CEDAR email: Buonsanto Memorial Lecture - November 25, 2025, 3pm ET

[Larisa Goncharenko]

Dear colleagues,
 
On behalf of MIT Haystack Observatory, we are pleased to announce the 24th annual Michael J. Buonsanto Memorial Lecture.

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Lecture: “Above the Clouds, Below the Stars: Chasing Ionospheric Storms”

Speaker: Anthea Coster of MIT Haystack Observatory.

Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET (Eastern time)

Abstract:
Michael Buonsanto was an early leader in ionospheric storm studies. He possessed a remarkable talent for synthesizing scientific insights from a diverse array of measurements and instruments. His work rested on three key pillars: scientific collaboration, innovative analysis techniques, and the integration of observations with modeling and theory. He organized numerous community workshops on this topic and published a seminal paper, “Ionospheric Storms, A Review” (Buonsanto 1999). Michael’s pioneering research was instrumental in identifying large mid-latitude electron density gradients associated with ionospheric storms—a precursor to the significant recognition of the space weather impacts associated with ionospheric storms that occurred when the FAA’s WAAS system became operational in 2003. 

This lecture by Anthea Coster will explore the remarkable progress made over the past 25 years in understanding ionospheric storms, driven by advances in instrumentation, measurement methodologies, and ionospheric modeling. It will highlight the growing importance of space weather research and offer a reflective overview of developments in radio remote sensing instrumentation and data analysis techniques, emphasizing the enduring influence of Michael’s contributions. Finally, the lecture will look ahead to the opportunities and challenges that await the next generation of space weather research.

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For more information on this year’s lecture, including an abstract and speaker bio, please see 

https://www.haystack.mit.edu/buonsanto

The 2025 Buonsanto Lecture will be held both in person and online via Zoom. 
The zoom link for online attendees is: https://mit.zoom.us/s/94190985207.
Please RSVP to griffisn at mit.edu if you plan to attend the lecture in-person at Haystack.


About the Buonsanto lecture series:

Dr. Michael J. Buonsanto (1952–1999) was a key member of the Atmospheric Sciences Group at MIT Haystack Observatory from January 1988 until his sudden and untimely death on 21 October 1999. As an MIT Principal Research Scientist, he made many important scientific contributions to studies of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, and was an outstanding and cherished colleague, mentor, and friend. In his honor, MIT Haystack Observatory has established an annual memorial lecture on space science topics at the forefront of the atmospheric science research field.

We hope to see you at Haystack or online!

Best regards,
Larisa

Larisa Goncharenko, PhD
Fellow, American Geophysical Union
Assistant Director & Research Scientist
MIT Haystack Observatory
lpg at mit.edu
617-715-5622