Details:

Alan Shapley:

A distinguished IGY alumnus, Alan Horace Shapley of Boulder, Colorado passed away at Boulder, CO, on October 20, 2006 following an illness. He was 87.

Shapley served as Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Committee for the International Geophysical Year (IGY, 1957-58). and then went on to serve as the founding director of the NGDC, which has made significant contributions to the progress of heliophysics. Shapley had served in various capacities in helping the community grow. A detailed obituary can be found in the SolarNews (Volume 2006 Number 22, 15 Nov 2006) at http://solarnews.nso.edu/.

Steve Walton:

A distinguished solar astronomer, Stephen Roy Walton, 50, CSUN Professor of Physics and Astronomy, died Saturday, November 11, 2006 at home in Lancaster, California, after a protracted battle with cancer.

Steve Walton was an active member of the solar and heliophysics community and his distinguished service towards research and education included being Director of the San Fernando Observatory, a major solar installation operated by CSUN. He also served as Director of CSUN's Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium. He served as Secretary of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society and as Editor of SolarNews, its newsletter from 1997 to 2003. A detailed obituary can be found in the SolarNews (Volume 2006 Number 22, 15 Nov 2006) at http://solarnews.nso.edu/.

A remarkable commitment in the International Geophysical Year (IGY; 1957-1958) was that all the observatories participating in this program had to send copies of obtained data to the World Data Centers (WDCs) to make all the data available for the scientists or institutions all over the world. Although the efforts of the data collection and exchange were already made in the first (1882-83) and second (1932-33) International Polar Year (IPY), it was not working sufficiently. When I was an undergraduate and a graduate student at Kyoto University (1947-55), almost all the geomagnetic data during the second IPY were collected at our laboratory by the considerable efforts of Professor M. Hasegawa. In Hasegawa?s laboratory, a number of interesting results were obtained based on analyses of these data. I also started on the lines of research in the Hasegawa's lab.

The theme of my research project was "the dynamo theory of daily geomagnetic variations". Drs. Stewart and Schuster originally proposed this theory as follows. (i) There is a conducting region called "ionosphere" in the upper atmosphere of the earth. (ii) If winds exist in this ionosphere, electric fields are induced and thus electric currents are generated. (iii) As a result, daily geomagnetic variations are observed on the ground. The usual mathematical procedure of the dynamo theory is as follows: First, electric currents are calculated by postulated wind profiles, then their magnetic effects are compared with observed results on the ground. With our new method, on the other hand, we obtained winds from well-known geomagnetic variations. The results of calculation based on the data during the second IPY showed that the diurnal component of winds was much larger than the semi-diurnal one. Our results attracted people?s attention, because it was generally believed in those days that the semi-diurnal component predominates as expected from tidal oscillations. Moreover, the calculated results of the electron density distribution in the upper ionosphere by using electric fields obtained at the same time with the winds consistently explained equatorial anomaly (called geomagnetic distortion) of the ionosphere.

Through such experiences, I realized that it is critical to observe data from all over the world. In the meantime, the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) proposed in 1951 that an international cooperation program such as first and second IPY should be performed in 1957?58 (termed IGY). Accordingly, a Special Committee (CSAGI) to organize IGY was established in 1953.

As the research in many fields of geophysics is global, the CSAGI emphasised the importance of inter-disciplinal research among the scientists of different fields. Supporting this policy, the CSAGI proposed in 1955 at the Brussels Meeting that the data obtained in accordance with the IGY programs should be available for investigators or institutions all over the world. In practice, the CSAGI planned to set up at least three WDCs so that each WDC secures access to organized data for investigators or institutions of all countries. The CSAGI then examined each WDC based on proposals from every country, and the following WDCs were established: WDC-A in the U.S.A. and WDC-B in the U.S.S.R. (now Russia) for all disciplines, and WDC-C in other countries for some individual disciplines.

