xxth GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IUGG VIENNA (AUSTRIA)

November 19 9 0 No=29 

xxth GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

OF IUGG 

VIENNA (AUSTRIA) 

11-24 AUGUST 1991 

I

"WHAT ARE THE WILD WAVES SAYING ... ?" 

Wave structure in OH nightglow 

Photograph by courtesy of M J Taylor (Southampton University, 

UK)

INDEX 

Foreword l 

Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting in Prague 

(Czechoslovakia) 19-21 September, 1990 3 

XXth General Assembly of IUGG 

Submission of Abstracts.. 17 

Registration fees 18 

Call for papers 

Division I 19 

Division II 23 

Division III 27 

Division IV 32 

Division V 35 

InterDivisional Commission on History.. 40 

InterDivisional Commission for Developing Countries 41 

Other sessions, meetings, etc 42 

Timetable of I AGA Sessions .. 45 

The State of Standard Observatories in 

Developing Countries (J P Patel) 47 

Columbus' Egg (N Fukushima) 49 

Reports of Meetings 

Enlarged Ground and Space Data Base 

for Ionospheric Modelling 

New Trends in Geomagnetism II: Rock Magnetism, 

Palaeomagnetism and Datab?se Usage 

Notices of the Association .. 

Award of gold medal to J W Dungey; Call for 

Candidate IGRF Models; Optical Calibrations 

IUGG Publications Office; ISGI; Sponsorship 

of meetings by IAGA. 

Forthcoming Meetings 

Geomagnetic Observations; Late Palaeozoic 

Palaeomagnetism; Palaeotectonics of the 

Caribbean and Central America; New Faciliti es 

contributing to STEP; Cosmic Dynamo; 7th 

Scientific Assembly 

International Geophysical Calendar 1991 

51 

55 

59 

61

FOREWORD 

This is the second issue of IAGA News to come out in 1990; not 

because IAGA News is striving to become a monthly (or even a 

weekly: heaven forfend) paper but because. there are rhythms in 

the Association's life as obvious as the QBO or the sunspot 

cycle. And as regular. 

In the third year of the quadrennium, your Executive Committee 

starts to move to reproduce its kind; your President has to 

begin to prepare his swansong, the review of the scientific 

activities of the Association during his or her term of 

office. In an Association as wide-ranging in its interests and 

as active in all its parts as is IAGA, these administrative 

chores necessary to keep the Association running are 

difficult. 

In the foreground, as always there is the Association's 

scientific work and this issue of IAGA News contains the "Call 

for Papers" for the 1991 Assembly in Vienna. This "Call" is 

printed and distributed as soon as practical in the four-year 

rhythm because year by year it becomes more difficult to 

persuade funders that going to the Assembly is a cheap and 

cost-effective way of spurring on research. Is it ever 

possible to convince accountants that more research can be 

done by talking noisily with colleagues from other countries? 

The success o f a meeting can be judged by the noise in the 

corridors and in the snack bars far better than by some 

administrative formula .of papers presented and posters 

displayed. 

Good luck with your funding e fforts - see you in Vienna! 

Mi chae l Gadsden 

Secretary-General 

P.S. On the other side of the page , I list some useful 

addresses. If you have not received circular no . 2 for the 

Asse mbly, it is probably because you didn't fill out and send 

in the form in the first circular. You should get your name 

onto the mailing list of the Local Organizing Committe e 

without delay. 

l

IAGA NEWS N0.29 

Local Organizing Committee, IUGG 1991 

c/o Prof. Dr. H Sunkel 

Mathematical Geodesy and Geoinformatics 

Graz University of Technology 

Rechbauerstrasse 12 

A-8010 Graz 

AUSTRIA 

Tel: (0043) 222-36 44 53-2001 

Fax: (0043) 222-369 1233 

Telex: 13 18 37 metw a 

IAGA representative on the Local Organizing Committee: 

Secretary-General of I AGA: 

Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Hermann J Mauritsch 

Institut fur Geophysik 

Montanuniversitat 

Franz-Josef-Strasse 18 

A-8700 Leoben 

AUSTRIA 

Tel: 03842/42555 DW 362 

Fax: 03842/46436 

Dr M Gadsden 

Physics Unit 

Fraser Noble Building 

Aberdeen University 

Aberdeen AB9 2UE 

SCOTLAND (UK) 

Tel: 44 224 574585 (answer phone) 

Fax: 44 224 584776 (dedicated line) 

Telex: 73458/UNIABN G (university) 

Tel: 44 224 573838 (home phone) 

2

MINUTES 

Executive Committee Meeting 

19-21 September 1990 

Prague (Czechoslovakia) 

DRAFT 

Present: R E Gendrin (President); U Schmucker (VicePresident); 

M Gadsden (Secretary General); D I Gough; M W McElhinny; 

M Sugiura; J Taubenheim; 0 L Vaisberg; J F Vilas. Apologies 

for absence were received from Vice President D J Williams. 

Before the start of the meeting, 

the Geophysical Institute by 

Cermak. 

I Minutes of the previous meeting 

the committee was welcomed to 

the Director, RNDr Vladimir 

These have been published in IAGA News No.28, pages 16- 

24, and were approved as true and correct after one 

correction was made: in Item VII (page 20), IAGA 

Bulletin series No. 32 was expected to have published 

data up to 1984 [not "1988"] before the end of 1989. 

II Matters arising from the Minutes 

Gough noted that a discussion of the inclusion of 

"comparative planetology" as a major aspect of the 1993 

Scientific Assembly had been minuted . In the absence of 

Wi 11 iams, it was decided to hold over the discuss ion 

until 1991. 

The President noted that the Executive Committee had 

decided to replace publication of Transactions of 

Scientific Assemblies with an account 1n the IUGG 

Chronicle of the scientific work of the Assembly. The 

Secretary General reported that the latest contribution 

from Division Leaders had come to hand in August and 

that the material had been sent to the Secretary General 

of IUGG [Professor Paul Melchior]. 

III Report by the Secretary-General 

The Secretary General presented the accounts for the 

year 1989 [see page 13] and commented that the shrinkage 

in investments, reserves and cash in hand over the year 

(from $48510.22 to $8783. 76) had largely been budget ted 

but that a significant overexpendi ture in support for 

travel and subsistence at the Scienti fie Assembly had 

brought the reserves down rather more than was planned. 

He laid before the Executive Committee the ledger 

account for the year 1990, to August 16 [see page 14]. 

The Executive Commit tee discussed a number of economy 

measures, chief among them being elimination of one or 

3


both of the meetings of Executive Committee held between 

Assemblies. This had, indeed, been recommended by the 

Executive Committee retiring in 1983 to the incoming 

Executive Commit tee. After discuss ion it had been felt 

that a new Executive Committee should meet in the first 

year of its quadrennium [Minute II, 1984: IAGA News 

No.23, page 43 (1984)]. There were critical items on the 

agenda of the current meeting of the Executive Committee 

which would have made it unwise not to hold this 

meeting. The conclusion drawn was that, while it would 

be financially good not to have the Executive Committee 

meeting between Assemblies, it was simply not practical 

to carry out the business of the Executive Committee by 

correspondence during the two two-year intervals between 

Assemblies. 

Part of the problem is that member countries are loath 

to agree to an increase in the unit of subscription to 

the Union and a motion for an increase had been defeated 

at the 1983 General Assembly. Bearing in mind that it is 

now over a decade since the last increase, and taking 

note of the inflation of costs of travel and 

subsistence, publishing, mailing, and telecommunications 

during this period, the Executive Committee felt that 

the difficulties of making ends meet at the Association 

level were in part owing to there having been no 

increase in the annual subvention available and received 

from Union funds. The Secretary General was directed to 

rehearse these matters to the Division and 

InterDivisional Commission Leaders when advising them of 

the level of support available for the General Assembly 

in 1991. 

The Secretary General reported that IAGA News No.28 had 

been published in March, 1990, and that the copy for the 

Transactions of the 1989 Scienti fie Assembly had been 

sent for publication in the IUGG Chronicle on 10 

September. He informed the Executive Committee t hat the 

IUGG Publications Office in Paris was to cease operation 

at the end of 1990 and that the responsibility for sales 

of IAGA publications was being transferred to the 

Association Secretariat (that is to say, to the 

Secretary General: another job for him!). 

The Secretary General reviewed decisions made anent two 

requests for commercial use of the address lists of 

authors published in section D of IAGA Bulletin No. 53. 

One request had been satisfied by the Exeter Local 

Organizing Committee providing a list of registrants at 

the Assembly. The second applicant had been given a 

negotiable price for use of the address list, in accord 

with the wishes of the Executive Committee, but no reply 

had been received and the Secretary General had had to 

assume that the matter had been dropped. 

The Secretary General closed by reporting that Working 

Group II-G had been renamed "Ionospheric Irregularities, 

4

IV 

E.C. MINUTES 

Fields and Waves [chairmen: J-P St Maurice (Canada) and 

R A Greenwald (USA)]. Three Working Groups have been set 

up by Division IV (1 - "Physical Processes of the Solar 

Wind and the Heliosphere"; 2 - "Shocks and Turbulence in 

the Solar Wind"; 3 - "Solar Wind Interaction with Comets 

and Nonmagnetic Bodies"). The Executive Committee 

welcomeo these actions as evidence of healthy activity 

within the Association scientific structure. 

XXth General Assembly: Vienna (Austria) 

1990 

11-24 August 

The list of symposia scheduled by the Union was noted 

and the Executive Commit tee thanked the IAGA convenors 

of nos 6 (LeMouel), 7 (Reid and Tinsley), and 15 

(Vallance Jones) for their work in carrying forward 

these particular sympos i a . 

The Association programme and timetable were examined in 

detail and the Executive Committee congratulated the 

Division and InterDivisional Commission Leaders for 

bringing together another well-rounded and balanced 

programme of scientific sessions. Sugiura reported that 

Kamide and Gustafsson, at the recent CDAW meeting in 

Nagoya, had asked for an extension of coverage of 

session 2.6/3.8 to include CDAW-related papers. Subject 

to the agreement of Tanskanen (session coconvenor with 

Gusta fsson) and approval by Vallance Jones and Si scoe, 

this was accepted. The Executive Committee had no other 

changes to suggest. 

