Geodynamics Science Highlight
NASA GSFC Geodynamics 921

SCIENCE HIGHLIGHT

Geodynamics Branch, Code 921

September/October 2004

Geodynamics Personnel Sought for Review, Committee Positions - 2

Purucker asked to Help in Five-Year Review of USGS Geodynamics Program

Geodynamics personnel have always been active in professional community service, in positions ranging from journal editorships to session convenors and chairmen for major scientific meetings. Recently two members of the Branch were asked to serve on committees evaluating the long range planning of two very different programs.

picture of Mike Purucker Mike Purucker (Raytheon ITSS) is one of three Goddard Co-Investigators originally invited to join the SWARM science Team. SWARM was recently selected by ESA as its number 1 science mission (see May 2004 Science Highlights). Purucker also served on the original Mission Advisory Group for this magnetic field constellation mission. He along with Terry Sabaka (also from Raytheon ITSS) and Gauthier Hulot (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris) were involved in mission simulation studies that verified the scenarios by which the mission objectives could be met, and which went a very long way towards getting the mission approve. Both Purucker and Sabaka are on the current Phase B Mission Advisory Group doing advance simulations.

SWARM image The SWARM concept consists of a constellation of three satellites in two different polar orbits between 400 and 550 km altitude. Each satellite will make high-precision and high-resolution measurements of the Earth's magnetic field. Together they provide observations of the geomagnetic field needed to model its various sources.

US Department of the Interior - United States Geological Survey

USGS banner

five year plan 2004-2008 Purucker has been asked by Jeff Love, head of the Geomagnetism Program within the United States Geological Survey, to be part of an external review panel for that program. This is part of a regular review process which the USGS undertakes of its 5-year program plans, but includes a review of current as well as future activities. A major part of the USGS program is the operation and maintenance of geomagnetic observatories, which provide part of the long-term record of geomagnetic field variations at the surface of the Earth. According to Love, the review is also intended to help build professional working relationships between the USGS Program and programs represented by the review panel, which includes Robert McPherron (UCLA), Howard Singer (NOAA, Boulder), and Gary Egbert (Oregon State University), in addition to Purucker. Most of the review will be done electronically, but a site visit of the USGS facility in Golden, CO is planned for January 2005.

Contacts: Mike Purucker, GSFC, Code 921, purucker@geomag.gsfc.nasa.gov

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Responsible NASA official: Dr. Herbert Frey

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Last modified on November 10, 2004