The Pennsylvania State University 

Meteo 465 / EE 472 /AERSP 492

SPACE WEATHER[1]

Spring 2019    9:05-10:20 TR

129 Waring 

Topics: This course will address the phenomenon of Space Weather, using a top to bottom system approach (sun/space/magnetosphere/ionosphere/atmosphere/earth/tech/people).  Your introduction to space physics will progress from a basic science pursuit to one with practical/operational implications (e.g., direct electromagnetic impacts on society (including coupling to the lower atmosphere), operational space and satellite drag issues, GPS scintillation, communication impacts, near space, etc.). The course will conclude by discussing the emergence of Space Weather as a predictive science. 

Instructor[2]:    
Tim Kane, 213 EEE, 3-8727, [email protected]
Office Hours:  Tues. 1:30-2:30 PM, Thurs. 11-12 AM 

Prerequisites: Background in electromagnetics, atmospheric science, etc.  (or consent of instructor).

Text:                
“An Introduction to Space Weather” by M. Moldwin, 2008.  (PSU e-book; short term)                        (https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/an-introduction-to-space-weather/C04A47418C2CC368B2AD001385987A7A) 

Supplemental Texts:
“The Sun, the Earth, and Near-Earth Space: A Guide to the Sun-Earth System” by J. Eddy, 2009.
(http://ilwsonline.org/ilws_publications.htm)

“Space Weather- Physics and Effects” by Bothmer and Daglis, 2007. (PSU e-book)

“Understanding Space Weather and the Physics Behind it” by D. Knipp, 2011. (this one is good for more expansive reading; available for perusal at office hours J) 

Additional Reading:

“Space Weather and Coronal Mass Ejections” by T. Howard, 2014. (http://link.springer.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/book/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-7975-8)

“Ionospheric space weather: longitude and hemispheric dependences and their solar, geomagnetic and lower atmosphere connections by Fuller-Rowell, 2017.  (PSU e-book)

“Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act: report of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on S. 141”, 2017.

 “The Effects of Solar Variability on Earth's Climate: A Workshop Report”, NRC, 2012.                              (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13519)

“Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society” , NRC, 2013
(http://www.nap.edu/catalog/13060/solar-and-space-physics-a-science-for-a-technological-society)

“Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts Workshop Report”, NAS 2008. (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12507)

“Machine learning techniques for space weather” by Camporeale et al 2018. (PSU e-book) and tons of other books on orbital mechanics, plasma physics, biology, tech, economics, etc. etc. etc. and other Class Handouts, Journal Articles, etc! (check the CANVAS site!)  

Course Requirements and Grading Policy:

Homework 60% Homework is given weekly and is considered an important part of the class.  Students are encouraged to work together on the problems, though each student is responsible for handing in an individual homework.

Quizzes (1 in-class and 1 final at 15% each): 30% The purpose of the exams is to test the individual student’s progress in the class.

Class participation: Including active discussions, etc. 

[1] Syllabus as of 11 January 2019.

[2]and guests ?!

Date / Lectures / Reading / Stuff

[1] as of 1/11/2019; subject to change … oh, and most definitely not all inclusive!

[2] M: Moldwin,  E: Eddy,  B&D: Bothmer and Daglis,  K: Knipp … but really, read the other stuff too!

Academic Integrity

The University defines academic integrity as the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. All students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts (refer to Senate Policy 49-20. Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Students who are found to be dishonest will receive academic sanctions and will be reported to the University's Office of Student Conduct for possible further disciplinary sanctions (refer to Senate Policy G-9). 

Accessibility

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources Web site provides contact information for every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources Web site: http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

Students who experience personal issues that interfere with their academic performance, social development or satisfaction at Penn State are encouraged to seek confidential assistance from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/). They can be reached at (814) 863-0395. Some of the more common concerns they can help with include anxiety, depression, difficulties in relationships (friends, roommates, or family); sexual identity; lack of motivation or difficulty relaxing, concentrating or studying; eating disorders; sexual assault and sexual abuse recovery; and uncertainties about personal values and beliefs. Crisis intervention is available from Centre County CAN HELP (http://centrecountypa.gov/index.aspx?NID=593) at 1-800-643-5432, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Attendance Policy

Class attendance is one of the most important ways students learn and understand course materials. It is a critical element of student success. Class attendance recognizes on exceptional occasions, students may miss a class meeting to participate in a regularly scheduled university-approved curricular or extracurricular activity (such as Martin Luther King’s Day of Service, field trips, debate trips, choir trips, and athletic contests), or due to unavoidable or other legitimate circumstances such as illness, injury, military service, family emergency, religious observance or post-graduate, career-related interviews when there is no opportunity for students to re-schedule these opportunities (such as employment and graduate school final interviews.) 

In all cases, students should inform the instructor in advance, where possible, and discuss the implications of any absence. Missing class, even for a legitimate purpose, may mean there is work that cannot be made up, hurting the student’s grade in the class. Likewise, students should be prepared to provide documentation for participation in University-approved activities, as well as for career-related interviews, when requested by the instructor. Students who will miss a class in accordance with Senate Policy 42-27, should present a class absence form (http://www.psu.edu/oue/aappm/classabs.pdf ).