The Executive Committee moved to discussion of the 

meetings and committees required by the statutes and 

bylaws of the Assocation. The President, who is required 

under bylaw 13 to appoint a Nominating Committee in 

consultation with the Executive Committee asked for 

discussion of names. A chairman and four members were 

agreed , with two back-ups if refusals to serve were 

received by the President. A finance committee was 

appointed and the Secretary General was directed to 

write to the members asking them to serve. McElhinney 

agreed to chair a Resolutions Committee for the 

Assembly, which will h ave to consider both the 

resolutions for the Association's Conference of 

Delegates and those put forward by that Conference for 

consideration at the Union's final plenary session. 

The procedure for appointment of the Division and 

InterDivisional Commission Leaders for the next 

quadrennium was discussed and it was emphasized that the 

slate should be prepared in advance of the Assembly so 

that the new Leadership would come to the Assembly 

having agreed in writing to accept the obligations . 

Dr R Coles, Chairman of Divison V, 

President expressing concern about 

5 

had writ ten to the 

the need to improve


the public image of the Association. The President 

reported that Dr W Schroder, Chairman of the 

InterDivisional Commission on History, had agreed to act 

as coordinator of public relations for IAGA, with Coles 

providing scientific backup. The President will discuss 

with Coles the production of an illustrated booklet (10 

20 pages) for issuing at the General Assembly. The 

President noted that the Local Organizing Committee had 

kindly agreed to take care of Schroder's registration 

fee and expenses. The Executive Committee welcomed 

Schroder's acceptance. 

The Secretary General reported that several nominations 

for long-service medals had been received. The Executive 

Commit tee reviewed the procedure for these and agreed 

that there were three distinct stages: first, nomination 

sent to the Secretary General by the national body of a 

member country; second, selection and assessment by the 

Chairman of Division V, ex officio; finally, 

consideration of the candidates by the Executive 

Committee before making the awards. The Executice 

Committee expressed its deep appreciation of Dr W F 

Stuart's initiative leading to the awards being 

established in the first place and to his chairing the 

first round of awards. 

The Executive Committee took note of a misprint in the 

text of statute 14 published in 1987 [ IAGA News No. 26, 

page 50] in which the weighting of Chief Delegates' 

votes according to category of membership (which applies 

in votes on questions of a financial nature) was 

mistakenly given as applying also to votes on que stions 

of an administrative nature. The correct text of the 

statute is: 

14. On questions of an administrative nature the voting 

shall be by Member .Countries, each Member Country 

having one vote cast by its Chief Delegate (or that 

person's representative in accordance with the By 

Laws). 

V IAGA Sponsorship 

The Executive Committee received an oral report on the 

International Symposium on Geomagnetism held in Shanghai 

(China) on 17-19 April , 1990. The Secretary General 

reported that he had not receive d a report suitable for 

publication in IAGA News. 

The Executive Committee recommended that the rules 

governing sponsorship of the meetings by IAGA be 

reprinted in the next issue of IAGA News [see page 58]. 

It was noted that requests for sponsorship should be 

made in good time and normally this would be at least a 

year ahead of the meeting. Th ere are two principal 

reasons for sponsorship: the first is to apply the "seal 

of approval" of the Association to the aims and 

6

E.C. MINUTES 

organization of the meeting, which also allows the 

organisers to use the name of the Association in seeking 

support from funding agencies and international 

organizations. The second aspect of sponsorship is to 

allow the Executive Committee to act as a "clearing 

house" for the scheduling of meetings held in the IAGA 

fields of research. This aspect does not imply that the 

Executive Committee acts in a regulatory fashion but 

allows the Executive Committee to send to organizers of 

prospective meetings information concerning other 

meetings that are being scheduled. 

Williams had written to the President bringing attention 

to an International Astronomical Union meeting, "The 

Cosmic Dynamo", [see page 59] and suggesting that 

sponsorship should be granted. Approved, subject to 

acceptance by Division Leaders. The Secretary General 

reported that he had responded with an expression of 

interest on behalf of the Division Leaders to an enquiry 

from the Secretary General of the Union about a proposed 

International Astronomical Union discussion meeting 

dealing with adverse environmental impacts on 

observations. 

VI The Future of the IGRF 

The Secretary General laid before the committee copies 

of letters received from the national correspondents of 

Germany, Spain, India and USA, and a file of 

correspondence over the last fourteen months. The 

President reported that he had received a letter from 

the Secretary of the National IAGA Committee of Kenya 

[Professor J P Patel] formally requesting that the 

proposal on the commercialization of the IGRF that had 

been defeated at the Conference of Delegates at the 

Scienti fie Assembly in 1989 be placed on the agenda of 

the Conference of Delegates at the General Assembly in 

1991. The Secretary General was requested to write to 

Patel asking him for a formal motion. The Secretary 

General was requested to prepare, with advice from 

Sugiura, a briefing document to accompany the agenda of 

the Conference of Delegates that would be sent out to 

National Correspondents in May 1991. 

The Executive Committee discussed at some length the 

philosophy that would lie behind the President's 

decision to declare that the matter was a financial one, 

an administrative one, or a scientific one. By a small 

majority, the Executive Committee was of the opinion 

that the matter should be regarded as a financial one. 

(Note that the decision is to be made before the vote by 

the President and can be challenged only by a Chief 

Delegate of a Member Country [statute 17] and changed by 

a two thirds majority of the Chief Delegates present at 

the Conference of Delegates.) 

7


VII Cooperation with other bodies 

ICSU InterUnion Commission on the Lithosphere [ICL]: The 

President had brought to the attention of Professors 

Kono and Gough a detailed report on the operation of the 

ICL in the years 1980-1990 and requested comments to be 

sent direct to Soren Gregersen. A review had now been 

received setting out the science plan for the ICL as 

proposed from the IUGG. The plan will be reviewed at the 

General Assembly and Gough will advise the President of 

the appropriate IAGA response. 

ICSU Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics 

[SCOSTEP]: The President briefed the Executive Committee 

on the current status of the Solar-Terrestrial Energy 

Program [STEP]. Professor H Oya , the representative of 

IAGA on the SCOSTEP Bureau, has submitted a preliminary 

report to the Pre sident. 

SCOSTEP will implement a proposed core project of the 

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme [IGBP] 

called Stratosphere/ Troposphere Interaction with the 

Biosphere [STIB]. This project, welcomed by the 

Executive Committee, is derived from earlier IAMAP and 

IAGA proposals for Middle Atmosphere studies in the 

IGBP. It is proposed that Dr M L Chanin (France ) and Dr 

M Geller (USA) will be joint chairmen for development of 

an implementation strategy, and five working groups have 

been set up [see page 15]. The President will write to 

Dr A Vallance Jones, Chairman of Division II, and to Dr 

B Hultqvist, the current President of SCOSTEP, to ensure 

an appropriate level of representation of IAGA in these 

working groups. 

International Centre for Earth and Environmental 

Sciences [ICE]: The President noted that ProfessorS M 

Radicella had approval to host a conference on "Major 

Scientific Problems of the Atmospheric System and the 

Developing Countries" lasting for 4-5 days in November, 

1991 (at which ICE will support the attendance of 25 

scientists from Developing Countries) followed by a 

summer school in 1992 to analyse data obtained in 1991- 

1992. Taubenheim was appointed as IAGA representative on 

the programme committee. 

International Space Year [ISY]: The President reported 

that he had taken part in the Space Agency Forum for the 

ISY, held at Deauville (France) in February 1990 . The 

minutes of t h e meeting have been published by the 

European Space Agency (ESA-SP 1130, April 1990). The 

President drew the attention of the Executive Committee 

to the project to establish a training programme in 

geospace physics for scientists in Developing Countries. 

This will provide practical training for some 80 

scientists from Developing Countries so that they can 

participate in, and utilise data from future geospace 

missions such as ISTP and UARS. Training programmes and 

8

E.C. MINUTES 

conferences from 1990 through 1992 would be held at the 

International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, 

Italy [see "ICE", above]. The President will bring this 

to the attention of the Division and InterDivisional 

Commission Leaders. 

IAGA/URSI Joint Working Group on Passive Electromagnetic 

Probing of the Magnetosphere: A request had bee n 

received from Dr A J Smith for this working group to 

change its name to Joint Working Group on VLF / ELF Remote 

Sensing of the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere [VERSIM]. 

Approved. Taubenheim, reporting on the recent Assembly 

of the International Union of Radio Science [URSI] said 

that it was the lar gest one yet (with approxi mately 1500 

participants). He noted that whereas the interest of 

URSI has tended largely towards communications, interest 

in the c lassic fields of ionospheric and magnetospheric 

studies has been maintained. Mesosphere-Stratosphere 

Troposphere [MST] and incoherent scatter radar studies 

are well r epr e sented and these all provide joi nt fields 

of inte r e st between URSI and IAGA, with URSI inclining 

more towards the techniques and IAGA towards the 

physic s. He reported that a new commission on 

bioelectromagnetics was being established and t he 

Secretary General was directed to ask for details of the 

scope of this commission. 

ICSU Committee on Space Research [COSPAR ] : The President 

reported that COSPAR was i n process of changing its 

Charter and By-Laws and that there were grounds for 

concern by the I AGA community at a dilution of 

representation of t h e scientific unions in the COSPAR 

Counci l together with an extension of t h e COSPAR 

statement of purpose to include exchange of results, 

information and opinions in research. The Executive 

Committee agreed that COSPAR had carried out its c urrent 

Charter admirably by providing a forum for the 

discussion of techniques used in space research and 

esp ecially in the refereed publication o f papers dealing 

with t hese techniques a nd with specific instruments 

(such papers often meet difficulty in acceptance by 

oth er , mo r e research oriented , international journals) . 

While accepting t hat discussion of t echniques at the 

cutting edge of research must inevitably invo lve 

pre s e ntati o n of scientific results, t h e Executive 

Committee felt t hat to extend the COSPAR Char ter 

explic itly to include presentation o f r esearch results 

and analyses was undesirable. The Executive Committee 

therefore recommends to the Union to resi st some of t h e 

changes proposed by the COSPAR Commission on t he 

Revision of COSPAR Rules. 