In Japan, five WDC-Cs were set up: Geomagnetism (Kyoto University), Airglow (Tokyo Astronomical Observatory), Ionosphere (Radio Research Laboratory), Cosmic Rays (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research), and Nuclear Radiation (Meteorological Agency). To accept WDC-C for Geomagnetism in Kyoto University, members of the Dr. Hasegawa's lab discussed about the issues, and agreed to borrow two rooms and one officer from the library of Kyoto University so that Hasegawa's lab members could cooperate with the officer. During the IGY, I participated in geomagnetic observations at the Aso Observatory as a post-doctoral fellow. At this observatory, geomagnetic records have continuously been taken since the second IPY. Using data from this observatory, Dr. Hasegawa discovered day-to-day variability in the type of geomagnetic Sq field (1936).

As soon as the IGY started, all geomagnetic data were sent to our WDC from other WDCs and observatories. It was indeed a drastic change of the availability of various data compared with the era of Dr. Hasegawa during the second IPY. We realized how important it is to have an international system, i.e., WDCs, that globally collect observational data for the whole scientific community. Taking full advantage of the WDC system, we were able to begin our study on the basis of their valuable data. I was most impressed with the following results: (i) We found significant geomagnetic changes due to high-altitude nuclear explosions over Johnston Island in May 1958. (ii) We precisely described a quantitative relation between solar radio emissions and magnetic storms during the IGY and IGC. (iii) We could resolve the geomagnetic Sq and L fields by spherical harmonic analysis of IGY data. After the IGY, the CSAGI was dissolved in 1959. However, the operations of the WDCs were maintained by ICSU on a continuing basis to other international programs. The WDCs were under the supervision of the Comite International de Geophysique (CIG) from 1960 through 1967, and are currently supervised by the ICSU Panel on World Data Centers. I served as Bureau member of the Panel as a representative of WDC-C at first and followed by that of IUGG until 1985.

A workshop for the coordination of IHY and IPY activities in South Africa was held in Somerset West near Cape Town from 25 to 27 October 2007. The main aim of the workshop was to explore regional collaboration in polar, geospace and heliospheric research. Workshop themes were Heliospheric Physics, Geospace Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Oceanography, Biological Sciences and Social Sciences. General themes were Data Acquisition, Education and Outreach.

Dr. Barbara Thompson participated on behalf of the IHY Secretariat. Dr. A. Babatunde Rabiu, the IHY coordinator for Nigeria also attended. Several scientists from the rest of Africa were invited. Resolutions were accepted that will be submitted to the SA National IPY & IHY Committee.

An outcome of the workshop was that Dr. Geoffrey Munyeme of the Department of Physics at the University of Zambia in Lusaka was nominated at IHY Coordinator for Zambia.

Marius Potgieter
IHY Coordinator for South Africa and Africa Regional Coordinator
fskmsp@puk.ac.za

An international conference "Challenges for Solar Cycle-24" to celebrate 60 years of India's Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) will be held at Ahmedabad, India, 22-25 January 2007.

The workshop will cover a wide range of subjects within the ambit of IHY and will include space-Weather, CAWSES and Sun-Earth connection. `

You are invited to visit: http://www.prl.res.in/~djubconf and follow the appropriate links to submit a paper to this diamond jubilee conference.

Rajmal Jain
Physical Research Laboratories (PRL)
Ahmedabad, India

A prototype mobile exhibition for IHY is being developed at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune India. This prototype will be available during the UN/NASA Workshop on The International Heliophysical Year and Basic Space Science at Bangalore during Nov. 27 - Dec 1, 2006.

An initiative was taken by scientists at IUCAA for installation of Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs) at IUCAA as a part of Vigyan Prasar's participation in Edusat - a dedicated Indian satellite for education. It is expected that in about two months time the IUCAA station would participate in the Edusat programmes.

A two/three-day workshop on Solar Physics is being proposed at IUCAA for school teachers and science educators during April/May 07. The proceedings of the workshop can transmitted live to about 50 locations in India, and about 5 of those locations would be invited for live participation. The workshop will cover basic aspects of solar physics and demonstrations of experiments. A question/answer sessions will follow, from different SITs.

