Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Douglas E Rowland

(RESEARCH AST, FIELDS AND PARTICLES)

Douglas E Rowland's Contact Card & Information.
Email: douglas.e.rowland@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.6659
Org Code: 675
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 675
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Missions & Projects

Brief Bio


Douglas Rowland previously served (June 2018-April 2023) as the Chief of the Ionosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere Physics Laboratory in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research interests include the dynamics of the upper atmosphere, and the coupling of the magnetosphere to the ionosphere. His primary research activities have involved the analysis of electric field and particle data, primarily from sounding rockets, and the development of sounding rocket electric field instrumentation to address problems in ionospheric physics and M-I coupling.


Dr. Rowland currently serves as the Project Scientist for the Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission. Dr. Rowland previously served as the Mission Scientist for the ICON Explorer Mission, as the Project Scientist for the ASTRE Phase A Concept Study, and as Deputy PI for the MEME-X Phase A Concept Study. Dr. Rowland led the first NASA Goddard scientific Cubesat mission, "Firefly", which operated for four years on orbit, and has developed experiments for small satellites and the International Space Station, as well as over 17 sounding rocket payloads.

Research Interests


Electrodynamics of the Earth's ionosphere

Heliophysics: Earth's Ionosphere

 


Ion-Neutral coupling processes in the Earth's Thermosphere

Heliophysics: Earth's Thermosphere

 


Explorer and Cubesat missions to study the coupled M-I-T-M system

Heliophysics: Technology & Missions

 


Space Weather in Geospace

Heliophysics: Space Weather

 

Positions/Employment


Space Scientist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - NASA GSFC Greenbelt, MD

September 2005 - Present

 


NRC NASA Postdoctoral Fellow

National Research Council - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

November 2003 - September 2005

 


Postdoctoral Research Associate

School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

October 2002 - October 2003

 

Education


 Ph.D., Physics, University of Minnesota, 2002
B.S., Caltech, 1994

Publications


Refereed

2023. "Science for all: The case for Citizen Science in all NASA missions." Bulletin of the AAS [10.3847/25c2cfeb.084a6ba8] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Cross-Scale and Cross-Regime Coupling in the ITM: Studying Weather, not just Climate, in the Middle and Upper Atmosphere." Bulletin of the AAS 55 (3): [10.3847/25c2cfeb.041166a2] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Measurements of the mean structure, temperature, and circulation of the MLT." Bulletin of the AAS [10.3847/25c2cfeb.591761f1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Thermospheric temperature and ∑O/N 2 variations as observed by GOLD and compared to MSIS and WACCM‐X simulations during 2019‐2020 at deep solar minimum." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics [10.1029/2023ja031560] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Imaging Low-Energy Ion Outflow in the Auroral Zone." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 9 [10.3389/fspas.2022.809367] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Dual sounding rocket and C/NOFS satellite observations of DC electric fields and plasma density in the equatorial E and F region ionosphere at sunset." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics [10.1029/2021ja030191] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Suppression of Ionospheric Irregularity Due to Auroral Particle Impact." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 127 (1): [10.1029/2020ja028725] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "The Vector Electric Field Investigation (VEFI) on the C/NOFS Satellite." Space Science Reviews 217 (8): 85 [10.1007/s11214-021-00859-y] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Evaluation of Atmospheric 3‐Day Waves as a Source of Day‐to‐Day Variation of the Ionospheric Longitudinal Structure." Geophysical Research Letters 48 (15): [10.1029/2021gl094877] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Daytime Dynamo Electrodynamics With Spiral Currents Driven by Strong Winds Revealed by Vapor Trails and Sounding Rocket Probes." Geophysical Research Letters 47 (15): [10.1029/2020gl088803] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Thermospheric Expansion Associated With Dust Increase in the Lower Atmosphere on Mars Observed by MAVEN/NGIMS." Geophysical Research Letters 45 (7): 2901-2910 [10.1002/2018gl077525] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "VISIONS remote observations of a spatially-structured filamentary source of energetic neutral atoms near the polar cap boundary during an auroral substorm." Advances in Space Research 56 (10): 2097-2105 [10.1016/j.asr.2015.08.010] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Equatorial ionosphere semiannual oscillation investigated from Schumann resonance measurements on board the C/NOFS satellite." Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres) 118 12,045-12,051 [10.1002/jgrd.50797] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Performance of the IRI-2007 model for equatorial topside ion density in the African sector for low and extremely low solar activity." Advances in Space Research 52 1780-1790 [10.1016/j.asr.2012.09.030] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure (ACES) observations of ionospheric feedback in the Alfven resonator and model responses." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 118 3288-3296 [10.1002/jgra.50348] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) on RBSP." Space Science Reviews 179 (1-4): 127-181 [10.1007/s11214-013-9993-6] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure (ACES)observations of ionospheric feedback in the Alfvén resonator and model responses." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 118 3288-3296 [10.1002/jgra.50348] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Successful demonstration of a compact laser-pumped vector helium magnetometer on the Daytime Dynamo sounding rockets." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1979- [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Observations of an Auroral Arc using the 4-Channel Camera on the VISIONS Rocket." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A9- [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "An Investigation of Current Closure within an Auroral Arc: Modeling and Observations." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A2240- [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "MEMEX: Mechanisms of Energetic Mass Ejection Explorer." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A6- [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Using Schumann Resonance measurements for constraining the water abundance on the giant planets - implications for the Solar System formation." The Astrophysical Journal 750:85 [10.1088/0004-637X/750/1/85] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Current Closure in the Auroral Ionosphere: Results From the Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure Rocket Mission." Geophysical Monograph Series 183-192 [10.1029/2011gm001177] [Article in Book]

