A&G Highlights Meeting Programme
14th February 2025
16:00 Prof Mike Lockwood (President)
Welcome and Announcements
16:05 Dr Chris Smith (Huddersfield New College)
Searching for Saturn's periodicities in the upper atmosphere
Saturn's planetary period oscillations (PPOs) are ~10.7h periodic signals detectable in numerous phenomena linked to the magnetosphere, including magnetic field perturbations, radio emissions and the aurora. They exhibit various puzzling characteristics, in particular distinct northern and southern periodicities that vary on a timescale of months and were observed to "lock together" for a period of about 1 year in 2013-14.
This talk will summarise my attempts, over the last 20 years, to develop a plausible model of how these phenomena could arise from the physics of the planet's upper atmosphere. The task is challenging because the atmosphere and magnetosphere are complex systems, each governed by very different physics, and their coupling appears to be key to explaining aspects of the observations. I will describe the successes of my model, its relationship to the current observational evidence, and the significant questions that remain to be addressed.
Chris Smith graduated with an MSci from Cambridge University in 2002 and went on to complete a PhD in atmospheric modelling at UCL in 2006. I then trained to be a secondary science teacher at Newcastle University and from 2007 to 2022 worked in 11-18 schools in the North of England. I currently teach Physics and Maths A-levels at Huddersfield New College in West Yorkshire.
16:35 Prof Leah Morabito (Durham University)
The highest resolution at the lowest frequencies: sub-arcsecond imaging with LOFAR
The LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) is a radio interferometer with antennas in nine European countries. Its geographic spread of almost 2,000km provides a large effective 'lens'. With this, we can make images with exquisite resolution at low radio frequencies. We do this by combining the signals from all these distant antennas, which is technically and logistically challenging. Over the past decade we have developed special calibration techniques for high resolution imaging with LOFAR. These new techniques are now used for a wide variety of science cases which would not otherwise be possible. We have now extended these techniques to image large areas of the sky, which provides a unique combination of resolution and field of view. In this talk I will provide a general introduction to LOFAR, and an overview of the challenges in making high resolution images. I will walk through how we overcome these challenges and show examples of what makes high resolution imaging with LOFAR so unique in the scientific landscape, and how it will provide capabilities beyond those of the upcoming Square Kilometre Array. I will highlight LOFAR's unique capabilities using examples from our breakthrough successes and recent science results.
Leah Morabito is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at Durham University. Her work focuses on studying radio AGN using sub-arcsecond imaging with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR). Originally from the US, Leah won a military scholarship to fund her undergraduate studies and then spent 6 years in the US Air Force as an Air Battle Manager. During this time, she was an MSc student at the University of Oklahoma, where she worked on the other end of the electromagnetic spectru, with X-ray observations of quasars. After leaving the military, Leah went to Leiden University in the Netherlands for her PhD in radio astronomy. Leah was then a Hintze Fellow at Oxford University and is now a professor at Durham.
17:05 The James Dungey Lecture: Dr Gabby Provan (University of Leicester)
The Northern Lights on Earth and Other Planets
The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, rank among nature’s most awe-inspiring light displays. For centuries, they have captivated those fortunate enough to witness them, inspiring myths, legends, and scientific curiosity. Despite their enigmatic beauty, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that scientists began unravelling the complex mechanisms behind these luminous phenomena.
We will begin by examining Earth’s aurorae in detail, showcasing stunning images and dynamic visualizations to illustrate their behaviour and variability. The talk will explore the underlying processes that produce these dazzling lights, from the acceleration of charged particles in Earth’s magnetosphere to their energetic collisions with atmospheric gases. We will discuss how energy is transferred from the Sun to the Earth’s system during auroral displays and the possible effect of this space weather on Earth
The lecture will then extend beyond Earth, exploring auroral displays observed on other planets within our solar system. We will consider the vivid ultraviolet aurorae of Jupiter, driven by the interplay of the planet’s immense magnetic field and its volcanically active moon Io, as well as Saturn’s auroral emission, and its temporal variability. We will also discuss the more enigmatic aurorae observed on Uranus and Neptune.
Throughout the lecture we will focus on using aurorae as diagnostic tools for understanding planetary magnetic fields, the properties of stellar winds, and the interactions between stars and planets. By studying aurorae on other planets, we gain critical insights into the habitability of exoplanets and the potential for magnetic fields to shield atmospheres from stellar radiation.
I am a Senior Research Associate at the University of Leicester, where I have been engaged in planetary and space physics research for over two decades. My academic journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Astrophysics, graduating in 1993. I then pursued a PhD, focusing on the transfer of energy from the solar wind to the Earth’s magnetosphere. My doctoral research utilized magnetometers and ionospheric radar observations to investigate these dynamic processes. During my PhD, I was part of a six-person team that built a SuperDARN auroral radar in Iceland, a project central to my studies. This experience provided invaluable hands-on involvement in constructing and utilizing instruments for space weather research.
Since completing my PhD, my work has centred on studying planetary auroras and magnetospheres at Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter. A significant part of my research involves analyzing data from the Cassini spacecraft (Saturn) and the Juno spacecraft (Jupiter). My primary focus has been the field-aligned current systems that connect planetary ionospheres to their magnetospheres, driving auroral activity. I have studied these current systems through their signatures in the planetary magnetic field, focussing extensively on how these current systems are modulated by planetary-period oscillations at Saturn, as well as the planetary magnetodisc at Jupiter.
In addition to my research, I am deeply committed to improving the working conditions of university staff. As the Leicester UCU Casework Coordinator, my goal is to support colleagues and foster a positive and productive work environment. I also serve as a member of the University of Leicester Senate and Council, contributing to institutional governance and upholding academic standards.
17:55 Prof Mike Lockwood (President)
Closing Remarks
Drinks RAS, Burlington House