hosted by ASI in the new headquarters in Via del Politecnico s/n.

This meeting will provide a forum for the Italian solar and heliospheric physicists to constructively discuss topics of keen interest and to consolidate – and establish new – scientific collaborations. The meeting will consist of 3 main sections:

The dynamics and variability of the Sun, including: the initiation, generation, and development of solar eruptive events (flares, CMEs, SEPs, etc.); the energy transfer mechanisms from the solar interior to the outer layers and to the solar wind (convective, radiative, ondulatory processes and their interaction with the magnetic field).
Influences of the solar related phenomena on the heliosphere, including: the interplanetary propagation of SEPs, CMEs and solar wind features (turbulence, shocks, CIRs, high speed streams, etc.); their interaction with planetary environments; the Space Weather perspective.
Advances in instrumentation and space missions.

We encourage young researchers to participate. The meeting is obviously open to all solar physicists! Registration and abstract submission will open in late February 2016.

SOC
Alessandro Bemporad, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino
Angela Ciaravella, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo
Serena Criscuoli, AURA-NSO/Boulder
Raffaella D’Amicis, INAF-IAPS Roma
Dario Del Moro, Univ. Degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Salvatore Luigi Guglielmino, Univ. Degli Studi di Catania
Monica Laurenza, INAF-IAPS Roma
Paolo Romano, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania
Thomas Straus, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte
Antonio Vecchio, LESIA-Observatoire de Paris

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SOLARNET: 4th Summer School/Workshop

Deborah Baker
15 Jan 2016

The 4th SOLARNET School on Solar MHD and Magnetic Reconnection Theory will be hosted by University College London/Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the UK from 13 – 19 April 2016. Topics will include MHD waves and instabilities, kinetic processes in MHD, 3-D reconnection, particle acceleration and transport. The school will be followed by a workshop from 20 – 22 April 2016 on Solar Eruptive Events: Observations and Modelling. Both events are open to PhD students and early career researchers. In line with previous SOLARNET schools, financial support is available.

Registration deadline for the SOLARNET Summer School is 11 March 2016 and the financial support deadline is 26 February 2016.

Details of the scientific program and registration process can be found here:  www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/solar/SOLARNET-4

For any queries, please email: deborah dot baker at ucl dot ac dot uk

Regards,
Deb Baker and the LOC
UCL/MSSL

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AOGS 2016: Session ST07: Diagnosing Solar Flares through UV Spectroscopy and Imaging

Hui Tian
17 Jan 2016

Dear Colleagues.

We would like to invite you to submit abstracts to Session ST07 “Diagnosing Solar Flares Through UV Spectroscopy And Imaging” of the AOGS 2016 conference in Beijing, China, 31 July 2016 to 05 August 2016. The session description can be found here: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=sessionList.htm

We would like to remind you that the abstract submission deadline is 19 February 2016. Abstracts can be submitted at this site: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm

Best regards,

Session conveners: Hui Tian, Shinsuke Imada, Abhishek K. Srivastava, David Graham

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AOGS 2016: Session ST08: Magnetic Reconnection in the Partially Ionized Lower Solar Atmosphere

Hui Tian
17 Jan 2016

Dear Colleagues.

We would like to invite you to submit abstracts to Session ST08 “Magnetic Reconnection In The Partially Ionized Lower Solar Atmosphere” of the AOGS 2016 conference in Beijing, China, 31 July 2016 to 05 August 2016. The session description can be found here: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=sessionList.htm

We would like to remind you that the abstract submission deadline is 19 February 2016. Abstracts can be submitted at this site: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm

Best regards,

Session conveners: Hui Tian, Yukio Katsukawa, Lei Ni, Brigitte Schmieder

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AOGS 2016: Session ST19: Radio Heliophysics and Space Weather – Second Announcement”

Mario Bisi
28 Jan 2016

Dear Colleagues.

We would like to invite you to submit a contributed abstract for our exciting upcoming AOGS 2016 session in Beijing, China, 31 July 2016 to 05 August 2016 – ST19: “Radio Heliophysics and Space Weather”.

