Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Cornelius Csar Jude Salinas

(Assistant Research Scientist)

Cornelius Csar Jude Salinas's Contact Card & Information.
Email: cornelius.c.salinas@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.614.5358
Org Code: 613
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 613
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE CO

Brief Bio


Dr. Salinas is an Assistant Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He works with NASA GSFC through the Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research 2 (GESTAR-2) program under University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He did his PhD in Earth Systems Science under the Taiwan International Graduate Program - Earth Systems Science, a program under both the National Central University (NCU) and the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. For his PhD, he did research under the tutelage of Prof. Loren Chang from the NCU Department of Space Science and Engineering as well as under Prof. Danie Mao-chang Liang from the Academia Sinica Institute of Earth Sciences. His research focused on using satellite observations of upper atmospheric carbon dioxide and first-principles Physics-based whole atmosphere models to further our understanding on wave-mean flow dynamics and atmosphere-ionosphere coupling. After finishing his PhD in 2019, he continued on as a post-doc with Prof. Chang and expanded his research by also using other tracers such as upper atmospheric atomic oxygen, water vapor and carbon monoxide to further our understanding of upper atmospheric physics and chemistry. Throughout his PhD and post-doc researches, he has had the privilege to work with and, more importantly, learn from numerous senior scientists from NASA and NCAR High Altitude Observatory. At NASA, he will continue his researches on the physics and chemistry involved in atmosphere-ionosphere coupling under Dr. Dong L Wu while also expanding his reach by helping out NASA spacecraft missions accomplish their science goals.

Current Projects


(1) Investigation of Global Ionospheric Conductivity Variabilities driven by E-region electron density

Earth's Ionosphere

This work aims to address issues and uncertainties in global estimates of ionospheric conductivity by using the first global and multi-decade satellite-based observations of E-region electron density (Ne). We propose answering the following questions: (a) How much does the uncertainties in E-region Ne variability contribute to ionospheric conductivity? (b) What is the satellite-observed and modeled latitude-local time profiles of E-region Ne as a function of longitude, altitude, season, and solar cycle. (c) How consistent are the satellite-derived E-region Ne variabilities with those observed by ground-based instruments such as ionosondes and radar?

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dr. Salinas is Principal Investigator of a NASA grant supporting this project. The grant is provided by the NASA Living With A Star Program. The project duration is between June 2024 and June 2028.


(2) Space Weather Effects on Ionospheric E-region Electron Density as observed by Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation Missions

Earth's Ionosphere

This work aims to determine E-region electron density’s response to the geomagnetic storms. This will be done by analyzing and quantifying the dependencies of E-region Ne on geomagnetic indices as observed by past and current GNSS RO measurements. Comparisons will be made with ground-based instruments such as ionosondes and radar as well as with first principles Physics-based models.

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dr. Salinas is Principal Investigator of a grant supporting this project. The grant is provided by the University of Maryland Baltimore County through Strategic Awards for Research Transitions (START) program. The project duration is between June 2024 and June 2025.


(3) Development of the E-region Prompt Radio Occultation Based Electron Density (E-PROBED) Model.

Earth's Ionosphere

This project aims to develop an empirical model of the ionospheric E-region electron density (Ne) using Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS RO) measurements. The model is called E-region Prompt Radio Occultation Based Electron Density (E-PROBED) model and it will account for E-region Ne variabilities driven by solar, geomagnetic and lower atmospheric forcing. It shall be developed for scientific and space weather operational use.

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dr. Salinas is Principal Investigator of the following grants that are funding this project: 

(a) "Investigation of Global Ionospheric Conductivity Variabilities driven by E-region electron density". Source: NASA Headquarters through the NASA Living With A Star Program. Duration: June 2024 - June 2028.

(b) "Space Weather Effects on Ionospheric E-region Electron Density as observed by Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation Missions". Source: University of Maryland Baltimore County through their Strategic Awards for Research Transitions (START) program. Duration: June 2024 - June 2025.