Arvind Paranjpye and Venkateswaran
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
Pune 411 007 - India
arp@iucaa.ernet.in

The starting date of the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) has been set to February 19, 2007. The IHY kickoff will include an IHY poster exhibit and a brief opening ceremony in the rotunda of the Vienna International Center (United Nations) on February 19, 2007. The IHY regional coordinators, Steering Committee members, and Advisory Committee members will participate in the IHY kick-off event. Following the ceremony, the United States will host a reception in the vicinity of the exhibits. The Opening Ceremony will be followed on February 20, 2007 by a 1-day conference to discuss plans, coordination, and upcoming events for the IHY at the Academy of Sciences in Vienna. All are welcome to attend the ceremony, reception, and conference. But we do need to have the head count before hand, so please register by December 31, 2006 at the kickoff page: http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/IHY/kickOFF/pages/registration.html

The poster exhibit, to include a computer monitor displaying an animated presentation of IHY science, goals and objectives, will be assembled in the rotunda commencing Wednesday, February 14. Posters from all national committees and supporting organizations are encouraged for this event. Poster format is available at http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/IHY/kickOFF/pages/posters.html.

Venue for the 1-day conference:
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Theatersaal (2nd floor)
Sonnenfelsgasse 19
1010 Vienna

See http://www.hot-maps.de/europe/austria/vienna/homeen.html for details on the location. The Sonnenfelsgasse 19 is located close to the Dr. Ignaz-Seipel Platz (just a couple of minutes walking distance from the St. Stephan's Cathedral)

Hotel reservation:

50 rooms gave been blocked in Hotel WANDL with a special rate:
Single bedroom with WC/shower EUR 80,- (20 rooms)
Double bedroom with WC/shower (used by one person) EUR 100,- (30 rooms).
This hotel is close to the conference venue (less than 10 min by walk).

Please refer to reservation number "55603" or "IHY2007" in order to claim reduced rates! This offer is open until January 18, 2007, on the basis of first come, first serve.

Reservations can be done
by web site http://www.hotel-wandl.com/
by telephone: +43-1-534-55-0
by fax: +43-1-534-55-77

Other hotel rooms available under:
http://info.wien.at/
http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Vienna.htm

Visa:
If you need a Visa for entering Austria, a letter of invitation can be sent by the IHY Austrian representative:
Univ.-Prof. Mag.Dr. Helmut O. Rucker
Research Director, Department Head
Space Research Institute
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Schmiedlstrasse 6
A - 8042 Graz
Voice: +43-316-4120-601 (secretary -602)
Fax: +43-316-4120-690
Email: rucker@oeaw.ac.at

Contributed by Nat Gopalswamy, NASA/GSFC

CALLISTO (Compact Astronomical Low-frequency, Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy in Transportable Observatories) is a frequency-agile spectrometer that is easily transportable and hence can be used in many locations around the globe. Deployment at different longitudes will help observing the Sun 24 hours per day, thus capturing solar events that affect the heliosphere. The total frequency range is from 45 to 870 MHz, which is optimal for detecting the earliest stages of solar eruptions. The timing of CALLISTO is controlled by a GPS clock. Thus the relative timing is accurate to within less than one millisecond.

CALLISTO has been installed in Ooty, India. It has successfully captured a first light event of solar radio flare on 2006 November 14.

CALLISTO has been shipped to Costa Rica. Hosts: Jorge Paez and Marco Barrantes (university of Costa Rica)

CALLISTO soon to be installed in Mexico. Host: Alejandro Lara (UNAM).

CALLISTO is being delivered to Russia (Irkutsk). All the other set up has been completed by Aug 25, 2006. Thanks to Hans Haubold for helping clear political huddles.

This project utilizes the advanced web communication available today (e-CALLISTO). All the data can be pooled together from Zurich by software. By IHY kickoff in February 2007, we should be able to create 24/7 dynamic spectrum of the Sun. IHY thanks Professor Arnold Benz and Dr. Christian Monstein for a superb job!