2012. "Detection of Ionospheric Alfven Resonator signatures in the equatorial ionosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 117 [10.1029/2012JA017709] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "The fixed-bias Langmuir probe on the C/NOFS satellite: calibration and validation." Reviews of Scientific Instruments 83 114501 [10.1063/1.4766333] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Interpretation of vector electric field measurements of bursty Langmuir waves in the cusp." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 117 [9209-10.1029/2012JA017741] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "High-latitude E region ionosphere-thermosphere coupling: A comparative study using in situ and incoherent scatter radar observations." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 117 [2301-10.1029/2011JA017175] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Schumann Resonance: A Tool for Investigating Planetary Atmospheric Electricity and the Origin and Evolution of the Solar System." LPI Contributions 1683 1052- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Topside equatorial ionospheric density and composition during and after extreme solar minimum." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 116 [12330-10.1029/2011JA017213] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Observations of low-latitude plasma density enhancements and their associated plasma drifts." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 116 A09324 [10.1029/2011JA016711] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Science of opportunity: Heliophysics on the FASTSAT mission and STP-S26." 2011 Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2011.5747235] [Proceedings]

2011. "The MAG experiment for the Dynamo rocket and first results." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 1889- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Lightning-generated whistler waves observed by probes on the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System satellite at low latitudes." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 116 [6306-10.1029/2010JA016198] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "The equatorial ionosphere during and after the extreme solar minimum of 2008: reconstructing climatological maps of topside ion density and composition for low latitudes using the C/NOFS satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1891- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Observation of Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator Signatures in the Earth's Ionosphere at Low Latitude: Implications for Ionospheric Modeling." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1893- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "The Rotating Electric Field Ion Mass Spectrograph: Concept Development and Results from a Suborbital Flight in the Earth's Ionosphere." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A7- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Interpretation of Vector Electric Field Measurements of Bursty Langmuir Waves in the Cusp." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2060- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure measured by two sounding rockets in flight simultaneously." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A2083- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "A Rocket-Based Study of Auroral Electrodynamics within the Current Closure Ionosphere." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A2084- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure (ACES) observations of ionospheric feedback in the Alfvén resonator." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A2048- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Observations of low-latitude plasma density enhancements and their associated plasma drifts." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 116 [9324-10.1029/2011JA016711] [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Persistent Longitudinal Variations of Plasma Density and DC Electric Fields in the Low Latitude Ionosphere Observed with Probes on the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 3- [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Heating of the Lower Thermosphere during Auroral Activity: Measurements and Analysis from the Joule Sounding Rocket Missions." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 1647- [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "In-situ Measurements Within and Above the Ion-Neutral Coupling Region: Sounding Rocket versus Satellite Measurements (Invited)." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 3- [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Current Closure in the Ionosphere: Results from the ACES Sounding Rocket." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1908- [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Observations of low-latitude plasma density enhancements and their associated electric fields and plasma velocities using probes on the C/NOFS satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 1625- [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Observations of DC electric fields in the low-latitude ionosphere and their variations with local time, longitude, and plasma density during extreme solar minimum." