Posted through the URSI-Commission-G Mailing List: IES2008 Information

Wed Mar 12 04:25:07 EST 2008

Dear Commission-G
      Please place the following information on your mailing list regarding IES2008, May 13-15, 2008, in Alexandria VA. The preliminary schedule may be inspected by visiting the IES web site: htrtp://www.ies2008.com. 
John Goodman
Chairman, IES2008

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12th INTERNATIONAL IONOSPHERIC EFFECTS SYMPOSIUM 
IES2008
"Bridging the gap between applications and research involving ionospheric & space weather disciplines"
- A triennial symposium inaugurated in 1975 -

Date of Symposium: May 13-15, 2008
CALL FOR POSTERS NOW ACTIVE
Abstracts for POSTERS are solicited:
http://www.ies2008.com
http://ies2008.com/abstract_form.htm
http://ies2008.com/registration_form.htm
SPONSORS
	Office of Naval Research
	Air Force Office of Scientific Research
	URSI (Commissions G & H)

Abstract Deadline for Poster Presentations          April 15, 2008
Paper Deadline (for oral presentations)                April 01, 2008   
Conditional Deadline for Papers (See Note-1)     April 15, 2008
Early Registration Deadline                                      April 01, 2008
Crown Plaza Hotel Group Rate Reservation Deadline:   April 19, 2008

Note-1: Under some circumstances, we can accept the final papers as late as 15 April, but we encourage early submission (i.e., by 1 April). This helps us greatly.  Please notify us by email if you need the extension until 15 April. See the web site for details on how to prepare the paper (PDF primary, MS-Word secondary). The paper may be up to 8 pages including figures and references. There will be a $50/page fee for additional pages.  This fee will be assessed at registration. Do NOT use the web site page you used for abstract submissions. Your paper should be an email attachment to a short covering email addressed to both the following addresses: ies2008 at jmg-associates-ltd.com and jm_good at cox.net (i.e., jm"underscore"good at cox.net.) 

Note-2: The deadline for Poster abstracts is also 15 April. You should the web site abstract submission form. 

Note-3: We will publish the submitted papers and the Poster abstracts in the Proceedings. If the "full" paper associated with an oral presentation is too late to get in the Proceedings, we will publish the abstract that is on file

DESCRIPTION OF IES2008
IES2008 follows in the tradition of the eleven previous Ionospheric Effects Symposia that have been held in the Washington DC area since 1975. Partial support for IES2008 is provided by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Other government sponsors are being solicited. We are also happy to welcome International URSI as a sponsor of the symposium. Other affiliated agencies include: the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of NOAA; the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The symposium is a three-day event covering an array of topics of importance to both military and commercial systems and their operation. Traditional topics have included: Space-Weather Effects on Telecommunication Systems; Current Solar Cycle Phenomena and Impact on Operational Systems;  Modeling, Forecasting, and Prediction Systems;  Sounder Methods and Measurements; Applications of Ionospheric Tomography; Transionospheric Effects, including Scintillation; Ionospheric Effects on WAAS and other systems supporting Aviation; High Frequency Communication Systems; Longwave Propagation Systems and Effects; and Global Positioning System and Total Electron Content Studies. A more complete listing of topics is given below, under "Topics Acceptable".

DATES & VENUE 
 	Dates:  May 13-15, 2008;     (The weather in Washington, DC is typically good in the Spring.)  
 	Venue: Crowne Plaza Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia (formerly the Radisson Hotel
 	Lodging: There are a number of excellent hotels in the area. At the Crowne Plaza, a special block of rooms is being held until April 19th, 2008. Be sure to specify the IES2008 group when making the reservation. The specified rate is $188.00 (plus applicable local taxes) for a standard room (single or double). Since the conference is being held in the Spring, the nominal rate would otherwise be > $200 plus tax at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria is located in the heart of Alexandria, convenient to Old Town Alexandria and Washington DC. This hotel near the Potomac River is eight blocks from shops and historic homes on Old Alexandria's revitalized waterfront. Numerous Old Town historic attractions are within walking distance or a short bus ride away including; Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate, Alexandria Black History Museum and the Fort Ward Museum. Walking tours of the city of Old Town, Potomac River Cruises of our Nation's capital's monuments, and boutique shopping are just a few of the fun and interesting things to do when you come stay with us. 

