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Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Therese Ann Kucera

(RSCH AST, SOLAR & SOLAR TRSTRL STD)

Therese Ann Kucera's Contact Card & Information.
Email: therese.a.kucera@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.0829
Org Code: 671
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 671
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Brief Bio


Dr. Terry Kucera is an astrophysicist in NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Solar Physics Laboratory. Her research interests center on the solar atmosphere, especially solar prominences and prominence cavities. She currently serves as STEREO Project Scientist and is a member of the Solar Orbiter science team working with the SPICE instrument.

Dr. Kucera came to NASA/Goddard after receiving her doctorate from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she studied radio emissions from solar flares. She followed this with a post doctoral fellowship studying X-ray flare emissions. She joined the SOHO team as an operations scientist for the CDS and SUMER spectrometers in 1995 and eventually also served as US Deputy Project Scientist. She has also detailed at NASA Headquarters as the Solar Discipline Scientist and the Science Mission Directorate Education and Public Outreach Manager.

Research Interests


Current Projects


Physical Models of Solar Active Regions and the Solar Spectral Irradiance

Solar Active Regions

https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/670/variability_workshop/heating.html

Education


PhD in Astrophysical, Planetary & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Colorado, 1993

BA in Physics, Carleton Colege, 1987

Selected Publications


Refereed

2025. "Solar Orbiter’s 2024 Major Flare Campaigns: An Overview.", Solar Physics, 300 (11): 152 [10.1007/s11207-025-02561-6] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Modeling of Condensations in Coronal Loops Produced by Impulsive Heating with Variable Frequencies and Locations.", The Astrophysical Journal, 965 (1): 53 [10.3847/1538-4357/ad25fc] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "On the Physical Nature of the so-Called Prominence Tornadoes.", Space Science Reviews, 219 (4): 33 [10.1007/s11214-023-00976-w] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Prospects of Detecting Nonthermal Protons in Solar Flares via Lyman Line Spectroscopy: Revisiting the Orrall–Zirker Effect.", The Astrophysical Journal, 945 (2): 118 [10.3847/1538-4357/acb92a] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Nonlinear Fast Magnetosonic Waves in Solar Prominence Pillars.", Astrophysical Journal, 944 210 [10.3847/1538-4357/acb13b] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Comparison of Two Methods for Deriving the Magnetic Field in a Filament Channel.", The Astrophysical Journal, 940 (1): 34 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac9377] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "First observations from the SPICE EUV spectrometer on Solar Orbiter.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 656 A38 [10.1051/0004-6361/202141221] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Fast Magnetosonic Waves and Flows in a Solar Prominence Foot: Observations and Modeling.", The Astrophysical Journal, 899 (2): 99 [10.3847/1538-4357/aba2eb] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Spectroscopic Constraints on the Cross-sectional Asymmetry and Expansion of Active Region Loops.", The Astrophysical Journal, 885 (1): 7 [10.3847/1538-4357/ab449e] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Motions in Prominence Barbs Observed on the Solar Limb.", The Astrophysical Journal, 859 (2): 121 [10.3847/1538-4357/aabe90] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "GONG Catalog of Solar Filament Oscillations Near Solar Maximum.", The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 236 (2): 35 [10.3847/1538-4365/aabde7] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Large-amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations Triggered by the Merging of Two Solar Filaments: Observations and Magnetic Field Analysis.", The Astrophysical Journal, 850 (2): 143 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa9713] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "FORWARD: A Toolset for Multiwavelength Coronal Magnetometry.", Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 3 [10.3389/fspas.2016.00008] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Nonlinear MHD Waves in a Prominence Foot.", Astrophysical Journal, 813 124 [10.1088/0004-637X/813/2/124] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Open questions on prominences from coordinated observations by IRIS, Hinode, SDO/AIA, THEMIS, and the Meudon/MSDP.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 569 A85 [10.1051/0004-6361/201423922] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Mass Flows in a Prominence Spine as Observed in EUV.", Astrophysical Journal, 790 68 [10.1088/0004-637X/790/1/68] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Observations and Implications of Large-amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations in a Solar Filament.", The Astrophysical Journal, 785 (1): [10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/79] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Propagating Waves Transverse to the Magnetic Field in a Solar Prominence.", The Astrophysical Journal, 777 [108-10.1088/0004-637X/777/2/108] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Temperature and Extreme-ultraviolet Intensity in a Coronal Prominence Cavity and Streamer.", The Astrophysical Journal, 757 73 [10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/73] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Thermal Properties of a Solar Coronal Cavity Observed with the X-Ray Telescope on Hinode.", The Astrophysical Journal, 746 146 [10.1088/0004-637X/746/2/146] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Comparing Spatial Distributions of Solar Prominence Mass Derived from Coronal Absorption.", The Astrophysical Journal, 727 25 [Full Text] [10.1088/0004-637X/727/1/25] [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Three-Dimensional Morphology Of A Coronal Prominence Cavity.", Astrophysical Journal, 724 1133 [Full Text] [10.1088/0004-637X/724/2/1133] [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Physics of Solar Prominences: I - Spectral Diagnostics and Non-LTE Modelling.", Space Science Reviews, 151 243-332 [10.1007/s11214-010-9630-6] [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Automated Detection of Oscillating Regions in the Solar Atmosphere.", Solar Physics, 264 (2): 403-431 [10.1007/s11207-010-9592-6] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "An Observation of Low-Level Heating in an Erupting Prominence.", The Astrophysical Journal, 673 611 [10.1086/523694] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Bayesian Analysis of Solar Oscillations.", The Astrophysical Journal, 681 672-679 [10.1086/588751] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "The Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Education and Outreach (E/PO) Program.", Space Science Reviews, 136 627-646 [10.1007/s11214-007-9287-y] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "The STEREO Mission: An Introduction.", Space Science Reviews, 136 5-16 [10.1007/s11214-007-9277-0] [Journal Article/Letter]

