While at NASA/GSFC, I have been fortunate to work on a number of different projects with a variety of roles. My current science interests are focused on understanding pre-onset auroral signatures during magnetospheric substorms, and understanding the source of periodic density structures in the solar wind. In addition to my science interests, I have worked with AETD to develop capabilities on Center to enable highly reliable, highly capable cubesats that can be used either as inexpensive science platforms or could be used to create constellations of satellites. I have been involved in a number of LCAS and OCT proposals, and was Co-I on the ASTRE Heliophysics Explorer, which was selected for Phase A study, losing to eventual winner ICON (PI Tom Immel). I serve on both the Heliophysics and Cross-Cutting Technologies Lines of Business. Finally, I volunteer extensively for community service, including co-chairing the 2012/13 Heliophysics Roadmap, being Editor of JGR - Space Physics (through 2017), and serving on numerous review panels.
Prior to coming to Goddard, I was worked at both UNH and Boston University. I received my Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics from UCLA, with a thesis entitled, "Transient Convection in the Earth's Magnetosphere and the Generation of Pi2 Pulsations" (Advisor Margaret Kivelson). I was awarded the AGU Fred L. Scarf award, given annually to a recent Ph.D. recipient for outstanding dissertation research that contributes directly to solar-planetary science, in 2002.
Emil Lawrence Kepko
(RESEARCH AST, FIELDS AND PARTICLES)
| Email: | larry.kepko@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.2728 |
| Org Code: | 675 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 675 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: |
Brief Bio
Positions/Employment
Research Astrophysicist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD
2009 - Present
Research Scientist III
University of New Hampshire Space Science Center - Durham, NH
2007 - 2009
Senior Research Associate
Boston University Center for Space Physics - Boston, MA
2004 - 2007
Research Associate
Boston University Center for Space Physics - Boston, MA
2001 - 2004
Adjunct Professor
Boston College Department of Geology and Geophysics - Chestnut Hill, MA
2004 - 2007
Taught GE.150, "Introductory Astonomy" each fall semester while continuing full-time research at Boston University
Education
Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 2001
"Transient convection in the Earth's magnetosphere and the generation of Pi2 pulsations"
M.S. in Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1996
B.S. in Astrophysics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1993
"Transient convection in the Earth's magnetosphere and the generation of Pi2 pulsations"
M.S. in Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1996
B.S. in Astrophysics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1993
Professional Service
NASA
Co-Chair of the 2012/2013 Heliophysics Roadmap
Chair of the Geospace MOWG
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Current Editor of JGR - Space Physics
Goddard Space Flight Center
Member of the GSFC Scientific Colloquium Committee
Member of the Science Director's Council
Member of the GSFC 2030 Science Vision Team
Conferences and Workshops
Currently serving 4-year term as lead organizer of IAGA Division.III, "Magnetospheric Phenomena"
Current active member of the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) steering committee
Co-organizer of the "Modes of magnetospheric response" focus group (completed 5 year term in 2013)
IAGA 2011/2013/2015 Division III.2 Lead Convener (Magnetospheric substorms and tail physics)
Program committee, Chapman Conference on "Fundamental Properties and Processes of Magnetotails"
Program Committee, International Conference on Substorms -7 and -10
Co-Convener, "Why does geomagentic activity vary with solar cycle?", special session at the 2011 AGU Fall meeting
Co-Convener, "Modes of magnetospheric transport", special session at the 2008 Fall AGU meeting
Co-Convener, "ST13: The relationship between global ULF wave modes, plasma gradients and auroral acceleration processes", 2003 joing AGU-EGS meeting.
Other
External committee member for Ph.D student Matthew Gilson, University of New Hampshire (Joachim Raeder, advisor). Thesis entitled, “Global structure of the nightside proton precipitation during substorms using simulations and observations.” Defended November, 2011.