Positions/Employment


Assistant Research Scientist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, Maryland

December 2022 - Present


Assistant Research Scientist

University of Maryland, Baltimore County - Baltimore, Maryland

December 2022 - Present


Postdoctoral Research Fellow

National Central University Department of Space Science and Engineering - Taoyuan, Taiwan

February 2019 - November 2022


Graduate Student Research Assistant

National Central University Department of Space Science and Engineering - Taoyuan, Taiwan

September 2014 - January 2019


Short-term Scholar

NCAR High Altitude Observatory - Boulder, Colorado

May 2017 - August 2017


Graduate Student Research Assistant

Academia Sinica Institute of Earth Sciences - Taipei, Taiwan

September 2012 - January 2019

Education


PhD in Earth Systems Science 2012 - 2019

Taiwan International Graduate Program - Earth System Science

National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Supervisor: Prof. Loren C. Chang and Prof. Danie Mao-chang Liang

Thesis: “Wave-Mean Flow Transport of CO2 in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere”


BS in Applied Physics 2008 - 2012

Department of Physics

Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Supervisor: Prof. Nofel Lagrosas

Thesis: “Validation of Satellite-based Precipitation Measurements over the Philippines”

Professional Service


Reviewer for the Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres and the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.

Awards


2018/12 - Outstanding Student Paper Awardee, Space Physics and Aeronomy Section, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2018

2017/02 - 3rd Place, Space Science Section, Taiwan Atmospheric Science Workshop Student Poster Competition

2016/06 - 2nd Place, MLT Section, CEDAR Workshop Student Poster Competition

2015/02 - 1st Place, Space Science Section, Taiwan Meteorological Society Student Poster Competition

Publications


Refereed

2024. "Energetic particle precipitation influences global secondary ozone distribution." Communications Earth & Environment 5 (1): 270 [10.1038/s43247-024-01419-2] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Variability and distribution of nighttime equatorial to mid latitude ionospheric irregularities and vertical plasma drift observed by FORMOSAT-5 Advanced Ionospheric Probe in-situ measurements from 2017 – 2020." Advances in Space Research 73 (7): 3536-3549 [10.1016/j.asr.2023.07.067] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Optimal Estimation Inversion of Ionospheric Electron Density from GNSS-POD Limb Measurements: Part I-Algorithm and Morphology." Remote Sensing [https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15133245] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Seasonality of the Migrating Semidiurnal Tide in the Tropical Upper Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere and its Thermodynamic and Momentum Budget." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 128 (2): e2022JA031035 [10.1029/2022JA031035] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Estimating the Migrating Diurnal Tide Component of Mesospheric Water Vapor." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics [10.1029/2021ja030187] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Aura/MLS observes, and SD-WACCM-X simulates the seasonality, quasi-biennial oscillation and El Nino Southern Oscillation of the migrating diurnal tide driving upper mesospheric CO primarily through vertical advection." Atmos. Chem. Phys. [https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-1705-2023] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Implication of Tidal Forcing Effects on the Zonal Variation of Solstice Equatorial Plasma Bubbles." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 126 (3): [10.1029/2020ja028295] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Local‐Time Variabilities of March Equinox Daytime SABER CO 2 in the Upper Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Region." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 125 (3): [10.1029/2019ja027039] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Determination of Global Mean Eddy Diffusive Transport in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere From Atomic Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Climatologies." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 124 (23): 13519-13533 [10.1029/2019jd031329] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Solar Cycle Response of CO2 Over the Austral Winter Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Region." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics [10.1029/2018ja025575] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "On the Relationship BetweenERegion Scintillation and ENSO Observed by FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 123 (5): 4053-4065 [10.1029/2018ja025299] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "EOF analysis of COSMIC observations on the global zonal mean temperature structure of the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere from 2007 to 2013." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2017.08.021] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Impacts of SABER CO2-based eddy diffusion coefficients in the lower thermosphere on the ionosphere/thermosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 121 (12): 12,080-12,092 [10.1002/2016ja023161] [Journal Article/Letter]