Short Synopsis of Special Sessions

Ionospheric sounder methods and measurements: chaired by Prof. Bodo Reinisch, UML

This topic encompasses all types of sounder systems and related measurement techniques, including legacy systems, advanced digital sounders, single frequency beacons, and wideband probes, deployed either terrestrially and aboard satellites. Of special interest are sounder techniques that can be exploited to derive operationally relevant ionospheric information. Another interest is the comparison of information derived from sounder systems and independent measurement schemes such as:  in-situ probes (rockets and satellites), incoherent scatter techniques, etc. 
. 
Ionospheric effects on on Aviation Systems: Chaired by Patricia Doherty, Boston College

This session will be dedicated to ionospheric effects on aviation, navigation, and communication radio systems. These systems may include Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS), Ground-Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS), satellite communication and shortwave voice and data communication systems. The FAA's WAAS system was the first SBAS deemed operational in July 2003. Since that time, the greatest impacts on WAAS availability have been the extreme solar storm events. As we enter a new solar cycle, solar storms will continue to be source of concern for SBAS and GBAS systems worldwide. Solar storms will further confront aircraft operating in the polar region, where communications blackouts and potential radiation hazard to passengers result in costly route changes and flight delays. Augmentation and aircraft systems planned to operate in the low latitude regions will be seriously challenged by the extreme ionospheric dynamics in the near equatorial ionosphere. As the aviation industry becomes more dependent on satellite based navigation and communication systems, it is important to assess the impending worldwide challenges of solar cycle 24. This session invites abstracts related to ionospheric assessments, algorithm development, performance assessments and program status for all navigation and communication radio systems. 

Impact of the lower atmosphere on the Ionosphere: chaired by Dr. Tim Fuller-Rowell, NOAA-SWC

The last few years have seen a plethora of new observational evidence illustrating terrestrial weather impacts on the ionosphere. The evidence has emerged from several different data sources, all of which unambiguously display manifestations of lower atmosphere dynamics on the upper atmosphere. The observations fit into broad categories of either spatial structure or temporal variability, at both low and mid latitude. Papers are encouraged that will help quantify the impact of the lower atmosphere on the ionosphere, and systems impacted by the ionospheric variability. 

Mitigation of Ionospheric and Space Weather Effects on Telecommunication and Navigation Systems: Chaired by Dr. Alain Bourdillon, University of Rennes, France.

This topic pertains to COST (Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research) actions-framework undertaken by the European community and its affiliates having relevance to the ionosphere and space weather effects upon telecommunication and navigation systems. Results are to be presented from five four-year actions well known as 238, 251, 271, 724, and 296 conducted over the period 1991-2007 emphasizing substantive scientific and engineering studies. A limited number of papers would be devoted to programmatic aspects of these actions.

The Impact of Radio Solar Bursts and Solar Flares on Technological Systems: Chaired by Dr. Anthea Coster (Haystack-MIT) and Dr. Alessandro Cerruti (Cornell Univ.)

This topic recognizes that solar radio bursts, solar flares, and  environmental noise can impact telecommunication and navigation systems. Solar flares can produce sudden ionospheric disturbances (SIDs) as the Earth�s ionosphere reacts to the intense X-ray and ultraviolet radiation. SIDs can interrupt or interfere with telecommunication systems. System performance typically depends upon signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), and systematic, man-made, and environmental noise are major factors in the determination of how well a radio wave system may perform. Solar radio bursts have been shown to have a measurable impact upon the GPS system, and recent studies of an historical solar radio burst in December 2006 (circa 2006 and following) have confirmed that severe performance degradation occurs. Further examination of these effects would be of interest. Studies of the effects of solar flares and of man-made noise, galactic noise, atmospheric noise, and cosmic noise bursts are welcome.

Special Session on the Arctic Ionosphere - Research & Applications: chaired by Dr. John M. Goodman (RPSI)and Dr. Dave Boteler (NRCan)

This session will emphasize the science and applications associated with the polar ionosphere, with an emphasis upon the Arctic. With the growth in commercial aviation traffic over-the-poles and with the increased importance of the Arctic region from a variety of perspectives, including the potential availability of the region for shipping, an examination of the scientific infrastructure for specification the arctic ionosphere is in order. The session will take a look at existing systems for monitoring the auroral and polar ionosphere, including those space and terrestrial sensors that are currently operating as well as those that are planned. For example, results from ground-based Radars, and networks of Riometers, Magnetometers, and sounders are welcome. The goal is to cover those ionospheric activities that can lead to an improved capability for communication, navigation, and surveillance of a region that is having increased importance and focus.

Additional Information:  http://www.ies2008.com
Submit Poster abstract on http://www.ies2008.com/abstract_form.htm
Submit "final" papers by email as specified above

Point of contact: Dr. John M. Goodman, jm_good at cox.net
Secretary: Ms. Jenny Hansen: jrh3652 at va.metrocast.net (details)

--
Dr. John M. Goodman
Chief Technical Officer
Radio Propagation Services
8310 Lilac Lane 
Alexandria VA 22308
(703)3607127 Alexandria Phone
(703)3603954 Alexandria Fax
(703)3142006 Cellular
(910)8462948 Holden Beach Phone/Fax

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