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Jan Merka

Photo of JAN MERKA

Jan Merka

  • SCIENTIST
  • 301.286.8751
  • 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

    Horaites, K., S. Boldyrev, L. B. Wilson, A. F. Viñas, and J. Merka. 2018. "Kinetic theory and fast wind observations of the electron strahl." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 474 (1): 115-127 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1093/mnras/stx2555]

    Wang, Y., D. G. Sibeck, J. Merka, et al. S. A. Boardsen, H. Arimabadi, T. B. Sipes, J. Safrankova, K. Jelinek, and R. Lin. 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]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, T. W. Narock, J. D. Richardson, and J. H. King. 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]

    Kotova, G., M. Verigin, G. Zastenker, et al. N. Nikolaeva, B. Smolkin, J. Slavin, A. Szabo, J. Merka, Z. Nemechek, and J. Safrankova. 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]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, J. A. Slavin, and M. Peredo. 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 (Link)]

    Merka, J., and A. Szabo. 2004. "Bow shock's geometry at the magnetospheric flanks." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics), 109: [12224-10.1029/2004JA010567]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, T. W. Narock, et al. J. H. King, K. I. Paularena, and J. D. Richardson. 2003. "A comparison of IMP 8 observed bow shock positions with model predictions." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics), 108: [1077-10.1029/2002JA009384]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, J. Safrankova, and Z. Nemecek. 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]

    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

    Horaites, K., S. Boldyrev, L. B. Wilson, A. F. Viñas, and J. Merka. 2018. "Kinetic theory and fast wind observations of the electron strahl." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 474 (1): 115-127 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1093/mnras/stx2555]

    Wang, Y., D. G. Sibeck, J. Merka, et al. S. A. Boardsen, H. Arimabadi, T. B. Sipes, J. Safrankova, K. Jelinek, and R. Lin. 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]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, T. W. Narock, J. D. Richardson, and J. H. King. 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]

    Kotova, G., M. Verigin, G. Zastenker, et al. N. Nikolaeva, B. Smolkin, J. Slavin, A. Szabo, J. Merka, Z. Nemechek, and J. Safrankova. 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]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, J. A. Slavin, and M. Peredo. 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 (Link)]

    Merka, J., and A. Szabo. 2004. "Bow shock's geometry at the magnetospheric flanks." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 109 [12224-10.1029/2004JA010567]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, T. W. Narock, et al. J. H. King, K. I. Paularena, and J. D. Richardson. 2003. "A comparison of IMP 8 observed bow shock positions with model predictions." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 108 [1077-10.1029/2002JA009384]

    Merka, J., A. Szabo, J. Safrankova, and Z. Nemecek. 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]

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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    • Last Updated: 01/27/2023