ICSU Committee for Teaching of Sci e nces [CTS]: The 

Presi dent reported that he had been asked to represent 

IUGG at the mee ting in Paris on l-2 May 1991. He sai d 

that t h e committee was aimed principally at sch ools and 

9


VIII IUGG 

teachers at secondary 

offer of assistance in 

Goldberg (USA) . 

education level. He 

this important area 

welcomed an 

from Dr R A 

ICSU Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research [SCAR]: 

The President noted that the IAGA Working Group on 

Antarctic Research (which is jointly under Division II 

and Division I I I) is actively in t ouch with the 

developing situation concerning the direction in 

research of the working group on atmospheric sciences. 

It is not clear at present where and how lower 

atmosphe re research and upper atmosphere research are 

placed and what is to be the weight given to each. 

IUGG/IAU GLOBMET. The Secretary Ge ne ral reported that, 

i n accord with Minute VII [ IAGA News 29, page 20], he 

had forwarded the proposal to the Union, that approval 

by the Executive Commit tee o f the Union had been given 

at its meeting in August 1989, and that h e had been 

informed by the Union Secretary General t hat the matter 

c urrently lay with the I AU f or confirma t i on and action. 

The President reported on the meeting of the Presidents 

of the IUGG Associations held in Washington, 24-25 May 

1990. The Executive Committee took note of t he document 

prepared for the meeting which listed 11 Strengths, 

Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, and Goals II of the 

Union and was in broad agreement with the approach. Some 

amendments to the document were suggested. 

The President reported that the Union President 

(Professor V I Keilis-Borok) h ad established contacts 

with ARCO Oil and Gas Company of Palno, Texas (USA) with 

a view to broadening support for IUGG and its 

constituent Associations. On this, Gough recommended 

that the Society of Exploration Geophysicists be 

approached so that the Association would not appear 

thereby to be favou r ing one commercial concer n over 

a nother. Schmucker pointed out that contacts with 

industry are important but that one should be cautious 

about strings being attached to grants. 

On the question of whet her the meeting of Association 

Presidents should become an annual event , the Executive 

Committee was definite in its opposition to this on the 

grounds of it becoming an unnecessary drain o n 

Association finances and a possible loss of autonomy for 

the Associations. The Executive Committee was equally 

f i r m in rejecting t h e proposal that a member o f the 

Union Bureau should sit in on all meetings of the 

Executive Committee. 

The Secretary Genera l mentioned that t h e Union had in 

mind making a direct charge on the registration fees of 

a l l Assemblies (that is , the General Assemblies of the 

10

E.C. MINUTES 

Union and in addition the Scientific Assemblies of the 

Association). This was regarded as unacceptable; 

Schmucker said that registration fees had become a major 

burden for most participants and any increase was to be 

resisted. Taubenheim suggested that the Secretary 

General should write an article for IAGA News explaining 

how registration fees are set and outlining the 

characteristic breakdown of costs that must be covered 

by them. The Secretary General said that there was a 

misapprehension about registration fees: it was widely 

thought, wrongly, that the fees at Scientific Assemblies 

(such as at Prague in 1985 and at Exeter in 1989) were 

collected by and on behalf of IAGA. This was very 

definitely not the case; the local organizing committee 

[LOC] was responsible for setting the fee, collecting 

it, and paying the bills. Any loss incurred was the 

responsibility of the LOC; any profit was therefore 

regarded by the LOC as its to dispose of as it saw fit. 

In particular, the Secretary General said that the 

Association had no power to waive registration fees 

charged, for example, to invited speakers or to young 

scientists or to those from developing countries. The 

hard financial facts were that someone had to pay to 

cover each registrant's share of unavoidable costs. 

Gough suggested that when discussing the level of 

registration fees, one should always have in mind the 

inflation of costs that had occurred over the last four 

decades in almost all countries of the world. 

INTERMAGNET: The Secretary General intimated that the 

Union had included a request for $10000 from ICSU to 

assist with operating costs of the INTERMAGNET project. 

The Executive Committee agreed that in future years the 

Division Leaders should be asked to suggest other 

projects that can be proposed for the ICSU annual 

grants. The Secretary General reported that the sum 

available each year is typically $10000 at most, and is 

limited to one per Association, with three altogether 

from the Union. 

IX Any other competent business 

1993 Scientific Assembly: Vilas spoke of the current 

state of preparations for the Seventh Scientific 

Assembly to be held in C6rdoba, Argentina, 8-20 August 

1993. He reported that the local organizing committee 

had appointed Dr Pablo Canziani as Secretary. The 

Argentinian National Committee was backing legislation 

to have the period October 12, 1992, to October 12, 

1993, decreed "Argentine Geophysical Year". [The 

significance of the date is that it is exactly 500 years 

on from the discovery of America by Columbus.] Vilas 

also presented a written statement from the Local 

Organizing Committee endorsing the concept of the 

universality of science and affirming the rights of 

11


scientists throughout the world to adhere to, or 

associate with, international scientific activity in 

accordance with the Statutes of the ICSU. Vilas' account 

was welcomed by the Executive Committee . 

International Laboratory of Numerical Electromagnetic 

Modelling [ILONEM]: Gough brought to the Executive 

Committee's attention · that there were problems looming 

in assuring continuing funding of ILONEM. The Executive 

Committee welcomed the report on the activity of ILONEM 

and agreed that it was a valuable international 

resource, noting in particular the widespread 

international use of the facilities. The Executive 

Committee endorsed an approach to UNESCO to seek the 

necessary funding. 

International Equatorial Electrojet Year [IEEY]: The 

President reported that SCOSTEP was setting up the 

International Equatorial Thermosphere Study [lETS], 

under the chairmanship of Professor K D Cole, and this 

could well have a favourable impact on the execution of 

the IEEY. Schmucker agreed to give advice to the 

InterDivisional Commission on Developing Countries on 

approaching international funding agencies. The 

Executive Committee welcomed the acti vi tes in the IEEY 

and urged the organizers to ensure that there was a full 

and free circulation of information about the operations 

within IEEY to avoid inappropriate duplication of 

effort. 

Accuracy of digital geomagnetic data: Sugiura drew to 

the attention of the Executive Committee that there can 

be serious problems in the application of 11 informatics 11 

to the harvesting of geomagnetic data. These data are 

not necessarily more reliable than analogue data because 

it may take time to recognise, for example, that there 

are persistent baseline errors in determination of D t. 

With the rapid dissemination of data through publicatfon 

in compact or optical disc form, the error may become 

embedded in the global data base which a later 

correction does not reach. Rapid entry of data into data 

bases carries risks which may not be given as much 

weight as they ought to have. Sugiura agreed to write on 

this matter in IAGA News. 

Vote of thanks to the Geophysical Institute, Prague: 

Finally, The President thanked the Director and staff of 

the Institute who had made the Executive Committe e 

meeting possible, pleasant, and, through the Institute 

staff's meticulous attention to detail, effective. In 

particular, the special efforts made by Dr Tomas 

Zelinka, Dr Eduard Petrovsky and Madame Hana Prochazkova 

were emphasized by the Executive Committee in passing 

the President's resolution with acclamation. [See the 

inside front cover of this issue of IAGA News.] 

12


LEDGER ACCOUNT 

1 January through 16 August 1990 

[Amounts are in pounds sterling] 

Cash in hand and at bank 

Receipts 

Expenditures: 

Administration 

Personnel 

Supplies and Equipment 

Communications 

Travel 

Miscellaneous 

Association 

Publications 

Assemblies 

Meetings & Symposia 

Grants 

Contracts 

Miscellaneous 

Deposit account 

Current account 

5089.33 

16157.87 

o.oo 

1344.48 

919.17 

793.12 

151.27 

3106.89 

o.oo 

5916.06 

-883.30 

0.00 

o.oo 

9792.48 

107.03 

14 

21247.20 

3208.04 

8139.65 

9899.51 

21247.20

STIB 

E.C. MINUTES 

STRATOSPHERE/TROPOSPHERE INTERACTION WITH THE BIOSPHERE 

STIB is derived from earlier IAMAP and IAGA proposals (MARC 

and MACS) and SCOSTEP has accepted to sponsor and implement 

STIB. 

A scientific steering committee is to be formed by IAGA, 

IAMAP, SCOSTEP and IGBP and will include representatives from 

WCRP and other related programmes. 

The following . names have been proposed for the first phase to 

develop an implementation strategy: 

Project chairmen: M L Chanin (France) 

M Geller (USA} 

Five Working Groups are suggested: 

WGl: Stratospheric Change and the Penetration of UV Radiation 

P Simon (Belgium), J Frederick (USA), K Stamnes 

(Norway), E C de Fabo (USA), B Lars-Glof (Norway) and 

others. 

WG2: Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange 

N Tanaka (Japan) , T Cox 

J P Pommereau (France}, A 

(Japan), L Gray (UK) 

(UK), A Tuck 

Ebel (Germany), 

WG3: Anthropogenic Trends and Natural Variability 

(USA), 

s Kato 

G C Reid (USA}, K Labitzke (Germany), I Hirota (Japan), 

G Megie (France), L Hood (USA), M Schoeberl (USA), 

Kotliakov (USSR) 

WG4: Stratospheric Aerosols and Their Influence on Climate 

R Turco (USA) , P McCormick (USA) , Y Fouquart (France) 

and others 

WGS: Impact of Stratospheric Changes on Climate 

T Matsuno (Japan), D Ring (USA), G Brasseur (USA), 

B Beville (USA), D Cariolle (France) and others 

15


ABSTRACTS 

IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY, VIENNA 1991 

Please note that abstracts are required for all submitted papers regardless of the way of presentation 

(oral or poster presentations). Because of the huge number of expected papers, retyping of 

abstracts by the staff of the Local Organizing Committee is impossible. Therefore, only cameraready 

abstracts can be accepted. Please adhere carefully to the following instructions: 

• Use white paper of A4 size (21.0 x 29.7 em). If A4 size is not available, you may use 8.5 x 

11 inches paper. 

