CEDAR email: Post-doctoral fellowship for geomagnetically induced current effects (USGS)

[Love, Jeffrey]

Please post to CEDAR, SPA, and GEM email announcements:

I'd like to draw your attention to a  Mendenhall post-doctoral opportunity
at the USGS. Developing regional to national 3D conductivity models from MT
data is an important component of this work.

More information about this opportunity can be found at:

http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/2014/14-28%20Gannon.htm

General information on the Mendenhall post-doctoral program can be found at:

http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/research.html

Applications will be accepted through *Sep 20, 2013* and include a research
proposal to be developed in coordination with the research advisors.
 Interested applicants having received their PhD within the last 5 years
are encouraged to apply.

*Weathering the storm: The ground-level response to geomagnetic disturbance
- GICs and critical infrastructure*
*
*
We seek a postdoctoral fellow with strong quantitative skills to advance
USGS research related to Geomagnetically Induced Currects (GIC).The goal of
this project is to extend and improve existing electric field models for
GIC applications using this data, as well as pursue relevant scientific
questions on the nature and statistics of electric fields induced by
geomagnetic disturbances such as magnetic storms and substorms.

Direct measurement of electric fields for GIC studies is difficult due to
the wide range of geological structure and variable nature of the induced
fields over areas of interest. However, local or regional estimates are
critical to providing accurate hazard assessments to end users who may be
affected by ground-level electric field variation (for example, power
utilities).

The following data are available and may help in the pursuit of research
under this Opportunity:

--Directly-measured GIC values from SUNBURST network monitors
--Directly-measured GIC values from interested power grid operators (e.g.,
Dominion Power in the Virginia/East Coast region)
--Electric field values calculated from system models based on the SUNBURST
GIC data;
3-D crustal-scale conductivity structure for the northwestern U.S., derived
from EarthScope USArray magnetotelluric data.
--Long-term historical and real-time preliminary magnetic field data from
USGS magnetic observatories
--Local magnetic field information from variometer and academic
magnetometer arrays across the United States.

Electric field estimates are typically calculated in the frequency domain
using surface impedance estimates, derived from local ground conductivity
models, and the spectral characteristics of the magnetic field driver. Some
of the uncertainties and scientific topics the successful applicant may
choose to pursue might include:

--How accurate is a local estimate of the magnetic field based on
observatory inputs; how important are spatial variations in the magnetic
field to GIC calculations?
--How well do interpolation methods work for magnetic field inputs to
electric field calculations?
--Are the existing one-dimensional conductivity models sufficient? Where
are more advanced models needed?
--How significant are coastal and other transverse variations in
conductivity to GIC calculations?
--What are the possible electric field values and GIC impacts of extreme
geomagnetic events?

*Research Advisors:*
Jeffrey Love, +1 303 273 8540, jlove at usgs.gov.
Paul Bedrosian, +1 303 236 4834, pbedrosian at usgs
Jennifer Gannon, +1 303 666 6738, gannonjl at gmail.com
Andrei Swidinsky (Colorado School of Mines), +1 303 273 3934,
aswidins at mines.edu

-- 
Jeffrey J. Love

USGS Advisor for Geomagnetic Research

303-273-8540

jlove at usgs.gov
profile.usgs.gov/jlove
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