2006. "Ultraviolet Observations of Prominence Activation and Cool Loop Dynamics.", The Astrophysical Journal, 645 1525-1536 [doi:10.1086/504398] [Journal Article/Letter]

2003. "Are CME ``interactions'' really important for accelerating major solar energetic particle events?.", Geophysical Research Letters, 30 (12): 8014 [10.1029/2002GL016424] [Journal Article/Letter]

2003. " Prominence Motions Observed at High Cadences in Temperatures from 10 000 to 250 000 K.", Solar Physics, 212 (1): 81-97 [10.1023/a:1022900604972] [Journal Article/Letter]

2001. "Solar Physics.", Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Third Edition, 15 127-147 [10.1016/B0-12-227410-5/09001-3] [Article in Book]

2000. " Wavelengths of Forbidden Transitions Arising from Levels Within the Fe^+19 2s^2 2p^3 Ground Configuration .", The Astrophysical Journal, 538 (1): 424-427 [10.1086/309109] [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "Filament channel structures in a Si IV line related to a 3d magnetic model.", Solar Physics, 186 (1/2): 259-280 [10.1023/a:1005163226096] [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. " SUMER Observations of the Evolution and the Disappearance of a Solar Prominence.", Solar Physics, 183 (1): 97-106 [10.1023/a:1005052923972] [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. " Neutral Hydrogen Column Depths in Prominences Using EUV Absorption Features.", Solar Physics, 183 (1): 107-121 [10.1023/a:1005077417572] [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. " Filament Observations with SOHO SUMER/CDS: The Behaviour of Hydrogen Lyman Lines.", Solar Physics, 181 (2): 309-326 [10.1023/a:1005022003293] [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. "Solar irradiances and radiances of UV and EUV lines during the minimum of sunspot activity in 1996.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 334 685 [Journal Article/Letter]

1997. " Eruptive prominence and associated CME observed with SUMER, CDS and LASCO (SOHO).", Solar Physics, 175 (2): 411-436 [10.1023/a:1004925024794] [Journal Article/Letter]

1997. "Determination of the Formation Temperature of [CLC]Si[/CLC] [CSC]iv[/CSC] in the Solar Transition Region.", The Astrophysical Journal, 477 (2): L119-L122 [10.1086/310529] [Journal Article/Letter]

1997. "Evidence for a Cutoff in the Frequency Distribution of Solar Flares from Small Active Regions.", The Astrophysical Journal, 475 (1): 338-347 [10.1086/303532] [Journal Article/Letter]

1996. "A Study of the Thermal/Nonthermal Electric Field Model in Solar Flares Using Spectral and Spatial X-Ray Data from Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and YOHKOH.", ApJ, 466 1067 [10.1086/177576] [Journal Article/Letter]

1994. "A multisource limb flare observed at multiple radio wavelengths.", ApJ, 433 875 [10.1086/174696] [Journal Article/Letter]

1994. "A multisource limb flare observed at multiple radio wavelengths.", Astrophysical Journal, 433 875 [10.1086/174696] [Journal Article/Letter]

1992. "VLA and Trieste observations of type I storms, type IV and pulsations.", Sol Phys, 141 (1): 165-180 [10.1007/bf00155910] [Journal Article/Letter]

1992. "The impulsive phase of a large solar limb flare of June 20, 1989.", Sol Phys, 141 (1): 91-107 [10.1007/bf00155906] [Journal Article/Letter]

1992. "Multifrequency observations of a remarkable solar radio burst.", ApJ, 384 656 [10.1086/170907] [Journal Article/Letter]

Non-Refereed

2015. "Derivations and Observations of Prominence Bulk Motions and Mass.", Solar Prominences, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, 415 79 [10.1007/978-3-319-10416-4_4] [Article in Book]

2002. "White Light Intercalibrations of UVCS, LASCO-C2 and Spartan 201/WLC.", The Radiometric Calibration of SOHO, 249 [Report]

2000. "Solar Irradiances of Ultraviolet Emission Lines Measured During the Minimum of Sunspot Activity in 1996 and 1997.", Physics and Chemistry of the Earth C, 25 389-392 [10.1016/S1464-1917(00)00039-8] [Journal Article/Letter]

2000. "3-D Magnetic Configurations for Filaments and Flares: The Role of ``Magnetic Dips'' and ``Bald Patches''.", Advances in Space Research, 26 485-488 [10.1016/S0273-1177(99)01100-X] [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "The SPARTAN 201 White Light Coronagraph Experiment on STS-95.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 31 851- [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "Solar irradiances of UV and EUV lines during the minimum of the sunspot activity in 1996.", Advances in Space Research, 24 229-232 [10.1016/S0273-1177(99)00505-0] [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "Diagnostics Constraints on Prominence Parameters from SOHO and Ground-based Observations.", Magnetic Fields and Solar Processes, 448 439- [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "The Role of 'Magnetic Dips' and 'Bald Patches' for a Filament Observed by SOHO and GBO.", Third Advances in Solar Physics Euroconference: Magnetic Fields and Oscillations, 184 291-295 [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "Hydrogen Lyman Lines and Continuum Emission in a Polar-Crown Prominence Observed with SUMER/SOHO.", 8th SOHO Workshop: Plasma Dynamics and Diagnostics in the Solar Transition Region and Corona, 446 605- [Journal Article/Letter]

1999. "Working Group 5: Prominences and Coronal Mass Ejections.", 8th SOHO Workshop: Plasma Dynamics and Diagnostics in the Solar Transition Region and Corona, 446 97- [Journal Article/Letter]