• Authors having access to a wordprocessing system are recommended to use 12 or 13 point 

fonts with 14 or 16 point line spacing. If the paper is conventionally typed, a 10 character / inch 

font size with a 1 1/2 line spacing is appropriate. 

• The title should be typed centered in boldface capital letters, leaving a 3.8 em {1.5 inches) 

margin at the top. After the title, leave one line blank, give the author(s) plus (brief) 

address(es), underlining the speaker. Leave another line blank, and start with the text. 

• The text area\is confined to 15.2 em (6 inches) in width and 12.7 em (5 inches) in height. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Please provide the following information below your abstact: 

• Full name, title, affiliation, and full address of the first speaker. 

• The preferred symposium for presentation. 

• Identify your presentation preference (oral or poster). 

• Special presentation requirements for oral presentations (e.g. slide projector(s), overhead 

projector(s), video beam, video recorder, etc.). 

• If a poster presentation is preferred, please provide an estimate for presentation area. Display 

boards are 2 x 1m (78.7 x 39.4 inches) in size. 

16

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS 

ASSEMBLY 1991 

Acceptance of papers for the IAGA scientific session is made 

on ·the basis of an abstract submitted by prospective 

participants in the sessions. The abstracts should be sent to 

the convenor of the appropriate session, whose address is 

given in the detailed listing of the Call for Papers [pages 

19-43]. 

Abstracts must be typed according to the format shown on the 

opposite page [page 16]. The top copy should be sent to the 

session convenor to arrive no later than February 28, 1991. A 

second copy should be sent at the same time to the Secretary 

General of IAGA (whose address is at the bottom of this page). 

The convenor has to arrange his programme schedule and send 

it, and the abstracts, to the Local Organizing Committee [LOC] 

no later than March 14, 1991. The material for printing has to 

be in the hands of the LOC no later than March 31, ·1991, if it 

is to be printed in the Assembly books. Any abstracts or 

schedules arriving later than this date may well finish up in 

the shredder or in the incinerator! 

In response to complaints about polypresentations at the 

Exeter Assembly [see IAGA News No.28, page 70], the Secretary 

General is going to ask convenors to reject papers from an 

author when his or her name appears on the author lists of 

more than four contributed papers. 

If you intend to ask IAGA for financial help in attending the 

meeting, the person to address is the Division Leader or 

InterDivisional Commission Leader for the session or session 

in which you wish to participate. His address may be found at 

the head of the Division or Commission Listing in pages 19-43. 

However, the bad news is that funds are rather tight for 1991 

and the Leaders will not have very much money to dispose of. 

In the following pages, Divisions are listed in numerical 

order, followed by the InterDivisional Commissions [pages 

40,41], and finally, the InterAssoc,iation sessions are listed. 

You should refer to the Third Circular of the LOC (issued in 

October or November of 1990) for details of the IUGG symposia 

and lectures. 

Dr M Gadsden 

Physics Unit 

Fraser Noble Building 

Aberdeen University 

Aberdeen AB9 2UE 

SCOTLAND (UK) 

17


REGISTRATION 

The current information from Vienna [October 1990] is that 

registration fees for the Assembly will be as follows: 

Until Until At the 

Participant 1 March l July Assembly 

Delegate 2650 3350 3650 

Yo ung scientist 600 1500 1700 

Accompanying 1000 1200 1400 

These figures may be subject to change by the LOC in Vienna 

and the final rates should be taken from the third circular of 

the LOC . 

The amounts are shown in ATS (Austrian shillings}; on 

4 October 1990, the following international spot exchange 

rates were listed on the London exchange and may be used for 

approximate calculations: 

UK pound sterling 

Australian dollar 

Austrian shilling 

Belgian franc 

Danish crown 

Finnmark 

French Franc 

De utschmark 

Guilder 

Rupee 

Lira 

Yen 

New Zealand dollar 

Norwegian crown 

Pe seta 

Swedish crown 

USA dollar 

1.000 

2.292 

20.-60 

62.10 

11.14 

6.954 

10 . 085 

3.013 

3 .396 

34.35 

2244. 

258.7 

3.091 

11.39 

183.8 

10.80 

l. 9 5 3 

Exchange rates fluctuate, of course, and "tourist rate s" are 

never as favourable as those obtainable on the exchanges . 

18

GAMl.l 

*** CALL FOR PAPERS *** 

DIVISION I - INTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELDS 

Secular Variation; Modern, 

Prehistorical 

Jeremy Bloxham, Dept of Earth & 

Harvard University, 20 Oxford 

MA 02138,USA. [Fax: 617 495 8839] 

Stanislav Braginsky 


Historical and 

Planetary 

Street, 

Sciences, 

Cambridge 

Topics covered will range f rom studies of the short period 

secular variation based on modern observations, through 

studies over hundreds of years from historical observations, 

to studies spanning tens or hundreds of thousands of years 

based on archaemagnetic and palaeomagnetic measurements. The 

symposium should provide a developing insight into the 

geodynamo. 

GAM1.2 Geodynamo Processes and Boundary Conditions 

Andrew M Soward, School of Mathematics, 

The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NEl 7RU, UK. 

David E Loper 

Aspects of geodynamo theory will be considered, including core 

dynamics but excluding direct numerical simulation which will 

be addressed in another session. Conditions at the core-mantle 

interface will be considered 1n relation to boundary 

conditions for dynamo models, including structure, composition 

and dynamics of the D" layer. 

GAM1.3 Numerical Modelling of Planetary Dynamos 

D R Fearn, Dept of Mathematics, Glasgow University, 

University Gardens, Glasgow Gl2 8QW,UK. 

K-H Radler 

All aspects of numerical modelling of planetary dynamos will 

be considered , with particular e mphasis on full 

magnetohydrodynamic dynamos. 

GAM1.4 Core Waves, Instabilities and Surface Flows 

Kathy Whaler, Dept of Earth Sciences, Leeds 

University, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. 

Ibrahim A Eltayeb 

This session will provide a forum for models of 

geomagnetically derived flows at the core surface and their 

interpretation . Topics to be covered include waves in the 

core , shown by the morphology of the field and the westward 

drift, and the initiation, growth and propagation of 

instabilities . 

19

GAMl. 9 EM Studies of the Deep 

Scale Perturbations 

Wallace H Campbell, US 

968), Box 25046, Denver 

236 1519] 

Mikhail S Zhdanov 


Earth by Sq, L, and Planetary 

Geological Survey (Mail Stop 

Colorado 80225, USA. [Fax: 303 

S , L and Dst have been applied successfully to reveal the 

e


GAM1.14 Polarity Transitions and Intervals 

Michel Prevot, Centre Geologique et Geophysique, 

Universite des Sciences et Techniques, 34095 

Montpellier Cedex 5, FRANCE. 

Nobuaki Niitsuma 

Papers are in vi ted on the following topics: Chronology and 

rate of reversals: Polarity superchrons: Records of polarity 

transitions and geomagnetic excursions: Models of the 

reversing geodynamo. 

GAM1.15 Archaeomagnetism 

Mary Kovacheva, Bulgarian 

Geophysical Institute, Acad 

1113 Sofia, BULGARIA. 

J Shaw 

The main emphasis 

results between 

resolution secular 

will also be a 

description, and a call for data. 

Academy 

G Bonchev 

of 

Str, 

Sciences, 

Block 3, 

will be on recent advances, comparison of 

region/ techniques / laboratories, and high 

variation for geomagnetic mode lling. There 

progress report on data bases, format 

GAM1.16 Magnetic Characteristics of Well-Defined Samples 

Franz Heider, I nsti tut fur Allgemeine und Angewandte 

Geophysik, Ludwig Maximili ans Universitat, 

Theresienstr 41, D-8000 Munchen 2, GERMANY. 

B M Moskowitz 

Interest will b e focussed on experiments using synthetic 

samples with well-defined composition, grain size distribution 

and microstructure . Materials of interest are magnetite, TM10- 

TM70, hematite-ilmenite, maghemite, pyrrhotite and goethite. 

Dependence of properties on sample preparation and grain size, 

domain structures, and models will be discussed. 

GAM1.17 Rock Magnetism of Sediments 

M Hyodo, Dept of Earth Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 

657, JAPAN. 

D J Robertson. 

This session will focus on observational technique, results 

and theory of vector and scalar rockmagnetic properties of 

detrital, chemical, biogenic and viscous remanence of all 

types of sediment. Typical applications would be to 

palaeomagnetism, applied geophysics and environmental 

magnetism. Advances in microscopy of magnetic mineral phases 

are also relevant. 

GAMl.lB General Contributions 

Masaru Kono, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary 

Physics, UCLA, Los Angeles CA 90024-1567, USA 

Papers are welcome which do not fit in a specific symposium as 

well as those on themes of wider interest. 

22


PAD Workshop: Global Paleomagnetic Database 

M W McElhinny 

C E Barton, Bureau of Mineral Resources, PO Box 3 78, 

Canberra, AUSTRALIA. [Fax: 62 488178] 

H Mauritsch 

This is the first of a series of databases being developed 

through Division I for aspects of paleomagnetism and rock 

magnetism and will be completed during 1991. It uses the 

ORACLE Relational Database MAnagements System incorporating 

the International Standard Language for RDBMS known as SQL 

[Structured Query Language] and will become available to users 

through the World Data Centers at nominal cost. The purpose of 

the workshop is to provide potential users with a short course 

on the design of the database and the use of SQL to make 

queries. 

DIVISION II - AERONOMIC PHENOMENA 

GAM2 .1 Electrodynamics of the Middle Atmosphere 

Richard A Goldberg, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 

Code 696, Greenbelt 

D Sentman 

MD 20771, USA. 

The electrodynamic response of the middl e atmosphere to 

internal and external forcing, including electric fields, 

energetic particles, thunderstorms, em radiation and gravity 

waves. Relevant topics include also polar mesospheric radar 

echoes and the influence of charged aerosols, noctilucent 

clouds, ionospheric irregularities and turbulence. 

GAM2.2 Energy Transfer and Photochemical Excitation Processes 

in Airglow and Aurora: 60 Years after Chapman 

John W Meriwether, AFGL/LID, Hanscom AFB MA 01731, 

USA. 