Nat Gopalswamy
NASA/GSFC

The IHY Asia/Pacific Planning Meeting was held in Beijing during October 10-12, 2006 hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Space Weather and Chinese Meridian Project Management Office, with the sponsorship from the Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the China National Space Administration. Representatives from IHY headquarters, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, and USA participated in the meeting. Representatives from Canada and Mongolia submitted their reports to the meeting.

The following points were agreed upon by the participants.

1. The multilateral activities to be promoted include:

a) Interplanetary Scintillation (IPS) network to study the propagation of geoeffective solar disturbances.

b) Asia-Pacific H-alpha network to study the early life of solar eruptions.

c) Possible collaboration with CALLISTO to monitor shock waves near the Sun.

d) Data Center for Solar and geospace data to promote world-wide. collaboration.

e) Magnetometer Data Acquisition System (MAGDAS) to study the geospace impact of solar disturbances.

f) Particle Detector network to study cosmic ray modulation by magnetic structures in the heliosphere.

2. International Meridian Circle Project is an important IHY activity in the Asia-Pacific region and all countries in the region will strive to participate in the project.

3. A committee has been established to promote cooperative modelling of the Sun-Heliosphere system. Developing a framework for data-driven integrated simulation models for the study of the essential physics involved in the initiation and propagation of solar disturbances from the Sun to Earth and beyond to the edge of the heliosphere.

4. The IHY school in the Asia/Pacific region will be held in 2007 and possibly in 2008. The exact location and date will be decided in consultation with the potential host countries such as Malaysia, China, and India.

5. The official website of the Asia-Pacific regional IHY will be maintained in China. The web site URL is www.AP-IHY.org.

Nat Gopalswamy and Chi Wang

Nat Gopalswamy
Solar System Exploration, Code 695
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
ph:1-301-286-5885

In the frames of the DIAS Project (European Digital Upper Atmosphere Server, http://www.iono.noa.gr/DIAS), funded by the European sCommission Programme eContent, we have developed the DIAS system, which has been fully operational since August 2006. DIAS system has as primary objective to cover the needs of the market for reliable information on the current conditions of the ionosphere over Europe and for accurate nowcasting and forecasting information in long-term and short-term time scales.

The design and development of the DIAS added-value products were based on a comprehensive set of ionospheric models. These are used in conjunction with the ionospheric data sets derived from the contributing ionosondes.

Currently, nine stations participate in the DIAS Network, covering most of the European area. The stations are located in Athens (Greece), Juliusruh (Germany), Rome (Italy), Chilton (United Kingdom), Ebre (Spain), Lycksele (Sweden), Warsaw (Poland), Pruhonice (Czech Republic) and El Arenonsillo (Spain).

The DIAS products available to specify the current and near future conditions of the ionosphere over Europe include: Real-time ionograms from the contributing DIAS stations in a common format Daily values and plots of scaled ionospheric parameters, e.g. the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2), the lowest frequency reflected by the ionosphere which appears on the ionogram (fmin), the ratio of the maximum reflected frequency from the F2 layer over a 3000km range to the critical frequency of the layer (M(3000)F2), etc. Profiles of electron density versus height over each contributing DIAS station Regional maps showing the variation of relevant ionospheric parameters over the European area (i.e. maps of foF2, M3000F2, Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and electron density (Ne) at various specified heights) Daily plots of the Effective Sunspot Number, Reff, which give estimates of the best fit between the Simplified Ionospheric Regional Model (SIRM) and the foF2 measurements from the DIAS sounder grid. Point to point calculation of the MUF for user-defined coordinates Activity Index for foF2 providing an alert for current ionospheric disturbances. The products available in the Short-term Forecasts category include: Short-term ionospheric forecasts of the critical parameter foF2 for periods of one to 24 hours ahead over each DIAS station location, calculated with TSAR and GCAM models Maps of the European region of the forecasted foF2 for periods of one to 24 hours ahead Forecasted Ionospheric Activity Indices (AI) in each DIAS station location which provides warnings for forthcoming disturbances.

