Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Jan Merka

(SCIENTIST)

Jan Merka's Contact Card & Information.
Email: jan.merka-1@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.8751
Org Code: 672
Address:
NASA/GSFC
 Mail Code 672
 Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE CO

Brief Bio

Dr. Jan Merka received a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics (2000) from the Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, and a MS in Astrophysics (1996) from the same university. His Ph.D. thesis is on the properties of the high-altitude magnetospheric cusp regions. In 2001, he was awarded the National Research Council Research Associateship Award and worked for three years as Resident Research Associate at the Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where he studied solar wind interaction with the Earth magnetosphere. From 2004 to 2006 he worked as Senior Research Scientist for the L-3 Communications Government Services, Inc., in the Laboratory for Solar and Space Physics at NASA/GSFC. In March 2006, he joined the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as an Associate Research Scientist. His main research interests are the formation and properties of magnetospheric boundaries, application of data assimilation methods in space physics, and distributed data systems. He is the Principal Investigator of the Virtual Magnetospheric Observatory development at NASA/GSFC. His publications include papers on magnetospheric cusps, bow shock models, and solar wind data assimilation.

Selected Publications

Refereed

2018. "Kinetic theory and fast wind observations of the electron strahl." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 474 (1): 115-127 [Full Text] [10.1093/mnras/stx2555] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "A new three-dimensional magnetopause model with a support vector egression machine and a large database of multiple spacecraft bservations." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 118 2173-2184 [10.1002/jgra.50226] [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Three decades of bow shock observations by IMP 8 and model predictions." Planetary and Space Science 53 79-84 [10.1016/j.pss.2004.09.031] [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Bow shock observations by Prognoz Prognoz 11 data: analysis and model comparison." Advances in Space Research 36 1958-1963 [10.1016/j.asr.2004.09.007] [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Three-dimensional position and shape of the bow shock and their variation with upstream Mach numbers and interplanetary magnetic field orientation." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 110 [Full Text] [Journal Article/Letter]

2004. "Bow shock's geometry at the magnetospheric flanks." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 109 [12224-10.1029/2004JA010567] [Journal Article/Letter]

2003. "A comparison of IMP 8 observed bow shock positions with model predictions." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 108 [1077-10.1029/2002JA009384] [Journal Article/Letter]

2003. "Earth's bow shock and magnetopause in the case of a field-aligned upstream flow: Observation and model comparison." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 108 [1269-10.1029/2002JA009697] [Journal Article/Letter]

Contact Us

Jocelyn Lynch
Project Support Specialist
301-286-6066
jocelyn.m.lynch@nasa.gov
Ellie Jeffries
Project Support Specialist
301-286-6066
ellen.e.jeffries@nasa.gov

Technical issues with this website may be reported to ben.pelletier@nasa.gov.
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Office of Communications at 1.301.286.8955.