K Henriksen 

Chapman's 1931 paper suggested the basic process for 

excitation of the 557.7 nm nightglow emission. In celebration 

of the 60th anniversary, this session will deal with all 

energy transfer and photochemical processes playing important 

roles in airglow and aurora. Excitation by direct particle 

impact will not be considered except where comparison with 

indirect excitation is relevant. 

23


GAM2. 12 Comparisons of the Dynamics of the Arctic and 

Antarctic Po1ar Middle Atmosphere 

J M Forbes, Dept of Electrical, Computer & Systems 

Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215, 

USA. 

A O'Neill 

Primary emphasis will be on comparisons between dynamical 

features of the two circulation systems and their causal 

mechanisms with submission of papers on plane tary and tidal 

wave propagation, gravity wave filtering and breaking, 

wave/mean flow interactions, and coupling between atmospheric 

regions (including both the troposphere and the lower 

thermosphere) . 

GAM2.13 Modelling and Observations 

Constituents 

John A Pyle, Physical 

University, Lensfield Road, 

J Russell 

of Ozone and other Minor 

Chemistry Dept, Cambridge 

Cambridge CB2 lEP, UK. 

Papers are solicited on all aspects of ozone change, globally 

and at high latitudes, and on measurements for the study of 

the middle atmosphere changes from the ground, aircraft, 

balloons or satellites. Multi-dimensional modelling of 

dynamics, chemistry and tra snport will be included in the 

symposium. 

GAM2 . 14 Midd1e Atmosphere Coupling with Global Change 

Byron A Boville, NCAR, PO Box 3000, Boulde r 

CO 80307, USA 

K P Shine 

The symposium will address potential interactions between 

changes in the surface/troposphe re system and the middle 

atmosphere and will provide a forum for presenting results on 

the coupling and how it may produce trends in o ne region from 

changes originating in another. Changes resulting from ozone 

depletion, cloud amounts or properties, and sea i c e extent may 

be discussed . 

GAM2 .15 Heterogeneous Chemistry and Aerosol Physics: the "New 

Chemistry" of the Middle Atmosphere 

Richard Turco, 720 El Medio Ave, Pacific Palisades 

CA 90295, USA. 

S Solomon 

The chemical and microphysical properties of particulate 

matte r in the middle atmosphere and the e ffects of the 

particles will be discussed. Papers are welcomed on 

measurements or analyses of aerosol characteristics 

composition, chemical activity, size and morpho logy, global 

distribution and mode lling studies of formation, evolution, 

and effects. 

26


GAM2. 16 Dynamic Coupling of the Middle Atmosphere with the 

Troposphere and Thermosphere 

R A Vincent, Physics Dept, University of Adeiaide, GPO 

Box 498, Adelaide SA 5001, AUSTRALIA. 

C 0 Hines 

Observational, theoretical and modelling studies of the middle 

atmosphere at midlatitudes and low latitudes, with particular 

emphasis on dynamical coupling in the vertical. Contributions 

are specially welcome on the identification of wave sources, 

the causes of variability of energy and momentum transport, 

and the response of the middle atmosphere. 

GAM2.17 Noctilucent and Mesospheric Clouds 

Gary Thomas, Laboratory for Atmospheric 

Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder 

80309-0392, USA 

0 A Avaste 

and Space 

Colorado 

Current research dealing with noctilucent clouds, polar 

mesospheric clouds, and polar mesosphere summertime echoes 

will be discussed together with future measurement campaigns. 

GAM2.18 Conjugate Perspectives upon Geospace Environments 

John R Dudeney, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, 

Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET [Fax: 223 62616] 

R A Greenwald 

Conjugate processes will be emphasized, and in particular the 

low altitude geospace response (both large scale and local, 

transient) to solar wind and IMF variability. Contributions 

will be welcomed from experimenters using radars, magnetometer 

chains, optical instruments, satellite/groundbased comparisons 

etc., as well as from modellers and other theoreticians. 

DIVISION III - MAGNETOSPHERIC PHENOMENA 

GAM3.1 ULF-MHD Waves: Transport and Excitation 

K-H Glassmeier, Institut fur Geophysik, Universitat zu 

Koln, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, D-5000 K5ln 41, GERMANY. 

K Takahashi 

This symposium aims to stimulate work on detailed comparisons 

of observational results and theoretical ideas concerning 

source mechanisms. Observational and theoretical papers are 

invite d on the se topics as well as those dealing with work on 

energy, stress and information transfer between and within 

different magnetospheric plasma regions. 

The papers sessions will be followed by an evening workshop on 

ULF Waves (W Allan). 

27


GAM3.2 Multi-ion Plasmas: Transport and Interactions 

Eberhard Mobius, Max-Planck-Institut 

Extraterrestrische Physik, D-8046 Garching 

Munchen, GERMANY. 

D M Klumpar 

fur 

bei 

Papers in this symposium are i ntended to emphasize the 

magnetospheric roles of various ion species from internal 

sources. Contributors will be encouraged to make use of 

existing data sets from all the magnetospheres in the Solar 

System. Results from passive and actives experiments on the 

CERES mission are solicited. 

GAM3.3 Global Magnetospheric Modelling and Dynamics 

G-Hannes Voigt, Space Physics Dept, Rice University, 

Houston TX 77251-1892, USA. [Fax: 713 285 5143] 

N A Tsyganenko 

This symposium will give modellers and users o f the models an 

opportunity to discuss issues, reveal innovations, demonstrate 

improvements and extensions, and compare models with 

observations. 

GAM3.4 Convective Flows in High-latitude Ionosphere and 

Related Magnetospheric Processes 

Stanley W H Cowley, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial 

College, London SW7 2BZ, UK. 

D N Baker 

This symposium seeks to present advances in specifying 

convection types and advances in developing models of largescale 

magnetospheric features and p rocesses and in relating 

them to convection modes. Observational and theoretical papers 

are sought. 

GAM3 . 5 Simulations of Space Plasma Processes 

M Ashour-Abdalla, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary 

Physics, UCLA, Los Angeles CA 90024-1567, USA 

J Berchem 

This symposium offers a forum· to present recent results of 

magnetospheric simulations which emphasize the comparison 

between spacecraft measurements and simulation studies. It 

will also aim to foster the use of simulation techniques and 

results by a wider segment of the magnetospheric community 

than has hitherto been the case . 

GAM3.6 General Contributions 

Y Kamide , Kyoto Sangyo University, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603, 

JAPAN. 

GAM3.7 Reporter Reviews and Business Meeting 

George L Siscoe, 68 Dutton Road, Sudbury MA 01776 , 

USA [Fax: 508 443 8559] 

Reviews will be pre s ented dealing with the magnetospheric 

boundary, magnetospheric plasma populations, energetic 

particle populations , substorms, magnetosphere/ionosphere 

interactions, planetary magnetospheres, active and laboratory 

experiments, wave/particle interactions, and ULF wave s. 

28


GAM3.8 Mapping of the Auroral Oval to the Magnetosphere 

Pekka Tanskanen, Physics Dept, Oul u University, SF- 

90570 Oulu, FINLAND. [Fax: 358 81 561 278] 

G Gustafsson 

Characteristic signatures and morphology of various auroral 

and magnetospheric domains (cusp, cleft, polar cap, discrete 

aurora, diffuse aurora) ; connection (coupling, mapping, etc) 

of low altitude and high altitude regimes (magnetopause, 

mantle, boundary layer, plasma sheet, magnetotail); new 

findings from the CDAW-9 studies. 

GAM3.9 Conjugate Perspectives upon Geospace Environments 

John R Dudeney, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, 

Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET [Fax: 223 62616] 

R A Greenwald 

Conjugate processes will be emphasized, and in particular the 

low altitude geospace response (both large scale and local, 

transient) to solar wind and I MF variability. Contributions 

will be welcomed from experimenters using radars, magnetometer 

chains, optical instruments, satellite/groundbas ed comparisons 

etc ., as well as f rom modellers and oth er theoreticians . 

GAM3 .10 Geophysical Phenomena in the Polar Cap for Northward 

IMF 

0 A Troshichev, Arctic & Antarctic Research Institute , 

Leningrad 199226, USSR. 

W J Burke 

The sessions will consist of invited papers only, but 

contributed poster papers o n the following topics will be 

welcome: Optical emissions; Polar cap precipitation; Field 

aligned currrents and plasma convection; Magnetospheric 

measurements; Empirical models of magnetospheric processes; 

Analytical models; Computer simulations. 

GAM3 .11 Small and Medium Scale Auroral Disturbances 

Relation to Magnetospheric Boundary Layers 

E Friis-Christensen, Danish Meteorological 

Geophysics Division, Lyngbyvei 100, DK- 2100 

0, DENMARK. 

A Steen 

W J Heikkila 

and Their 

Institute, 

Copenhagen 

An important question is mapping from the boundary l ayers t o 

t h e ionosphere, in particular how boundary layer fluctuations 

are observed in the i onosphere in terms of changes in 

ionospheric plasma flow and particle precipitation patterns. 

29


GAM3. 12 Ionospheric Structures and Processes: Their Relation 

and Feedback to the Magnetosphere 

Alan S Rodger, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, 

Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK. [Fax: 223 

62616] 

A Brekke 

The consequences arising from ionospheric conductivity changes 

produced both by solar radiation and by energetic particle 

precipitation will be discussed as well as the magnetospheric 

effects of ionospheric dynamo fields. Because the ionosphere 

is a major source of magnetospheric plasma, the sources and 

upward acceleration mechanisms for cool plasma will be 

considered also. 

GAM3.13 Planetary Atmospheres and Magnetospheres 

Frances Bagenal, 

Atmospheric Sciences 

CO 80309-0391, USA. 

W-H Ip 

Studies of the atmospheres, 

the planets. 

Astrophysical, Planetary & 

Dept., Campus Box 391, Boulder 

[Fax: 303 492 0642] 

ionospheres and rnagne tospheres of 

GAM3 .14 From the Bow Shock to the Magnetopause: the 

Magnetos heath 

David G Sibeck, Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns 

Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel 

MD 20707-6099, USA. 