The full session description is given below and the Conference WebPages can be found here: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/

The full abstract-submission details are given here: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm; but please note that the AOGS Conference Fee only covers two abstracts – any more would require additional fees.  The abstract-submission deadline is 19 February 2016.

Please submit early so as not to have any last-minute submission problems…

Apologies if you receive multiple instances of this advertisement.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Mario M. Bisi (STFC RAL Space) – AOGS ST-H Secretary, and
T. Oyuki Chang M. (UNAM Morelia);
Convenors for ST19.

ST19: “Radio Heliophysics and Space Weather”

Various industries and aspects of human society have become highly reliant on modern technologies and regular, uninterrupted energy supplies, many of which are at risk from extreme space weather.  Such industries and our technologies can also be impacted to a lesser degree by the ‘everyday’ space weather that often occurs at the Earth during moderate-to-intense geomagnetic storms.  Such industries include the power grids, airlines, telecommunications, GNSS, etc…

Radio heliophysics in all aspects of space weather is being enhanced in no small part by the use of new-generation radio-telescope arrays such as the Long-Wavelength Array (LWA) in the USA, the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in western Australia, and the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) in northern and western Europe.  In addition, various new techniques and model developments are, and have, enabled the use of radio systems to greater effect for space-weather purposes.  For example: solar radio bursts can now be studied in far-greater detail; interplanetary scintillation (IPS) observations (via tomographic reconstructions) are being used to drive 3-D MHD models; tests of heliospheric Faraday rotation are being undertaken in the hope of being able to measure and predict Bz through the inner heliosphere; and new methods and advances are being made in ionospheric riometry and scintillation studies such as being able to obtain estimates of the height of the scattering screen in the ionosphere.

This session solicits contributions based around the ongoing development of space-weather forecasting services using radio techniques, new scientific methodologies that could be employed for space-weather purposes, novel results which could not be obtained before the advent of such radio systems, and plans for new observations (such as on the Square Kilometre Array – SKA) and new designs or concepts for future radio instruments.

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AOGS 2016: Session ST20: Sun and Heliosphere General Session Including Solar Diagnostic Techniques and Variabilty, and Helioseismology – Second Announcement

Mario Bisi
28 Jan 2016

Dear Colleagues.

We would like to invite you to submit a contributed abstract for our exciting upcoming AOGS 2016 session in Beijing, China, 31 July 2016 to 05 August 2016 – ST20: “Sun and Heliosphere General Session Including Solar Diagnostic Techniques and Variabilty, and Helioseismology”.

The full session description is given below and the Conference WebPages can be found here: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/

The full abstract-submission details are given here: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm; but please note that the AOGS Conference Fee only covers two abstracts – any more would require additional fees.  The abstract-submission deadline is 19 February 2016.

Please submit early so as not to have any last-minute submission problems…

Apologies if you receive multiple instances of this advertisement.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Mario M. Bisi (STFC RAL Space) – AOGS ST-H Secretary, and Alessandra Giunta (STFC RAL Space); Convenors for ST20.

ST20: “Sun and Heliosphere General Session Including Solar Diagnostic Techniques and Variabilty, and Helioseismology”

This is the general session of talks within the ST Section covering topics on the Sun and/or Heliosphere that are not suited to any of the other sessions available.  In addition, talks based on or around solar diagnostic techniques, the related atomic physics and spectroscopy, space climate, solar variability, or Helioseismology are also welcomed into this session including abstracts related to all aspects of solar irradiance as well as studies on climate change (local and/or global) that can be attributed to, at least in part, solar variability.  The Sun varies in brightness over differing time scales.  There is evidence that some climate change on Earth can be attributed to solar variability.  Variations in solar radiation output beyond that of the solar cycle are typically not well known.

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AOGS 2016: Session ST26: Multiwavelength and In-situ Observations – CME and Flare Evolution and Dynamics — Second Call for abstracts

Juan Carlos Martinez Oliveros
27 Jan 2016

Dear All,

We invite contributions to the session (ID#: ST26) “Multiwavelength and In-situ Observations of CME and Flare Evolution and Dynamics” at the AOGS meeting in Beijing from July 31 to August 5, 2016. Details on the session follow.

