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IAGA/ URSI JOINT WORKING GROUP on:

V . E . R . S . I . M

VLF/ELF Remote Sensing of Ionospheres and Magnetospheres

The working group on VLF/ELF Remote Sensing of the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere (VERSIM) is an international group of scientists interested in studying the behaviour of the magnetosphere and ionosphere by means of ELF (300 Hz - 3 kHz) and VLF (3-30 kHz) radio waves, both naturally and artificially generated. The group was set up in 1975 by IAGA (International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy) and URSI (International Union of Radio Science), as described in the working group history. Originally the emphasis was on probing of the magnetosphere by whistlers, but later the scope became somewhat broader. The group aims to promote research in this field by facilitating the exchange of ideas, information and experience between active research workers and other interested scientists. This is done through regular meetings at IAGA and URSI Assemblies, a regular VERSIM community workshop, and via the circulation of a newsletter. The group has also been active in sponsoring scientific symposia at IAGA and URSI Assemblies, in areas relevant to its field of interest, and in coordinating observational campaigns. At present the main subjects of interest include Plasma structures and boundaries - morphology and dynamics, Wave-particle and wave-wave interactions, Wave-induced particle precipitation, Wave propagation in magnetosphere and ionosphere, Sprites and the effects of lightning on the ionosphere. There are currently over 100 scientists from about 26 different countries on the VERSIM mailing list.

Some VERSIM Research Laboratories

(Please notify any additions/corrections to C. J. Rodger.)
 
 

VLF Data on the Web

Forthcoming meetings

 

URSI, Chicago, 2008

The 29th General Assembly of URSI was held in Chicago, USA 7-16 August 2008. During the General Assembly there was a meeting of the VERSIM working group during the Assembly, on Tuesday 12 August 2008. A report on this meeting is available here. The next gathering is to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in August 2011.

IAGA Sopron, 2009

The IAGA General Assembly was held in Sopron, Hungary from 23-30 August 2009. There was a VERSIM business meeting at 1200 on Tuesday 25 August 2009 during this conference. A report on this meeting can be found from our website. The next IAGA meeting will be part of the IUGG conference to be held in Melbourne, Australia from 28 June-7 July 2011.

 

3rd VERSIM Workshop, Tihany, 2008

The 3rd VERSIM Workshop 2006 took place in September 2008 at Tihany (Hungary), sponsored by Eötvös University and supported by IAGA and URSI. This was a chance for the VERSIM IAGA/URSI joint working group to meet and discuss current issues, developments, and techniques. The final abstract listing is online. The workshop attracted slightly more than 50 participants from 15 countries, ranging from India and Serbia all the way to Brazil and the USA, and included 61 presentations. A full report on the 3rd workshop is available, and has been submitted for publication in the URSI Radio Science Bulletin, and the IAGA newsletter. Some idea of the success of this session can be found on the Photos page of the 3rd VERSIM Workshop 2008.

During the 3rd VERSIM Workshop there was a VERSIM business meeting on the last formal day (Friday 19 September 2008). The minutes of this meeting are available. During the business meeting it was greed by all those present that a further VERSIM meeting would be valuable. The community also agreed that it is best, where possible, to avoid years when IAGA or URSI are meeting, and thus 2010 would be the next sensible year for a VERSIM workshop. On the basis of discussions which took place during the 3rd workshop, our colleagues from the Czech Republic have offered to host the next workshop in Prague in 2010. More details will follow.

 

VERSIM bibliography

Please send any additions or corrections to   Michel Parrot
 

Obituaries

Previous editions of this page

VERSIM Newsletters

The VERSIM Newsletter (and its predecessor, the PEPM Newsletter) has been published about 1-2 times per year. Newsletters up to No. 13 were distributed on paper. From No. 14 onwards they will be distributed electronically, either via the VERSIM electronic mailing list or through this web page. Here is an archive of past VERSIM Newsletters:

Further information

Contact one of the VERSIM working group co-chairmen:
        IAGA Co-chairman C. J. Rodger; email crodger@physics.otago.ac.nz
        URSI Co-chairman J. Lichtenberger; email spacerg@sas.elte.hu

This document is maintained by C .J. Rodger and was last updated 2 September 2009.

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