Conveners
Space Science
- John Bosco Habarulema (South African National Space Agency)
Space Science
- Du Toit Strauss (Centre for Space Research, North-West University)
Space Science
- Rendani nndanganeni (South African Nation Space Agency)
Space Science
- Nicholas Eugene Engelbrecht (Center for Space Research, North West University)
Space Science
- Carel Olivier (North-West University)
Space Science
- Michael Kosch (SANSA)
Space Science
- Shimul Kumar Maharaj (South African National Space Agency (Space Science) (formerly NRF Hermanus Magnetic Observatory))
Mr
Michael Heyns
(UCT/SANSA)
04/07/2017, 11:10
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Large grounded conducting networks on the surface of Earth, such as power lines or pipelines, have long been known to be affected by solar activity and subsequent geomagnetic storms. With the increased use of electrical technologies, society has become more and more dependent on electrical power and power networks. These power networks form extensive grounded conductors which are susceptible...
Dr
Electdom Matandirotya
(University of zimbabwe)
04/07/2017, 11:30
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Surface impedance data is required for estimating induced electric fields from measured geomagnetic data. Lack of surface impedance data was once cited as a limiting factor in modelling Geomagnetically Induced Currents in the Southern African region. For a very long period, the Southern African region has relied on the magnetic field recorded from its four magnetic observatories, which are...
Mr
Adila Wamisho Tire
(University of KwaZulu-Natal, NASSP node)
04/07/2017, 11:50
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Geomagnetic extreme events are geophysical phenomenons observed as a result of Sun’s violent eruptive nature. As the Sun is the main driving factor of the atmosphere, there are vast number of works made to understand and explain the overall effects in dynamics, reaction and compositions of the atmosphere. But, due to the complexity of the interaction in the atmosphere it remains less...
Dr
John Bosco Habarulema
(South African National Space Agency and Rhodes University)
04/07/2017, 14:00
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Large scale travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) are mainly observed during geomagnetic storms and usually propagate in equatorward direction. They are launched from high latitude regions due to energy injection that enhances Joule heating and Lorentz coupling processes. In this paper, we will show that equatorward TIDs also propagate vertically upwards and influence plasma distribution...
Dr
Nkanyiso Mbatha
(University of Zululand)
04/07/2017, 14:20
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry as it changes the oxidative capacity of the troposphere and potentially also affects the climate system because ozone and water vapour are potent greenhouse gases. Moreover, the exchange of particles between the stratosphere and the troposphere could lead to an increase of “bad” ozone (tropospheric ozone)...
Dr
Zama Thobeka Katamzi-Joseph
(South African National Space Agency)
04/07/2017, 14:40
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
First observation of plasma bubbles over the European middle latitudes during an intense storm of 11 April 2001. The plasma bubbles are observed in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) total electron content (TEC) measurements during the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz southward turning and confirmed with in-situ plasma density measurements from the Defense Meteorological Satellite...
Dr
Claudia Albers
(WITS university)
04/07/2017, 15:00
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
The Solar Dynamics Observatory is a geosynchronous satellite with an orbital tilt, with detectors aimed at the Sun. It provides images of the Sun in various wavelengths, from x-ray to visible light. The satellite is supposed to see the Sun being eclipsed by the Earth for about an hour a day, for 24 days, twice a year. However, examination of the images it detects, since 2011, at the...
Ms
Amore Nel
(SANSA)
05/07/2017, 11:10
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Black auroras are small regions of reduced optical emissions, embedded in the much brighter diffuse background aurora. They are usually seen drifting eastward during the substorm recovery phase, post-magnetic midnight. Although several theories have been proposed to explain the decrease in precipitating electron flux in these localised regions, the underlying mechanism is as yet unknown. This...
Prof.
Renier Burger
(North-West University)
05/07/2017, 11:30
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Analysis of turbulence data
Prof.
Michael Kosch
(SANSA)
05/07/2017, 11:50
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
The Scanning Doppler Imager is a state-of-the-art Fabry-Perot interferometer system that allows remote ground-based “images” of thermospheric winds and temperatures using the Doppler shift and broadening of airglow emissions. Thermospheric winds at high-latitudes are generally driven by ion drag from ion convection as observed by the SuperDARN radars. The unique meso-scale imaging capability...
Mr
Makhosonke Dubazane
(SANSA Space Science)
05/07/2017, 14:00
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
E x B drift influences plasma distribution and dynamics; hence it has a significant impact on space weather. We are presenting the model of E x B drift developed from magnetic field measurements of a pair of magnetometers at dip equator (geomagnetic latitude: 0.17°N, geographic longitude: 38.77°E) and off- magnetic equator (geomagnetic latitude: 6.0°N, geographic longitude: 39.46°E) within...