We would like to remind you that the abstract submission deadline is 19 February 2016.

Abstracts can be submitted using the following link: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm

Best regards,

Juan Carlos Martinez Oliveros
Ying Liu
Hazel Bain
David Sundkvist

——————————————————————
Session Title:
Multiwavelength and In-situ Observations Of CME and Flare Evolution and Dynamics

Session Description:
Flares and CMEs are two spectacular manifestations of the explosive release of magnetic energy in the solar atmosphere. The released magnetic energy is transformed into kinetic and thermal energy and radiations. The focus of this session is to discuss how multi-wavelength observations and in situ measurements from current (IRIS, SDO, RHESSI, Hinode, NoRH, NRH, OVSA, STEREO, Wind, ACE) and future (Solar Orbiter, Solar Probe Plus) instruments and theoretical modeling can help our understanding of the mechanics, dynamics and evolution of these phenomena in the corona and interplanetary space.

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AOGS 2016: Session ST27: New Insights Into The Physics of White-light Flares – Second Call for Abstracts

Juan Carlos Martinez Oliveros
27 Jan 2016

Dear All,

We invite contributions to the session (ID#: ST27) “New Insights Into The Physics Of White-light Flares” at the  AOGS meeting  in Beijing, 31 Jul to 5 Aug, 2016.  Details on the session follow.

We would like to remind you that the abstract submission deadline is 19 February 2016.

Abstracts can be submitted using the following link: www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm

Best regards,

Juan Carlos Martinez Oliveros
Hugh S Hudson
Lucia Kleint
Mingde Ding

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Session Title:
New Insights Into The Physics Of White-light Flares

Session Description:
The white-light continuum of a solar flare was the first manifestation of a flare ever detected, and this continuum emission contains a large fraction of the total luminous energy of a flare. Thus its identification has always posed an important problem for solar and stellar physics. A zoo of phenomena accompanies these events and their analysis can provide a wealth of information about the solar atmosphere. The focus of the discussion is the manifestation in the visible continuum of flares, from the corona to the solar interior and how multi wavelength observations (RHESSI, IRIS, SDO, Hinode, infrared, NoRH, OVSA) can help our understanding of the mechanics of momentum and energy transfer in the solar atmosphere.

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AOGS 2016: Session ST37: Formation, Oscillations and Waves of Solar Filaments

P. F. Chen
28 Jan 2016

Dear colleagues,

This year the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) annual meeting will be held in Beijing from Jul. 31 to Aug. 5, 2016. The session ST37 is about the formation and oscillations of solar filaments. We welcome any abstract related to this topic. Colleagues outside Asia and Oceania are also invited. The deadline of the abstract submission is Feb 19, 2016.

The website of the meeting is www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2016/public.asp?page=abstract.htm

See you in Beijing!

Best regards,

Peng-Fei Chen (Nanjing University, China)
Marcel Goossens (KU Leuven, Belgium)
Qing-Min Zhang (Purple Mountain Observatory, China)

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EWASS 2016 Symposium S17: Magnetic Helicity in Sun and Stars: From Dynamo Action to Eruptive Phenomena: First announcement

Manolis Georgoulis
21 Jan 2016

This year’s European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) will take place in Athens, Greece, during 4 – 8 July, 2016. For more information on the meeting as a whole, please visit eas.unige.ch/EWASS2016/

We are pleased to announce Symposium S17 of the meeting, entitled “Magnetic Helicity in Sun and Stars: From Dynamo Action to Eruptive Phenomena”.

The Symposium’s description can be found at eas.unige.ch/EWASS2016/session.jsp?id=S17

This Symposium will recap studies that have shaped and continue to shape the intricate topic of magnetic helicity, affording the well-acquainted or simply interested audience a succinct, top-level view of our understanding of the topic. Future prospects enabled by contemporary understanding will also be discussed. The Symposium will promote a balance between observational effects of helical manifestations and theory, emphasizing studies that embolden this connection. To remain attractive to both solar / space physicists and astrophysicists, it will also investigate the solar-stellar connection of helical manifestations in the universe.