Mark A Saunders 

Stephen A Fuselier 

Oleg L Vaisberg 

Consideration will be given to case studies and statistical 

observational studies of transient events and the steady state 

magnetosheath structure in the context of n ew and existing 

magnetosheath models. Bow shock and magnetopause studies with 

emphasis upon the magnetosheath are also invited . 

GAM3 .15 Physics and Predictions of Magnetic Storms and 

Disturbances 

J A Joselyn, Hiraiso Solar Terrestrial Research 

Center, 3601 Isozaki, Nakaminato, I baraki 311-12, 

JAPAN. [Fax: 292 65 7209] 

C T Russell 

The session will cover geomagnetic storm phenomenology; the 

physics underlying storm commencement, main phase development 

and recovery; and the problem of prediction, beginning with 

solar observations. A panel discussion will consider the 

current state of the art and requirements for progress. 

30


GAM3. 16 Informatics in Geomagnetism and Solar-terrestrial 

Physics 

Tohu Araki, Data Analysis Center for Geomagnetism & 

Space Magnetism, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, 

Kyoto 606, JAPAN. 

R Walker 

V Papitashvili 

This will be a review of the status of data systems for 

geomagnetism and solar terrestrial physics and will discuss 

the problems faced by these systems and the future of world 

data centres. There will be emphasis on directory and database 

management systems, mass storage media for digital and 

analogue data, computer graphics and the use of networks. 

GAM3.17 Separation of Core, Lithosphere and External Magnetic 

Fields 

Chris Harrison, RSMAS, Miami University, 4600 

Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami 

Juha Korhonen 

Robert Clauer 

FL 33149, USA. 

The purpose of this session is to discuss how the various 

components of a field measured outside the solid Earth are 

separated and how the interpretation of the field will differ 

according to the methods of separation. The convenors 

encourage participation from scientists interested in 

magnetospheric and ionospheric problems as well as core 

modellers and crustal anomaly experts. 

GAM3.18 Wave-induced Particle Precipitation 

A J Smith, British Antarctic Survey, 

Madi ng 1 ey Road, Cambridge CB 3 OET, UK. 

62616] 

U S Inan 

High Cross, 

[Fax: 223 

Of particular interest is the precipitation of electrons by 

whistler-mode waves and the precipitation of ring-current ions 

by em and es waves. Papers on measurement of wave-induced 

precipitation effects as well as on theoretical and computerbased 

modelling of the interactions and the associated 

ionospheric effects are invited . 

III-3 Magnetospheric Models and their Assessment 

G-Hannes Voigt, Space Physics Dept, Rice University, 

Houston TX 77251-1892, USA. [Fax: 713 285 5143] 

N A Tsyganenko, University of Leningrad, USSR. 

This will be a tutorial workshop for Working Group III-3 and 

is scheduled for Monday and Wednesday evenings in the second 

week, after the business meeting of III-3 on Thursday evening 

in the first week. 

31


DIVISION IV - SOLAR WIND AND INTERPLANETARY FIELD 

GAM4.1 General Contributions 

Tamas I Gombosi, Space Physics Research Laboratory, 

Department for Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space 

Sciences, The University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward 

Avenue, Ann Arbor .Michigan 48109, USA [Fax: 313 863 

5567] 

GAM4. 2 Reporter Reviews 

Tamas I Gombosi, Space Physics Research Laboratory, 

Department for Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space 

Sciences, The University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward 

Avenue, Ann Arbor Michigan 48109, USA [Fax: 313 863 

5567] 

There will be invited reviews summarizing the latest results 

in the following areas: solar wind interaction with come ts; 

solar wind interaction with Mars and Venus; shocks in the 

heliosphere; turbulence in the heliosphere, in the Sun and in 

the source regions of the solar wind; large scale structure of 

the heliosphere; and solar wind interaction with the 

interstellar medium. 

GAM4. 3 MHD Mode1ling and Kinetic Simulations as Tools of 

Heliospheric Physics 

Raymond J Walker, Space Science Center, Institute of 

Geophysics & Planetary Physics, 6843 Stichter Hall, 

405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90024-1567, USA . 

[Fax: 213 206 8042] 

A S Lipatov 

H Schmidt 

H Washimi 

The symposium will concentrate on the use of computer 

simulations as an aid in understanding heliospheric physics, 

and will include presentations on simulation processes, 

critical reviews of simulation results and papers on new 

simulation studies. Both MHO and kinetic simulations of the 

solar wind and its interaction with planets and come t s will be 

presented . 

GAM4.4 The Outer Heliosphere 

Alan J Lazarus , Center for Space Research, 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA 

02139, USA. [Fax: 617 253 0861] 

E Smith 

L I Dorman 

D S I ntrilligator 

Subjects include (but not limited to) the global morphology of 

the heliosphere; the termination shock, the h e liopause, and 

the outer shock; observational evidence (from the solar wind, 

cosmic rays, radio and UV) related to the structure and/or 

dynamics of the heliosphere; a nd observations use d to infer 

the properties of the local interstellar medium. 

32


GAM4.5 Suprathermal Particle Acceleration in the Beliosphere 

Thomas E Cravens, Dept of Physics & Astronomy, Kansas 

University, Lawrence KA 66045, USA. 

S Fischer 

M A Lee 

W-H Ip 

Suprathermal particle acceleration can result from a 

combination of mechanisms such as shock acceleration, coherent 

and turbulent wave/particle interactions, magnetic 

reconnection, field-aligned electic fields and betatron 

acceleration. Papers outlining recent theoretical and 

experimental progress will be covered by invited and 

contributed papers . 

GAM4.6 Mass Loading in the Solar System 

Tamara K Breus, Space Research Institute, USSR Academy 

of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya 88/34, Moscow 117810, 

USSR. [Fax: 095 310 7023] 

S Stahara 

C T Russell 

E Marsch 

The interaction of flowing plasma with neutral gases occurs 

throughout the solar system, for example the interaction of 

the solar wind with insterstellar gas, and the formation of 

ion boundaries and tails in the interaction with outgassing 

cometary nuclei. Papers discussing mass loading of plasma 

streams in a variety of environments will be welcome. 

GAM4 . 7 Plasma Environments of Mars and Venus 

Andrew F Nagy, Space Physics Researc h laboratory, 

Michigan University, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143, USA. 

[Fax: 313 763 5607] 

A V Zakharov 

M I Verigin 

H Rosenbauer 

Invited and contributed papers describing observations and 

theoretical model developments. 

GAM4 .8 Unexplained and Paradox Phenomena in the Solar Wind 

G K Zastenker, Space Research Institute, USSR Academy 

of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya 84/32, 117810 Moscow, 

USSR. 

D J McComas 

Peter Bochsler 

Several puzzling events and phenomena have been reported and 

show that there are unresolved problems c oncerning the origin, 

distribution and interactions of the solar wind. Papers on 

these unresolved probl e ms are welcome. 

33


GAM4 . 9 Comets 

Konrad Schwingenschuh, Space Research Institute, 

Austrian Academy of Sciences, Inffeldgasse 12, A-8010 

Graz, AUSTRIA. 

Tatsuki Ogino 

A P Remizov 

The main objective will be to discuss new results about the 

solar wind interaction with ·comets, cometary dust and neutral 

gas environments, and comparisons between comets and other 

outgassing solar system bodies. Papers will describe 

investigations using the results of in situ or Earth-based 

observations, computer simulations or theoretical conclusions. 

GAM4 .10 The Interplanetary Magnetic Field: Observations and 

Models 

I S Veselovsky, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow 

State University, Moscow 119899, USSR. 

N U Crooker 

T Saito 

The following topics will be covered: 3D time-dependent and 

averaged IMF; Heliospheric current sheet structure; Largescale 

magnetic fields. Observational and theoretical papers 

will be welcome. 

GAM4. 11 From the Bow Shock to the Magnetopause: the 

Magnetos heath 

David G Sibeck, Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns 

Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel MD 

20707-6099, USA. 

Mark A Saunders 

Stephen A Fuselier 

Oleg L Vaisberg 

Consideration will be given to case studies and statistical 

observational studies of transient events and the steady state 

magnetosheath structure in the context of new and existing 

magnetosheath models. Bow shock and magnetopause studies with 

emphasis upon t he magnetosheath are also invited. 

GAM4.12 The Microphysics of Shocks and Other Discontinuities 

Michelle F Thomsen, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 

Mail Stop D438, Los Alamos NM 87545, USA. 

Steven J Schwartz 

V G Es e levich 

Stephen H Brecht 

Transitions in plasmas are in r ealit y ne ve r discontinuous but 

occ ur t hrough finite spatial scalele ngths. Properties like 

transport and dissipation depe nd crucia lly upon the 

microphysics of the transition . Rece nt research on the shocks, 

tange ntial discontinuities, contact discontinuities etc. will 

be t he focus of this symposium. 

34


GAM4.13 Wakes and Tails in the Solar Wind: Formation, Dynamics 

and Dissipation 

Oleg L Vaisberg, Space Research Institute, USSR 

Academy of Sciences, 84/32 Profsoyuznaya St, 117810 

Moscow GSP-7, USSR 

J G Luhman 

J A Slavin 

L M Zeleny 

Various aspects of the formation and dissipation of plasma 

tails of planets and other solar system bodies will be 

addressed. Both magnetized and weakly magnetized (nonmagnetic) 

bodies will be discussed . 

DIVISION V - OBSERVATORIES, INSTRUMENTS, 

INDICES AND DATA 

GAM5 .1 Secular variation: modern, historical and 

prehistorical 

Jeremy Bloxham, Dept o f Earth & Planetary Sciences, 

Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA 

U2138,USA. [Fax: 617 495 8839] 

Stanislav Braginsky 

Topics covered will range from studies of the short period 

secular variation based on modern observations, through 

studies over hundreds of years from historical observations, 

to studies spanning tens or hundreds of thousands of years 

b·a sed on archaeomagnetic and palaeomagnetic measurements. The 

symposium should provide a developing insight into the 

geodynamo. 

GAM5.2 Separation of Core, Lithosphere and External Magnetic 

Fields 

Chris Harrison, RSMAS, 

Rickenbacker Causeway, Mimai 

Juha Korhonen 

Robert Clauer 

Miami University, 

FL 33149, USA. 