Dr
Rendani nndanganeni
(South African Nation Space Agency)
05/07/2017, 14:20
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Geomagnetic storms are one of the space weather events that have an impact on HF communications and can also contribute in enhancing the radiation exposure at aviation altitude. This paper presents the analysis of moderate geomagnetic storm activity of the period 7-9 March 2012 and 16-19 March 2015. The impact on HF propagation parameter foF2 and radiation dose rate is analysed to quantify the...
Mrs
Tshimangadzo Merline Matamba
(South African National Space Agency Space Science, Hermanus, South Africa)
05/07/2017, 14:40
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Geomagnetic storms are mainly driven by Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and Co-rotating Interaction Regions (CIRs). In response to the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, different ionospheric storm effects may be observed in mid, low and equatorial latitude regions depending on the driving mechanisms of any particular geomagnetic storm. This work will discuss ionospheric storm effects during both...
Mr
Jean Claude UWAMAHORO
(South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Space Science)
05/07/2017, 15:00
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Due to the complicated nature of equatorial electrodynamics during geomagnetic storms, it was found that modelling ionospheric total electron content (TEC) is more difficult in the low latitude than in the mid-latitude. Towards the improvement of TEC modelling in the low latitude, E × B is introduced for the first time in TEC modelling as a new input, in addition to the standard inputs which...
Mr
KATLEGO MOLOTO
(NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY)
06/07/2017, 11:10
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
The heliospheric magnetic field, originating on the Sun, is frozen into the solar wind due to its high conductivity, and field lines are drawn out into spirals due to the rotation of the Sun. The two hemispheres of the heliosphere with oppositely directed magnetic field are separated by the so-called wavy neutral sheet. It has long been known that gradient- and curvature drift, as well as...
Dr
Pieter Kotze
(SANSA)
06/07/2017, 11:30
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Magnetic field and solar wind particle data from the ACE satellite will be used to perform a spectral analysis of the solar wind charge state ratios, e.g. O7+/O6+ and C6+/C5+ as well as the alpha to proton abundance ratios during solar cycle 23 and 24. These oxygen and carbon charge state ratios are a proxy for the electron temperature in the solar corona while the solar wind elemental...
Dr
Nicholas Eugene Engelbrecht
(Center for Space Research, North West University)
06/07/2017, 11:50
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Drift effects have long been known to play a significant role in the transport of charged particles in the heliosphere. A turbulent magnetic field is also known to reduce the effects of particle drifts. The exact nature of this reduction is, however, unclear. This study aims to provide some insightinto this reduction, and proposes a relatively simple, tractable means of modelling it that...
Dr
Shimul Maharaj
(South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science)
07/07/2017, 10:00
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Large amplitude electron-acoustic solitons are revisited in order to gain insights into why the phenomena of polarity switches, coexistence as well as the existence of supersolitons have been widely reported for ion-acoustic and dust-acoustic nonlinear structures but much less frequently for high frequency (electron-acoustic) nonlinear fluctuations associated with electron dynamics. The effect...
Dr
Carel Olivier
(North-West University)
07/07/2017, 10:20
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Solitons are spatially localized solitary waves that propagate without changing shape or velocity, and arise as bipolar structures in the electric field. A special class of solitons have recently been reported, namely supersolitons [1]. Supersolitons are deformed solitons with additional local minima and maxima in the electric field, giving rise to so-called “wiggles in the tails”....
Dr
Du Toit Strauss
(Centre for Space Research, North-West University)
07/07/2017, 11:10
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Solar energetic particles (SEPs) are highly relativistic, non-thermal particles, accelerated in/near the solar corona during transient solar phenomena. SEP electrons are believed to be mainly accelerated by magnetic reconnection occurring in solar flares. For these events, we may infer a lot about how and where these particles are accelerated and when they are released into the turbulent...
Mr
Phillip Prinsloo
(Centre for Space Research, North-west University)
07/07/2017, 11:30
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Diffusive shock acceleration is thought to be a primary mechanism by which particles gain energy at shock waves in magnetized media. We provide an introduction to the basic physics of these shocks and the associated acceleration of non-thermal charged particles, and explain how the effects of this acceleration mechanism are incorporated into models of energetic particle transport in the...
Mr
Ruhann Steyn
(North-West University)
07/07/2017, 11:50
Track D2 - Space Science
Oral Presentation
Solar energetic particles (SEPs) have aided our understanding of the structure of the Sun and the heliosphere between the Sun and the Earth on a more fundamental level. Historically, SEP events have been classified as either 'impulsive' or 'gradual' with solar flares and jets associated with the former and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) with the latter. Recently, this classification system has...