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 115 [12324-10.1029/2010JA016023] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Rocket-based measurements of ion velocity, neutral wind, and electric field in the collisional transition region of the auroral ionosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 114 [4306-10.1029/2008JA013757] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "DC Electric Fields and Associated Plasma Drifts Observed with the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts A2- [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "On the Relationship between Lightning and Equatorial Ionosphere Density Irregularities." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A8- [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Structured DC Electric Fields With and Without Associated Plasma Density Gradients Observed with the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1- [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Equatorial Ionosphere Total Electron Content measurements using whistler waves detected by the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1408- [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "The Vector Electric Field Investigation on the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1483- [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Initial Observations of Ionospheric Structure and Irregularities Gathered with the VEFI Instrument on C/NOFS." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2- [Journal Article/Letter]

2006. "The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite with Integrated Science (EMFISIS) on the Radiation Belt Storm Probes." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A332- [Journal Article/Letter]

2006. "Plasma Impedance Spectrum Analyzer (PISA): an advanced impedance probe for measuring plasma density and other parameters." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A7- [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Development of a Fast Wideband Self-Impedance Probe for Ionospheric Research." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts A17- [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Simultaneous Measurements of Lower E-region Nighttime Electrodynamics Gathered with Rockets at the Altair Radar During the EQUIS II Campaign at Kwajalein Atoll." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 1- [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Nighttime E-region Electron Density Profiles Measured During the EQUIS II Campaign at Kwajalein Atoll." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 2- [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Measurements of Neutral Density During the EQUIS II Nighttime Electrodynamics Missions." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 3- [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "The Electrodynamics of Substorm Injection in the Inner Magnetosphere." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A438- [Journal Article/Letter]

2004. "Parallel electric field generation in the ionosphere over thunderstorms and the interaction with ionospheric electrons." 35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 35 1385- [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. "Experimental evidence on the role of the large spatial scale electric field in creating the ring current." Journal of Geophysical Research 103 29527-29544 [10.1029/98JA01436] [Journal Article/Letter]

Non-Refereed

2013. "Ionospheric Outflow Results from the VISIONS/MILENA Low Energy Neutral Atom Imaging Instruments." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A2100- [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Miniaturized Imager for Low Energy Neutral Atoms (MILENA) Flown Feb. 7, 2013 on the VISIONS Sounding Rocket Mission." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A2102- [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "VISIONS: Combined remote sensing and in situ observations of auroral zone ion outflow during a substorm." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A7- [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Accelerated Auroral Zone Ions: Results from the VISIONS Mission." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A8- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Multi-instrument observations of an MSTID over Arecibo Observatory." General Assembly and Scientific Symposium; 2011 XXXth URSI; AUG 2011 1-4 [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Magnetic Field Measurements on the C/NOFS Satellite: Geomagnetic Storm Effects in the Low Latitude Ionosphere." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 4- [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Community Access to the C/NOFS Satellite Data -- Facilitating New Opportunities for Space Weather Research." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1482- [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Optical Lightning Detection and and Vector Electric Field Measurements Gathered in the Low-Latitude Ionosphere by Probes on the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A8- [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Initial Results from the Vector Electric Field Investigation on the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A4- [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Initial Observations of the Magnetic Field Measurements on the C/NOFS Satellite." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1523- [Journal Article/Letter]