The Dynamic Loss of Earth's Radiation Belts

Dr. Allison N. Jaynes is a research scientist in space physics, currently at the University of Colorado Boulder, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). The bulk of her research is focused on two recent NASA heliospheric satellite missions: the Van Allen Probes and MMS. She works on data analysis and research concerning the radiation belt environment around Earth and space weather. Prior to this position, she obtained her PhD from the University of New Hampshire and worked on the topics of aurora (northern lights) and particle precipitation from space using sounding rocket investigations. Dr. Jaynes has participated in many regional and international conferences ranging on topics from the Scientific Foundations of Space Weather to Magnetosphere–Atmosphere Coupling. She has presented 7 invited talks in the past 2 years, with another scheduled for the prestigious Fall AGU meeting in December. Additionally, she was primary convener for three recent conference sessions directly related to the proposed topic of this book: “Understanding the dynamic loss of Earth’s radiation belts” (Fall AGU 2015); “Understanding the dynamics of Earth’s radiation belts in the fundamental context of the Sun--‐Earth system” (AOGS 2015, Singapore); and “Energetic particle precipitation mechanisms and effects in the Magnetosphere--‐Ionosphere system” (AGU Joint Assembly 2015, Montreal). Since obtaining her degree, she has been a Primary Investigator, or Co-Investigator on over 15 proposals to NASA. Additionally, Dr. Jaynes has served on NASA and NSF review panels, as well as an AGU Advisory Board for On-Demand programming.

Dr. Maria Usanova is a research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder. She is working in the area of magnetospheric and radiation belt physics, analyzing data from multiple satellite missions, including NOAA POES and GOES, Cluster, THEMIS, Van Allen Probes, and MMS. Maria graduated with honors from the Department of Physics, Moscow State University (Russia) and received her PhD in space physics from the University of Alberta (Canada). Her research interests include the dynamics of energetic particles in the Earth’s radiation belts and ring current, mechanisms for particle acceleration and loss in the magnetosphere, inner magnetosphere coupling, and wave-particle interactions. Maria has co-authored 20+ publications on these topics, including papers in Nature Physics, Geophysical Research Letters, and three invited monograph/book chapters, and she has presented 20+ invited talks. She has convened multiple sessions at AGU meetings and was awarded the EGU Young Scientist Award in 2015.