Engebretson awarded NSF Grant for magnetospheric and ionospheric research

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Mark Engebretson, Professor Emeritus of Physics, has received a three year grant totaling $512,043 from the National Science Foundation to continue operation of the Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies (MACCS) network as well as analyze and disseminate its data. MACCS is a longitudinal array of high latitude magnetometers, instruments used for measuring the earth’s magnetism, covering the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Each MACCS site transmits data in near-real time, providing critical data for studies of various geospace phenomena, including solar wind-magnetosphere and magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions, the dynamics of the high latitude polar cap regions of the magnetosphere, and geomagnetic storms and substorms.

Engebretson and his team (Jennifer Posch, Laura Simms, Slava Pilipenko, and Erik Steinmetz) will conduct detailed studies of high-latitude ultra-low frequency waves using both ground-based and satellite data during magnetic storms. They will also explore the physical mechanisms involved in the excitation and propagation of ultra-low frequency waves through the magnetosphere-ionosphere system.

Up to six undergraduate students will have the opportunity to conduct research alongside Engebretson.       

***This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.1651263. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.***