The products available in the Long term Predictions category include: Long-term ionospheric predictions (maps for the European area of foF2, M3000F2, and MUF) for the next 3 months DIAS system provides the data, products and services listed above in 15 min time resolution, via http or email, and are available at the address http://dias.space.noa.gr. Your login credentials are active as soon as you fill in the registration form. We will be more than happy if you consider DIAS data, products and services useful for your applications and we remain at your disposal for any possible clarifications and queries that you might have. DIAS system s Demo and Manual are available on request at the address of DIAS coordinator Dr Anna Belehaki (belehaki@space.noa.gr)

Lucilla Alfonsi
Upper Atmosphere Physics
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia(INGV)
Via di Vigna Murata, 605
00143 Rome (Italy)
Tel.: +39 06 51860524

Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto, lead organizer of IHY-Japan, and the Space Environment Research Center (SERC) of Kyushu University announce the IHY Photo Contest! Photos taken from 1 Jan - 31 Dec 2007 are eligible for a $100 USD grand prize! Details coming soon, at http://www.ihy2007.org/newsroom/newsroom.shtml

This project takes advantage of the synergy offered by IPY of combining infrastructure in Svalbard and Norway with the new ICESTAR Virtual Data Port. The objective is to provide answer to crucial scientific questions concerning global aspects of the dynamics of the upper polar atmosphere. Since many of these aspects involve phenomena with correlated dynamics in the two hemispheres the joint effort belongs naturally to the IPY-endorsed ICESTAR/IHY program. Issues to be solved are the interhemispherical conjugacy effects in timing and location of substorm onset, theta aurora, reconnection rates, ion-outflow, conductance characteristics, and middle atmospheric chemistry.

This is a joint proposal from the Norwegian participants in the ICESTAR/IHY-program. It is an integrated part of the international ICESTAR program and will take full advantage of the ICESTAR Virtual Data Port, which will make data available from a large ground based network covering the northern and southern hemispheres. The effort of this proposal will contribute to the ICESTAR/IHY- program by making continuous measurements by the EISCAT radar on Svalbard and on-demand observations from the EISCAT radar at Ramfjordmoen. Through inter-hemispherical studies the main science goals are to assess the relative role of the various constituents of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system for the formation of geomagnetic disturbances, and how these interact with the polar upper and middle atmosphere. The timing and location of substorm onsets in the two hemispheres will be determined. Conjugacy of theta aurora and magnetic reconnection rates will be studied to clarify the structure of the closed magnetosphere and the energy/mass exchange with the solar wind. Knowledge about the coupling between magnetosphere and ionosphere will be derived from observation of ion outflow, conductance, convection patterns, polar cap potentials and field aligned currents in the two hemispheres. Impact by energetic particle precipitation (EPP) on the minor constituents of the middle atmosphere will be assessed by use of satellite and ground-based observations to further develop models of the EPP-induced chemical changes. Finally, the proposal has an ambitious public outreach element which aims at creating a stronger relation between the scientific and communication community.

Podcasts are vital tools that expose your science to the public!

If you have exciting video of the IHY Science events that is appropriate for a podcast by NASA, please visit the web-pages at http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2007/multimedia/podcasts.php#inst for details, instructions and appropriateness of your science for such podcasts. Also visit the Space Weather Action Center site at http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/swac/

Contact Carolyn Ng (carolyn.ng@gsfc.nasa.gov) for further details.

December 11-15, 2006 Fall 2006 American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting San Francisco CA, USA

Special Sessions:
ED23A and ED52A: I*Y: Education and Outreach Activities Supporting IGY+50
ED54A: Perspectives on Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Communication in Science Education and Public Outreach
U32B: IGY+50: History, Significance, and Context
IN13B: Exemplifying Electronic Geophysical Year Principles: eGY Showcase Projects Posters
SM34A: Van Allen Lecture: From the IGY to the IHY: A Changing View of the Van Allen Radiation Belts
SH21A and SH 24A: Heliophysical and Geophysical Manifestations of the Solar Cycle

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