4600 

The purpose of this s ession is to discuss how the various 

component s of a field measured outside the solid Earth are 

s eparated and how the interpretation of the field will differ 

according to the methods of separation. The convenors 

encourage participation from scientists interest ed in 

magnetospheric and ionospheric problems as well as core 

modellers and crustal anomaly experts. 

35


GAMS.ll Severe Geomagnetic Activity and its 

Activities 

D H Boteler, Research School of 

Victoria University of Wellington, 

Wellington, NEW ZEALAND. 

Alex Zaitzev 

Effect 

Earth 

PO 

on Human 

Sciences, 

Box 600, 

Severe geomagnetic acti vi t_y has demonstrated the vul nerabi 1 i ty 

of power systems, computers, . and other equipment. This session 

will examine the characteristics of severe disturbances and 

consider their effects on technological systems. Also included 

will be the possible relation between geomagnetic activity and 

the occurrence of certain medical conditions. 

GAM5.12 Informatics in Geomagnetism and Solar-terrestrial 

Physics 

Tohu Araki, Data Analysis Center for Geomagnetism & 

Space Magnetism, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, 

Kyoto 606, JAPAN. 

R Walker 

V Papitashvili 

This will be a review of the status of data systems for 

geomagnetism and solar terrestrial physics and will discuss 

the problems faced by these systems and the future of world 

data centres. There will be emphasis on directory and database 

management systems, mass storage media for digital and 

analogue data, computer graphics and the use of networks. 

GAM5.13 Petromagnetic Properties and Magnetic Anomalies of the 

Lithosphere 

Patrick T Taylor, Code 622, NASA/Goddard Space Flight 

Center, Greenbelt MD 20771, USA. 

P Wasilewski 

W Hinze 

C Raymond 

Magnetic anomaly maps show a geologically-interesting array of 

anomalies covering a broad spectral range. The source of the 

long-wavelength anomalies are pa.rtcularly problematic in terms 

of source depth, petrology and magnetic mineralogy. This 

symposium will explore the nature and source of these 

anomalies. 

GAM5.14 Geomagnetic Studies of the Polar Lithosphere 

Ralph R B von Freese, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio 

State University, 103 Mendenhall Laboratory, 125 South 

Oval Mall, Columbus OH 43210-1308, USA. 

Wilhelm Bosum 

Arctic and antarctic geology is used for new insight on the 

tectonic evolution of the continents and oceans and magnetic 

surveying plays a central role in geologically mapping the 

polar regions. This session will consider the progress in and 

problems of mapping, processing, and interpreting magnetic 

anomalies of the polar lithosphere. 

38


GAM5.15 The Analysis of Satellite Scalar Magnetic Data 

Coerte V Voorhies, Geology & Geomagnetism Branch Code 

922/ NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt 

MD 20771, USA . [Fax: 301 286 9200] 

F J Lowes 

J M Quinn 

Satellite scalar magnetic data are rich in information on the 

evolvi ng internal, anomaly, and external fields, yet such 

global survey data are nonlinear in standard model parameters 

and their analysis is not without ambiguity. Contributions are 

sought on all aspects of the analysis of satellite scalar 

magnetic data. 

GAM5.16 Planetary Magnetic Fields: Results and Prospects 

Mario H Acuna, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 

695, Greenbelt MD 20771, USA. 

J Achache 

This session will consider results from satellite surveys of 

the magnetic fields of the Earth and other bodies in the solar 

system. Discussion of plans for future satellite missions for 

planetary magnetic surveys wil l also be included. 

GAM5 . 17 Advances in Mathematical Analysis of Magnetic 

Anomalies 

Jafar Arkani-Hamed, Dept of Geological sciences, 

McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, CANADA. 

Richard Blakely 

Mathematical analysis, inversion, filtering, reduction-to-thep 

o le, fractal behaviour, forward modelling, is the basis for 

quantitative interpretations of magnetic data. Topics to be 

discussed in this session are the most recent mathematical 

methods developed for global and regional studies, with 

emphasis on technique rather than upon case studies. 

GAM5.18 National and International Magnetic Anomalies -Recent 

Results and Comparisons 

Peter Hood , Room 559, Geological Survey of Canada, 601 

Booth Street, Ottawa Ontario KlA OE8, CANADA. [Fax: 

613 996 9990] 

Colin Reeves 

M Qureshy 

National and international magnetic anomaly maps have been 

useful in unravelling the geological h i story of both 

continental and adjacent oceanic crusts. Poster papers are 

invite d which present comparisons with known geology and 

presenting new geological interpretations of the magnetic 

anomaly data and other geophysical data. 

39


GAM5.19 Magnetic Anomaly Data Data 

Presentation 

W E Urquhardt, 24 Mowat Avenue, 

3E8, CANADA. 

H Meyers 

Sets I Management I and 

Toronto Ontario M6K 

Poster papers are invited to show compilations of magnetic 

anomaly data, with special emphasis on techniques for access 

and display. All contributions relating to management and 

presentation of the data are welcome, specially those 

referring to storage on optical discs and software allowing 

scientists to browse through the data. 

INTERDIVISIONAL COMMISSION ON HISTORY 

GAM6.l Pioneers in Geophysical Research 

W Schroder, Geophysikalische Station, Hechelstrasse 8, 

D-2820 Bremen-Roennebeck, GERMANY . 

M Colacino 

G P Gregori 

V Eucha 

This session will deal with t h e influence of outstanding 

scientists, scientific institutions, and ideas o n the 

development of IAGA science. 

GAM6. 2 Historical Data for Variability of Solar and 

Geomagnetic Activity 

W Schroder, Geophysikalische Station, Hechelstrasse 8 , 

D-2820 Bremen- Roennebeck, GERMANY. 

A Brekke 

H-j Haubold 

D Willis 

The topics will be: variabili ty of the Sun over millenia; 

reality of the Maunder minimum; aurora data 1000-1800 AD; 

validity and importance of historical data and sources. 

40


INTERDIVISIONAL COMMISSION ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 

GAM7.1 Prospects for IEEY: World Observations and Coordinated 

Experiments 

Cyril A Onwumechili, 18 Colin Close, Colindale, London 

NW9 6RT, UK. 

G K Rangarajan 

N B Trivedi 

Preparation, planning 

experiments to be 

Equatorial Electrojet 

1993] by internaional 

from the simultaneous 

network. 

and coordination of observations and 

conducted during the International 

Year [IEEY: September 1991 to March 

scientific groups. Preliminary results 

operation of a low latitude geomagnetic 

GAM7.2 Priorities in Geomagnetism and Aeronomy in Developing 

Countries 

Attia A Ashour, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, 

Giza, EGYPT. 

M A Abdu 

This session will address priority areas of research in 

geomagnetism and aeronomy in developing countries, taking into 

account their specific geomagnetic and geographic situations 

and science and technology needs and objectives. Contributions 

are solicited on recent results and future plans of 

activities. 

41

IAGA NEWS NO. 29 

Excursions and Visits 

Commission on History: 

OTHER SESSIONS, MEETINGS & EXCURSIONS 

arranged by the InterDivisinal 

6.A Manuscript department of the Austrian National Library. 

Date to be arranged, and announced by notice during the 

Assembly. 

The manuscript department will be showing occasinal 

letters, pictures, scienti fie correspondence from the 

past relating to scientists, artists and musicians. The 

numbers are restricted to 15-20 persons. 

6 • B Globe and chart collection in the Austrian National 

Library. Date to be arranged, and announced by notice 

during the Assembly. 

The numbers are restricted to 15-25 persons. 

Organizer: Chairman of the IDC 

Geophysikalische Station, 

Bremen-Roennebeck, GERMANY. 

History: W 

Hechelstrasse 

Session PAD (Saturday, 17th August, morning and afternoon) 

; See the listing under Division I , page 23. 

Schroder, 

8, D-2820 

Joint IAGA/IASPEI session ELAS (Monday, 19th August, morning 

and afternoon) 

ELECTRICAL AND SEISMIC PROPERTIES OF THE LITHOSPHERE 

AND THEIR INTERPRETATION IN TERMS OF 

PHYSICAL STATE AND PETROLOGY 

Convenors: I S Sacks, Departme nt of Terrestrial Magnetism, 

Carnegie Institute, 5241 Broadbranch Road NW, 

Washington DC, USA . 

S Sobolev, Institute of Physics of the Earth, 

Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Bolshaya 

Gruzinskaya 10, Moscow D-242, USSR. 

L L Vanyan, Shishov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow 

11721, USSR. 

42

Session VIK (Monday, 19th August, afternoon) 

VIKING RESULTS: FIVE YEARS AFTER 


Convenor: G Gustafsson, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, 

Uppsala Division, S-755 91 Uppsala,SWEDEN. 

Session S-EM (Thursday, 22 August, afternoon) 

ELECTROMAGNETIC METHODS 

FOR NATURAL DISASTER WARNING 

This is a joint IAGA/IASPEI symposium, organised through the 

ad hoc joint committee on seismo-electromagnetic effects. 

The session will address electric potential methods: crustgenerated 

electromagnetic emissions: seismogenic anomalies in 

atmospheric electricity, the ionosphere and magnetosphere, and 

in radiowave propagation: laboratory experiments. 

Convenors: M Gokhberg, Institute of Physics of the Earth, 

Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Bolshaya 

Gruzinskaya 10, Moscow D-242, USSR. 

M J S Johnston, US Geological 

345 Middlefield Road MS 977, Menlo Park 

USA. 

Survey, 

CA 94025, 

M Parrot, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de 

1' Environnement, CNRS, 3a Avenue de la Recherche 

Scientifique, 45071 Orleans Cedex 02, FRANCE . 

43


observatory is temporarily closed because of a faulty main 

power cable. (A solar-powered l2V battery would allow 

operation until a new power line is installed by the 

government.) There has been no publication since 1980 because 

of shortage of both finance and manpower. 

Asia and the Far East 

The observatories at Colaba, Hyderabad and Ettayapura in India 

are operating well, although there is a lack of spares at the 

last two named. The Marshy (Papua, New Guinea) observatory is 

funded by the government and currently is operating without 

problems. The Gilgi t and Qatta (Pakistan) observatories are 

closed because of lack of spares for the Ruska magnetometers. 