Please consider submitting an abstract to the Symposium. We solicit both oral and poster presentations. Please notice, however, that due to the lack of poster space the European Astronomical Society and the meeting’s Scientific Organizing Committee have decided that posters will be all-electronic and will be distributed to all participants. In addition, each presenting author will be allotted a few (up to 5) minutes to present his/her poster during the Symposium.

The abstract submission deadline is March 15, 2016. For important meeting-related deadlines, please visit eas.unige.ch/EWASS2016/dates.jsp

Invited speakers will be announced in the web page of the Symposium as they are confirmed.

The Symposium’s SOC: Manolis K. Georgoulis, Alexander Nindos, Dibyendu Nandi

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SPD Meeting 2016: Studentships Available

Gordon Emslie
22 Jan 2016

The Solar Physics Division is pleased to announce the availability of funds to support student participation in its next annual meeting from May 31 – June 3, 2016 in Boulder, CO.  More detailed information on how to apply for studentship awards, and on the associated obligations (e.g., presenting a paper at the meeting), can be found at spd.aas.org/studentships.html

Applications are due by March 4, 2016; awardees will be notified by March 21, giving time to submit an abstract by the abstract deadline.

Please feel free to distribute this notice to any individuals who may not be on the SolarNews mailing list but who nevertheless may be interested in this opportunity.

Advisors please note: the SPD strongly encourages applications for partial support, with the remainder of the necessary funds coming from other (e.g., grant, university) sources.  Note especially the requirement (see website) that the supporting advisor letter include “an evaluation of the student’s financial requirements for attending the meeting and the extent to which partial support from other sources is available.”  Ideally, such a statement should also detail amounts for airfare, hotel, etc.  Applications that simply state “any support that can be provided will be greatly appreciated” (or similar words) are discouraged.

The SPD Student Committee (Gordon Emslie, Matthias Rempel, Kathy Reeves)

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SPD Meeting 2016: Important Dates

Valentin Martinez Pillet
30 Jan 2016

NSO invites you to the 47th Solar Physics Division Meeting, which will be held on the main campus of the University of Colorado, Boulder,  from May 31 through June 3, 2016.

Due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 30, the traditional welcome reception will be held at the end of the first day of the meeting, May 31.

All information is available at the meeting webpage: www.nso.edu/SPD2016

Registration and abstract submission will open on February 10, 2016. Early registration and abstract submission will be available until April 6, 2016.

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IAU Symposium 327: Fine Structure and Dynamics of the Solar Atmosphere

Santiago Vargas Domínguez
24 Jan 2016

**** First Announcement ***

We are pleased to announce the International Astronomical Union Symposium 327 (IAUS327) on “Fine Scale and Dynamics of the Solar Atmosphere” that will take place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from October 9th to 13th 2016.

The scientific goal of this symposium is to discuss recent results on the processes shaping the structure of the solar atmosphere and driving plasma eruptions and explosive events.

The understanding of the fine structure and dynamics of the solar atmosphere requires a considerable coordinated effort of observers, theorists and experts in realistic numerical simulations. The proposed symposium is very timely and important. It will make an important step in the big international effort for our understanding of the solar atmosphere with large telescopes and detailed modelling. The Symposium will provide a forum for discussion of the recent advances, and a platform for developing new coordinated observing and theoretical programs.

Topics discussed will include:

  • The solar atmosphere as a system connected by magnetic fields.
  • Role of small-scale magnetic structures in the dynamics of the solar atmosphere
  • Energy and mass transport between the convection zone and the outer solar atmosphere.
  • Interaction between radiation, convection and magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere.
  • Magnetic network, hidden magnetism and local dynamo.
  • Magnetic flux emergence in the solar atmosphere.
  • Fine structuring in sunspots.
  • Energy release and explosive events at the finest spatial and temporal scales.
  • New observational diagnostics: high-resolution imaging spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry.
  • Theoretical models and numerical simulations.
  • New capabilities of large solar telescopes.