External committee member for Ph.D. student Emma Spanswick, University of Calgary (Eric Donovan, advisor). Thesis entitled, “Global Evolution of Substorm Electron Injections.” Defended January, 2009.
Co-Chair of the 2012/2013 Heliophysics Roadmap
Chair of the Geospace MOWG
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Current Editor of JGR - Space Physics
Goddard Space Flight Center
Member of the GSFC Scientific Colloquium Committee
Member of the Science Director's Council
Member of the GSFC 2030 Science Vision Team
Conferences and Workshops
Currently serving 4-year term as lead organizer of IAGA Division.III, "Magnetospheric Phenomena"
Current active member of the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) steering committee
Co-organizer of the "Modes of magnetospheric response" focus group (completed 5 year term in 2013)
IAGA 2011/2013/2015 Division III.2 Lead Convener (Magnetospheric substorms and tail physics)
Program committee, Chapman Conference on "Fundamental Properties and Processes of Magnetotails"
Program Committee, International Conference on Substorms -7 and -10
Co-Convener, "Why does geomagentic activity vary with solar cycle?", special session at the 2011 AGU Fall meeting
Co-Convener, "Modes of magnetospheric transport", special session at the 2008 Fall AGU meeting
Co-Convener, "ST13: The relationship between global ULF wave modes, plasma gradients and auroral acceleration processes", 2003 joing AGU-EGS meeting.
Other
External committee member for Ph.D student Matthew Gilson, University of New Hampshire (Joachim Raeder, advisor). Thesis entitled, “Global structure of the nightside proton precipitation during substorms using simulations and observations.” Defended November, 2011.
External committee member for Ph.D. student Emma Spanswick, University of Calgary (Eric Donovan, advisor). Thesis entitled, “Global Evolution of Substorm Electron Injections.” Defended January, 2009.
Publications
Refereed
2023. "Mesoscale phenomena and their contribution to the global response: a focus on the magnetotail transition region and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 10 [10.3389/fspas.2023.1151339] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Polar Cap Boundary Identification Using Redline Optical Data and DMSP Satellite Particle Data." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 127 (5): [10.1029/2021ja030148] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "On Differentiating Multiple Types of ULF Magnetospheric Waves in Response to Solar Wind Periodic Density Structures." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 127 (3): [10.1029/2021ja030144] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Power Spectral Density Background Estimate and Signal Detection via the Multitaper Method." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 126 (2): e2020JA028748 [10.1029/2020ja028748] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "The Source, Significance, and Magnetospheric Impact of Periodic Density Structures Within Stream Interaction Regions." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics [10.1029/2019ja026962] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Helios Observations of Quasiperiodic Density Structures in the Slow Solar Wind at 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6 AU." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 124 (2): 837-860 [10.1029/2018ja026182] [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "Implications of L1 observations for slow solar wind formation by solar reconnection." Geophysical Research Letters 43 (9): 4089–4097 [10.1002/2016gl068607] [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "Magnetopause erosion during the March 17, 2015, magnetic storm: Combined field-aligned currents, auroral oval, and magnetopause observations." Geophysical Research Letters 43 (6): 2396–2404 [10.1002/2016gl068257] [Journal Article/Letter]
2014. "The importance of storm time steady magnetospheric convection in determining the final relativistic electron flux level." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 119 [10.1002/2014JA019948] [Journal Article/Letter]
2014. "The substorm current wedge at Earth and Mercury." AGU Monograph, "Magnetotails in the Solar System" [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. "Snowplow - injection front effects." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 118 6478-6488 [10.1002/jgra.50573] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "'Snowplow' injection front effects." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 118 6478-6488 [10.1002/jgra.50573] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "Statistical occurrence and dynamics of the Harang discontinuity during steady magnetospheric convection." J. Geophys. Res. [10.1002/jgra.50503] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Global simulation of proton precipitation due to field line curvature during substorms." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 117 [5216-10.1029/2012JA017562] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Auroral Signatures of the Dynamic Plasma Sheet, in Auroral Signatures of the Dynamic Plasma Sheet." AGU Monograph, "Auroral Phenomenology and Magnetospheric Processes: Earth And Other Planets" [10.1029/2012GM001231] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Global simulation of protoon precipitation due to field line curvature during substorms." J. Geophys. Res. [10.1029/2012JA017562] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "First radar observations in the vicinity of the plasmapause of pulsed ionospheric ionospheric flows generated by bursty bulk flows." Geophys Res. Lett. 38 [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Equatorward moving auroral signatures of a flow burst observed prior to auroral onset." Geophys. Res. Lett. [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "Equatorward moving auroral signatures of a flow burst observed prior to auroral onset." Geophysical Research Letters 36 [24104-10.1029/2009GL041476] [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "Solar cosmic ray events observed in Greenland ice cores: 1940-1950." Advances in Space Research [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "Interhemispheric observations of impulsive nitrate enhancements associated with the four large ground-level solar cosmic ray events (1940-1950)." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics [10.1016/j.jastp.2009.07.002] [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "Relative occurrence rates and connection of discrete frequency oscillations in the solar wind density and dayside magnetosphere." J. Geophys. Res. 114 (A01201): [10.1029/2008JA013334] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Propagation characteristics of plasma sheet oscillations during a small storm." Geophysical Research Letters 35 [17-10.1029/2008GL033664] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Highly periodic stormtime activations observed by THEMIS prior to substorm onset." Geophysical Research Letters 35 [17-10.1029/2008GL034235] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Inherent length-scales of periodic solar wind number density structures." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 113 [7101 10.1029/2007JA012881] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Observations of Impulsive Nitrate Enhancements Associated With Ground-Level Cosmic Ray Events 1-4 (1942-1949)." in Proceedings of the 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Inherent length-scales of periodic solar wind number density structures." J. Geophys. Res. 113 (A07101): [10.1029/2007JA012881] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "Two groups of extremely large >30 MeV solar proton fluence events." Advances in Space Research 37 1734-1740 [10.1016/j.asr.2005.09.008] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "CRaTER: the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation experiment on Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter." 36th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 36 3381- [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "Characterizing the evolution of radiation with the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation." 36th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 36 3480- [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "The Extremes in the Interplanetary Solar Proton Environment and the Two Classes of Solar Events Associated with Very Large > 30 MeV Solar Proton Fluence Events." 35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 35 3266- [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Relative timing of substorm onset phenomena." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 109 [4203-10.1029/2003JA010285] [Journal Article/Letter]
2003. "Observations of discrete, global magnetospheric oscillations directly driven by solar wind density variations." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 108 [1257-10.1029/2002JA009676] [Journal Article/Letter]
2002. "ULF waves in the solar wind as direct drivers of magnetospheric pulsations." Geophysical Research Letters 29 [1197-10.1029/2001GL014405] [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Flow bursts, braking, and Pi2 pulsations." Journal of Geophysical Research 106 1903-1916 [10.1029/2000JA000158] [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Magnetic Field Instruments for the Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer." Space Science Reviews 98 151-168 [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Comment on “Evaluation of low-latitude Pi2 pulsations as indicators of substorm onset using Polar ultraviolet imagery” by K. Liou, et al." J. Geophys. Res. 106 (A9): 18919-18922 [10.1029/2000JA000189] [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "The auroral current circuit and field-aligned currents observed by FAST." Geophysical Research Letters 25 2033-2036 [10.1029/98GL01158] [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "FAST observations of VLF waves in the auroral zone: Evidence of very low plasma densities." Geophysical Research Letters 25 2065-2068 [10.1029/98GL00664] [Journal Article/Letter]
1996. "Flux ropes, interhemispheric conjugacy, and magnetospheric current closure." Journal of Geophysical Research 101 27341-27350 [10.1029/96JA02220] [Journal Article/Letter]