Mei-Ching H Fok
((AST, FIELDS & PARTICLES))
Email: | mei-ching.h.fok@nasa.gov |
Phone: | 301.286.1083 |
Org Code: | 673 |
Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 673 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
Employer: |
Research Interests
M-C Fok Research Interests
Heliophysics: Earth's MagnetosphereDr. Fok's main research interests are studies of the radiation belts and ring current during geomagnetic active periods, understanding the mechanisms responsible for their intensification and decay by numerical modeling and data analysis. She has developed a complex model, named as the Comprehensive Inner Magnetosphere-Ionosphere (CIMI) Model, that can compute and predict the energetic particle fluxes in the radiation belts-ring current region, as well as the precipitating fluxes into the ionosphere. Her CIMI model was running in real time to predict energetic ion and electron fluxes that Van Allen Probes satellites would observe. Dr. Fok has been heavily involved in energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging of the ring current. She was a participating scientist of the IMAGE mission and the Project Scientist of the TWINS mission. The modeling tools she developed have contributed greatly in interpreting images from the ENA imagers on IMAGE and TWINS. She is currently a co-investigator for the upcoming Storm Time Oxygen Ring Current Imaging Evolution (STORIE) mission. Her ENA simulation code would be a vital tool for the success of the mission.
Positions/Employment
Astrophysicist
Geospace Physics Laboratory - NASA/GSFC
2001 - Present
Staff Scientist
USRA - Universities Space Research Association
1995 - 2001
Resident Research Associate
NRC - Marshall Space Flight Center
1993 - 1995
Education
Diploma in Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1984
M.S., Physics, Eastern Michigan University, 1987
Ph.D, Atmospheric and Space Sciences, The University of Michigan, 1993
Awards
- NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (2011), “For creation of state-of-the-art numerical models that account for the complex couplings between the solar wind, radiation belts, ring current, ionosphere and magnetosphere.”
- Alumni Merit Award (2019), Dept. of Climate & Space Sciences & Engineering, University of Michigan
- Fellow (2019), American Geophysical Union
- NASA Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement for Science (2020), “For exceptional advancements in understanding the coupled geospace system during geomagnetic storms.”
- James Van Allen Lecturer (2021), American Geophysical Union, “The Interconnected Inner Magnetosphere: A Modeler’s Perspective.”
- NASA Robert H. Goddard Award of Merit (2022), “For exceptional leadership of the Heliophysics community’s efforts to understand and simulate the Earth’s near-space environment.”
Publications
Refereed
2014. "The Comprehensive Inner Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Model." J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 119 7522-7540 [10.1002/2014JA020239] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "Non-linear whistler mode wave effects on magnetospheric energetic electrons." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 102 8-16 [10.1016/j.jastp.2013.03.018] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "Comparative analysis of low-altitude ENA emissions in two substorms." J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 118 (2): 724-731 [10.1002/jgra.50103] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Impact of Solar Wind on the Earth Magnetosphere: Recent Progress in the Modeling of Ring Current and Radiation Belts." in: Exploring the Solar Wind, Dr. Marian Lazar (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-0339-4, InTech [DOI: 10.5772/37337] [Article in Book]
2012. "Time scales for localized radiation belt injections to become a thin shell,..." Geophys Monogr Ser; AGU; Washington D C; edited by D Summers et al 199 161–175 [10.1029/2012GM001335] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Electron energy diffusion and advection due to non-linear electron-chorus wave interactions." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 80 152-160 [doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2012.01.011] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "Modeling the superstorm in November 2003." J. Geophys. Res. 116 A00J17 [10.1029/2010JA015720] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "Recent developments in the radiation belt environment model." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 73 (11-12): 1435-1443 [10.1016/j.jastp.2010.09.033] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "Remote observations of ion temperatures in the quiet time magnetosphere." Geophysical Research Letters 38 03104 [Full Text] [10.1029/2010GL045987] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "Rapid decay of storm time ring current due to pitch angle scattering in curved field line." Journal of Geophysical Research 116 03218 [Full Text] [10.1029/2010JA016000] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Simulation and TWINS observations of the 22 July 2009 storm." J. Geophys. Res. 115 [10.1029/2010JA015443] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Ring current dynamics in moderate and strong storms: Comparative analysis of TWINS and IMAGE/HENA data with the Comprehensive Ring Current Model." Journal of Geophysical Research 115 A12234 [10.1029/2010JA015292] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Evolution of low-altitude and ring current ENA emissions from a moderate magnetospheric storm: Continuous and simultaneous TWINS observations." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 115 [11209-10.1029/2010JA015429] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Dynamics of ring current and electric fields in the inner magnetosphere during disturbed periods: CRCM–BATS-R-US coupled model." J. Geophys. Res. 115 (A5): A05210 [10.1029/2009JA014621] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Global response to local ionospheric mass ejection." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 115 [10.1029/2010JA015640] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Effects of plasma sheet properties on storm-time ring current." J. Geophys. Res. 115 (A8): A08220 [10.1029/2009JA014806] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "The radiation belt environment model: Application to space weather nowcasting." J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 113 [10.1029/2007JA012558] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Generation of plasmaspheric undulations." GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 35 [10.1029/2008GL034164] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Plasma plume circulation and impact in an MHD substorm." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 113 [10.1029/2008JA013050] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "On ionospheric trough conductance and subauroral polarization streams: Simulation results." Journal of Geophysical Research 113 (A04209): [doi:10.1029/2007JA012532] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Viewing perspective in energetic neutral atom intensity." Journal of Geophysical Research 113 (A09217): [doi:10.1029/2008JA013070] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "Ion energization during substorms at Mercury." Planetary and Space Science 55 (11): 1502-1508 [10.1016/j.pss.2006.11.026] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "Global aspects of solar wind–ionosphere interactions." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 69 (3): 265-278 [10.1016/j.jastp.2006.08.009] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "X-ray emission from the terrestrial magnetosheath including the cusps." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 111 [12105-10.1029/2006JA011672] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "Impulsive enhancements of oxygen ions during substorms." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 111 [10.1029/2006JA011839] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "Relationship between Region 2 field-aligned current and the ring current: Model results." Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (A11): A11S06 [10.1029/2006JA011603] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "Characteristics of 2-6 MeV electrons in the Slot region and inner radiation belt." Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (A10204): [doi:10.1029/2006JA011748] [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Investigation of 3D Energetic Particle Transport Inside Quiet Time Magnetosphere Using Particle Tracing in Global MHD Model." The Inner Magnetosphere: Physics and Modeling 155 307-318 [10.1029/155GM33] [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Monitoring the high-altitude cusp with the Low Energy Neutral Atom imager: Simultaneous observations from IMAGE and Polar." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 110 [10.1029/2005JA011075] [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Energetic particle injections into the outer cusp during compression events." EARTH PLANETS AND SPACE 57 125-130 [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Low-energy neutral atom signatures of magnetopause motion in response to southward B-z." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 110 [10.1029/2004JA010626] [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Nonlinear impact of plasma sheet density on the storm-time ring current." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 110 [10.1029/2004JA010435] [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Geospace Storm Processes Coupling the Ring Current; Radiation Belt and Plasmasphere; in Inner Magnetosphere Interactions: New Perspectives from Imaging." Geophys Monogr Ser; edited by J Burch et al; AGU - Washington D C 159 207-220 [10.1029/159GM16] [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Inner magnetospheric plasma interactions and coupling with the ionosphere." Adv Polar Upper Atmos Res 19 106-134 [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Influence of ionosphere conductivity on the ring current." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 109 [10.1029/2003JA010351] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Response of neutral atom emissions in the low-latitude and high-latitude magnetosheath direction to the magnetopause motion under extreme solar wind conditions." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 109 [10.1029/2003JA010147] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Neutral atom imaging of solar wind interaction with the Earth and Venus." J Geophys Res 109 [10.1029/2003JA010094] [Journal Article/Letter]
2003. "Heliosphere-Geosphere Interactions Using Low Energy Neutral Atom Imaging." Space Science Reviews 109 (1-4): 351-371 [10.1023/B:SPAC.0000007524.11258.b4] [Journal Article/Letter]
2003. "Global ena Image Simulations." Space Science Reviews 109 (1-4): 77-103 [10.1023/B:SPAC.0000007514.56380.fd] [Journal Article/Letter]
2003. "A Radiation Belt – Ring Current Forecasting Model." Space Weather 1 (3): 1013 [doi:10.1029/2003SW000007] [Journal Article/Letter]
2002. "The dayside reconnection X line." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 107 [10.1029/2002JA009381] [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Comprehensive computational model of Earth's ring current." J. Geophys. Res. 106 (A5): 8417-8424 [10.1029/2000JA000235] [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Ring currents and internal plasma sources." SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 95 555-568 [10.1023/A:1005264907107] [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Observations of neutral atoms from the solar wind." Journal of Geophysical Research 106 (A11): 24,893-24,906 [10.1029/2000JA000382] [Journal Article/Letter]
2001. "Rapid enhancement of radiation belt electron fluxes due to substorm dipolarization of the geomagnetic field." J Geophys Res 106 3873-3881 [10.1029/2000JA000150] [Journal Article/Letter]
2000. "Deconvolution of energetic neutral atom images of the Earth's magnetosphere." SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 91 421-436 [10.1023/A:1005277307611] [Journal Article/Letter]
2000. "The plasma sheet source groove." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 62 (6): 505-512 [10.1016/S1364-6826(00)00014-6] [Journal Article/Letter]
2000. "Imaging a geomagnetic storm with energetic neutral atoms." JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS 62 911-917 [10.1016/S1364-6826(00)00037-7] [Journal Article/Letter]
2000. "Quantitative modeling of modulated ion injections observed by Polar-Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment in the cusp region." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 105 25191-25203 [10.1029/2000JA000034] [Journal Article/Letter]
1999. "Modeling of inner plasma sheet and ring current during substorms." J Geophys Res 104 14557-14569 [10.1029/1999JA900014] [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "Global-scale imaging: New approaches in magnetospheric research." MAGNETOSPHERIC RESEARCH WITH ADVANCED TECHNIQUES 9 41-50 [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "Drift-shell splitting in an asymmetric magnetic field in Geospace Mass and Energy Flow: Results From the ISTP Program." Geophys Monogr Ser; edited by J L Horwitz et al; AGU - Washington D C 104 327-331 [10.1029/GM104p0327] [Journal Article/Letter]
1997. "Ring current modeling in a realistic magnetic field configuration." Geophys Res Lett 24 1775-1778 [10.1029/97GL01255] [Journal Article/Letter]
1996. "Ring current development during storm main phase." J Geophys Res 101 15,311-15,322 [10.1029/96JA01274] [Journal Article/Letter]
1995. "Three-dimensional ring current decay model." J Geophys Res 100 9619-9632 [10.1029/94JA03029] [Journal Article/Letter]
1995. "Ring current - plasmasphere coupling through Coulomb collisions - in Cross-Scale Coupling in Space Plasmas." Geophys Monogr Ser - edited by J L Horwitz; N Singh; and J L Burch; AGU - Washington D. C. 93 161-171 [10.1029/GM093p0161] [Journal Article/Letter]
1993. "Decay of equatorial ring current ions and associated aeronomical consequences." J Geophys Res 98 19,381-19,393 [10.1029/93JA01848] [Journal Article/Letter]
1991. "Lifetime of ring current particles due to Coulomb collisions in the plasmasphere." J Geophys Res 96 7861 [10.1029/90JA02620] [Journal Article/Letter]