More detailed information and updates will be regularly posted on the conference web site iaus327.unal.edu.co

For questions, contact: Santiago Vargas Domínguez [email protected]

We are looking forward to seeing you in Cartagena de Indias!

Chair of Scientific Organising Committee
Santiago Vargas Domínguez, OAN, Universidad Nacional de Colombia , Alexander Kosovichev, NJIT, U.S.A, Juan Carlos Martínez Oliveros, SSL, UC Berkeley, U.S.A., Patrick Antolin, NAOJ, Japan & University of St Andrews, U.K., Louise Harra, MSSL, U.K., Cristina Mandrini, CONICET, Argentina

International Scientific Organising Committee
Laura Balmaceda (Argentina), Luis Ramon Bellot Rubio (Spain) , Michele Bianda (Switzerland), Juan Camilo Buitrago-Casas (USA), Mark Cheung (USA) Ineke De Moortel (UK), Sirajul Hasan (India), Ryohko Ishikawa (Japan), Lucia Kleint (Switzerland), Valentin Martínez Pillet (USA), Rob Rutten (Netherlands), Natalia Schukina (Ukraine), Brigitte Schmieder (France), Oskar Steiner (Germany), Mike Wheatland (Australia), Jingxiu Wang (China).

Local Organising Committee
Benjamín Calvo Mozo, Jose Gregorio Portilla Barbosa (OAN, Universidad Nacional de Colombia), Juan Manuel Tejeiro Sarmiento (OAN, Universidad Nacional de Colombia), Cristian Góez Therán (Universidad Libre, Universidad Antonio Nariño), Javier Montoya (Universidad de Cartagena), Jaime Bernal (Universidad Tecnológica de Bolivar), Andrés Torres (Instituto Tecnológico de Medellín), José Iván Campos Rozo (OAN, Universidad Nacional de Colombia).

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HESPERIA Summer School at the Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel, Germany, August 29 to September 2, 2016

Bernd Heber
26 Jan 2016

HESPERIA stands for High Energy Solar Particle Events Forecasting and Analysis and is a project funded under the EU Horizon 2020 program. The Sun is both a source of all life on Earth and sporadically of significant hazards. Solar energetic particle (SEP) events may provoke extreme space weather near Earth. Space weather causes radiation which may be a hazard for satellites and for the astronauts. Not only can they be measured indirectly by their solar electromagnetic emission, but also directly in space by particle detectors and in extreme cases on Earth by ground based cosmic ray detectors. Therefore, scientists observe SEP events and incorporate methods to know or even forecast the radiation hazard associated with them. 

Students will attend a variety of lectures on space physics and research topics related to space weather and will gain valuable hands-on experience under the mentorship of a HESPERIA scientist. This program also provides students with opportunities to develop their written communication skills, by presenting their research in a formal report at the end of the summer school.

The school is open to graduate students currently enrolled in astro or space physics, planetary sciences, space engineering or a related field. We will provide free accommodation in a students guest house and daily allowance to cover local expenses. Travel support can be arranged for a few cases. Program acceptance is based primarily on the student’s academic record and nomination letter. Applications will be accepted starting in end of January 2016. Applications must be received by April 30, 2016. Acceptance notifications will be sent out by May 15, 2016.  For more information about the summer school, including a list of potential mentors, eligibility requirements, and application instructions, please see hesperia-space.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=834.  Further questions about the program can be addressed to the summer school director ([email protected]).

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RHESSI Workshop XV – Call for Abstracts/Registration

Gordon Emslie
26 Jan 2016

The next RHESSI Workshop (number XV in the series) will be held in Graz, Austria, from July 26 – 30, 2016. This workshop will consist of a blend of plenary sessions (at the beginning and end), with working group sessions in between. Topics to be addressed include integration of RHESSI and IRIS observations, analysis an interpretation of RHESSI/Fermi data, the SXR and EUV response of the solar atmosphere to flare heating, joint radio/HXR studies, next steps in RHESSI imaging, and theory and modeling of flare processes.

This workshop is now open for registration/abstract submission (deadline May 10) at rhessi15.uni-graz.at/en/

In addition to local and logistical information (travel, accommodation), the website also contains brief summaries of the scientific scope of the various topical sessions. You are invited to submit a contribution to one of these sessions. The details of the final program will be constructed from the input we receive from the community, so please submit your contributions and help guide the scientific goals of the workshop!

I look forward to seeing you in Austria this summer.

Gordon Emslie
RHESSI Workshop Convenor

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JpGU 2016: Space Weather, Space Climate, and VarSITI session

Toshifumi Shimizu
28 Jan 2016

Abstract submission deadlines for JpGU meeting 2016 are approaching. The meeting information can be found at www.jpgu.org/meeting_e2016/

P-EM04 Space Weather, Space Climate, and VarSITI: www.jpgu.org/meeting_e2016/session_list/detail/P-EM04.html
This session is held as one of the JpGU-AGU joint sessions.

To AGU members, please access the AGU site: meetings.agu.org/jpgu-agu/

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IBUKS 2016: Waves and Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere, 13/06/2016 – 17/06/2016 – Leuven, Belgium

Tom Van Doorsselaere
29 Jan 2016

After previous BUKS workshops, there is now the IBUKS workshop. It will be held between 13/6 and 17/6 in Leuven, Belgium. Mark your diary!

The website is at wis.kuleuven.be/events/IBUKS2016

The aim of the workshop is to get an overview of recent developments within the field of “Waves and oscillations in the solar atmosphere”. The workshop is aimed to be small, and is structured with plenty of time for informal discussions.

Everyone is welcome!

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AstroFluid2016: International Conference to Honor Prof. Jean-Paul Zahn’s Career – 27th to 30th of June 2016 at the IAP, Paris, France: 2nd Announcement

Allan Sacha Brun
31 Jan 2016

2nd announcement of the international conference to honour Jean-Paul Zahn’s career 27th to 30th of June 2016 at the IAP, Paris, France: irfu.cea.fr/Sap/astrofluid2016/

Jean-Paul Zahn’s great scientific career and contributions to many fields of astrophysics will be remembered during an international conference held at the IAP, Paris, France during the last week of June 2016.

Key topics to illustrate his significant scientific contributions will be:
– Tides in Planets and Stars
– Seismology and Stellar Structure, Evolution and Rotation
– Convection, Magnetism and Dynamo
– Instabilities, Turbulence and Disks

The conference will have 4 Keynote lectures by Prof. André Brahic, Prof. André Maeder, Prof. Juri Toomre and Prof. Ed Spiegel and 8 Invited speakers:
Prof. D. Gough, Prof. H. Spruit, Prof. S. Vauclair, Dr. K. Belkacem, Dr. S. Fromang, Pr. P. Garaud, Dr. J. Leconte, Dr. A. Strugarek covering the many topics that Jean-Paul worked on.

The registration and abstract submissions for contributed talks and posters will be open on February 5th of 2016. The deadline for abstract submission is the 15th of April. Program will be released on the 23rd of April.

The registration fee is 220 € (including the proceeding book, coffee breaks and cocktails at the Observatory of Paris). Money can only be accepted through wire transfer to CEA’s bank account (see website for details). Late bird fees after the 23rd of May (including participants paying in cash at the conference desk) will be 280€.

Limited travel support for young scientists is available. Deadline for requesting travel support is April 30th (see website for details).

A list of hotels near the IAP in Paris is indicated on the web site. Please remember that the Euro soccer cup will be happening in Paris during that period, so please book up your lodging as early as possible.

Please mark your calendar, Looking forward to seeing you in Paris.

For further information please visit the web site:  irfu.cea.fr/Sap/astrofluid2016/, or contact Dr. A.S. Brun ([email protected]) or Dr. S. Mathis ([email protected])

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Editor’s Note

2015 SolarNews Instructions

Aimee Norton
01 May 2015

SolarNews is normally distributed on the first and fifteenth of each month. Please send in your submissions by midnight (UT-7) the day before.

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