Lumping (Taiwan) observatory has no immediate needs. 

Muntinlupa (Phillipines) observatory was closed in 1988 after 

fire destroyed the variation building. This observatory would 

reopen if funding was available for rebuilding and for spares 

for the recording equipment. 

Middle East and East Europe 

Questionnaires were sent to Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, 

Poland, Portugal, Romania and Turkey. [Editor's note: These 

are not developing countries!] There are no immediate problems 

at most of the observatories, but the EDA instruments in 

Baghdad need repair.· The Sao Miguel (Portugal) observatory is 

closed and its aged equipment needs to be replaced. 

Conclusion 

It was clear from the respo nses and from the informatio n in 

them that tremendous interest in geomagnetism exists in all 

developing countries. Lack of finance to run the observatories 

and make observations and to analyse (compute) r esults is the 

principal chronic problem in sustaining interest and in 

developing the observatories. Research in geomagnetism is 

given small priority in national development plans by most of 

the governments in developing countries . Those countries wit h 

little financial strength cannot buy spares because no foreign 

exchange is available for the purchase. In some cases , the 

observatory equipment is so out-of-date that t he manufacturer 

no longer stocks spares or recording materials. 

A way should be found to help needy observatories meet their 

expenses, upgrade their equipment to digital format, and to 

re-establish a flow of data that is fully acceptable to the 

global scientific community in both quality and currency . 

48

COLUMBUS I EGG 

N Fukushima 

Geophysics Reserach Laboratory 

University of Tokyo 

Tokyo 113 JAPAN 


Several years ago I happened to know that English-speaking 

people usually do not understand the idiom "Columbus' Egg", 

although most of them say that they have read a story about 

this episode. In many of languages other than English (even in 

Japanese) "Columbus' Egg" is used as an idiom meaning "an 

unexpectedly simple solution for a seemingly insoluble 

problem" or "unthinkably easy". I found in a Japanese-English 

colloquial dictionary that "deceptively easy" will be an 

adequate expression to have English-speaking people understand 

what is meant by "Columbus' Egg". 

In the h istory of sciences, an occasional stepwise advance in 

our knowledge is owed in most cases to an idea of "Columbus' 

Egg". Hence the progress in sciences is a compilation or 

series of "Columbus' Eggs". In these days, English or broken 

English is generally used among scientists for international 

communication of their opinions or of new results. We 

sometimes want to use the idiom "Columbus' Egg" for 

introducing our own new ideas with some modesty but it is very 

inconvenient that this idiom is unknown in English. 

We must be very careful, however, that "Columbus' Egg" has 

sometimes other meanings in some languages. I have the 

following interesting experience. In November 1987 I had the 

honour of giving a public talk in the municipal hall of 

Huancayo in Peru in commemoration of the 65th anniversay of 

the establishment of Hunacayo Magnetic Observatory. I spoke in 

English: my speech was translated into Spanish sentence by 

sentence. I use d some viewgraphs on the overhead projector, 

all of which are written in English except for the one phrase 

"Columbus' Egg" which was written in Spanish. I wanted to 

emphasize the importance of ideas of "Columbus' Egg" in the 

progress in sciences including geomagnetism. 

As soon as I showed the viewgraph with the Spanish phrase of 

"Columbus' Egg", the audience began to laugh and I was 

embarrassed . I was told later that "Columbus' Egg" in Spanish 

has a second meaning, which indicates a male organ. I insisted 

that the second meaning should not come to mind becasue I had 

showed the word in singular form and not in plural. However, 

the reply was "It doesn't matter at all whe the r the word is 

given in singular or in plural form". 

I used the same viewgraph in my talks t o space scientists in 

Argentina and in Brazil (where "Columbus' Egg" was written in 

Portugese) with a special remark that this expression is not 

49

COSPAR XXVIII Plenary Meeting 

Symposium MC5: 3-4 July 1990 

(The 

REPORT OF MEET ING 

Hague , Netherlands): 

ENLARGED GROUND AND SPACE DATA BASE FOR IONOSPHERIC MODELLING 

L Bossy 

IASB 

3 Avenue Cir cul aire 

B-1180 Bruxelles 

BELG I UM 

The symposium was organised by t h e URSI/COSPAR Task group on 

the International Reference Ionosphere [ IRI ] and provi ded a 

forum for the annual review of IRI-related activities . Special 

emphasis was given to defining the data requirements for the 

next cycl e of IRI improvements. The latest version [IRI-90] is 

described in a Handbook by D Bilitza which was pre sented at 

this meeting and will be released by the National Space 

Science Data Center [ NSSDC] before the end of 1990 . 

About 30 papers were presented and they will be published in 

Advances in Space Science , with K Rawer and W R Piggott as 

editors. The following account summarizes the presentations , 

discussions and proposed act ions. 

1. Electron density 

1.1 Lower ionosphere: K Friedrich prese nted a compilation of 

about 80 profiles measured worldwide by rocket-borne radio 

wave propagation experiments . He gave simple functions 

describing variations with solar zenith angle at different 

latitudes. A second set of profiles has been assembled by W 

Singer from terrestrial radio wave propagation measure ments at 

diffe rent frequenci es. 

1.2 Middle ionosphere: Several anchor poi nts dete rmine the IRI 

prof ile and qui te a few of these need a lar ger data base and 

fu r ther i nvestigations. Concerning foE, it was decided to reexamine 

the nighttime variation, which in IRI is based o n a 

rather o l d and small data s e t . During daytime, IRI uses the 

Kouris and Muggleton formula whic h agrees wel l with the 

formula used by CCIR. Concerning the E- F val l ey parameters , it 

is important to determine which true- h e ight procedure is the 

most reliable f or i o nogram anal ysis . This subject is being 

taken up by t h e URSI-G4 group. Checking with incohe rent 

s catter observations is felt to be crucial for this task. 

Concerning the Fl-point, a smoother transition from the 

condition "Fl- present" to the condition "Fl - not- present" is 

desirable , t o avoid abrupt changes in altitudinal , diurnal and 

latitudinal variations. Gonzale s and Radice lla presented a 

simple formula for the Fl h e ight which depends on foFl and o n 

magnetic d ip; ch ecking with g l oba 1 data is necessary . 

Concerning Gulyaeva' s half -de nsity-poi nt, data are needed to 

51


further evaluate the latitudinal influence as well as 

variations with solar and magnetic activity. D Anderson showed 

that his theoretically-derived profiles could be helpful for 

this purpose. 

Concerning the F2-peak, there exists growing interest in 

regional foF2 maps, in particular for the polar caps. Thiemann 

et al presented an interesting study using Dvinskikh's 

empirical orthognal functions. This subject will be considered 

in more detail in forthcoming group meetings. For hmF2, the 

group has been strongly promoting direct mapping of measured 

hmF2 values; up to now, predictions are obtained from global 

maps for the propagation factor M ( 3000) F2. With only a few 

incoherent scatter stations worldwide, the main data input 

must come from true-height analysis of ionograms. 

1.3 Topside ionosphere: K Rawer has shown that a better 

representation may be possible by using field-aligned 

parameters. Topside sounder data, in particular those from 

recent Japanese and Soviet satellites, are crucial for this 

task. It is hoped that these data will be made accessible to 

the IRI group. 

2 • PLASMA TEMPERATURES 

Seasonal trends and changes with solar and magnetic activity 

need further investigation, preferable with a combined data 

base of staellite and incoherent scatter data. K Oyama 

reviewed the wealth of temperature data collected by several 

Japanese satellites over the past two decades. This data base 

may lead to considerable improvements of the IRI Models. 

Effects of regional heating, in particular in the auroral 

zones, should be considered. The moving boundary of these 

zones presents, however, a serious problem. EISCAT and 

Sonderstrom data might help to assess these temperature 

features. 

3. ION COMPOSITION 

IRI-90 includes as a new option the Danilov-Yaichnikov model. 

At this meeting, first comparisons were presented between the 

D-Y model and a large data base of satellite ion mass 

spectrometer measurements compiled by W Hoegy et al. This 

continuing effort could result in important improvements to 

the IRI Model. D Bilitza introduced a promising new modelling 

scheme in which the transition heights play a major role. His 

analysis indicated, however, major discrepancies between the 

transition heights deduced from different models. Incoherent 

scatter and satellite data should be compared to resolve these 

differences. Further work is planned concerning the 

description of D-region cluster ions in IRI. The transition 

height from molecular to cluster ions was felt to be a 

critical parameter. 

4. ION DRIFT 

The preliminary IRI-90 ion drift model (written in PASCAL) is 

available from E Kazmirovsky. His Fourier description was 

established with ground-based radio observations. It was 

suggested that A Richmond's model, which is based on 

52


NEW TRENDS IN GEOMAGNETISM II - 

ROCK MAGNETISM, PALAEOMAGNETISM AND DATABASE USAGE 

Vladimir Kropacek 

Geophysical Institute 

Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences 

Bocni II, cp 1401 

14131 Praha 4 

CZECHOSLOVAKIA 

This was held on September 24-29, 1990, at the Bechyne Castle in 

South Bohe mia. A total of 74 scientists from 23 countries covering 

Australia, Asia, North and South America and Europe attended. 

During 12 successive sessions, 64 oral contributions were 

presented considering recent palaeomagnetic studies, relations 

between palaeomagnetism and global changes, palaeomagnetic 

databases updating, and the physical background of rock magnetism. 

A concurrent poster session included 22 communications and during 

this some participants used personal computers to demonstrate 

database systems and the software for palaeomagnetic data 

processing. For the first time, a palaeomagnetic database covering 

the USSR was presented (V Vadkovskiy) . M McElhinny and Jo Lock 

demonstrate d a global palaeomagnetic database run under ORACLE . 

During the round table s e ssion at the end of the meeting, the 

participants proposed to organize a similar meeting every two 

years. The previ ous one was also h eld in Czechoslovakia , [ see IAGA 

News No. 27, pages 44-4 7 (1988)] and this too h ad proved 

successful. The convenient location of Czechoslovakia and the 

ability of the Local Organizing Committee to keep the conference 

fees very low because o f the positive policies of the Czechoslovak 

Academy of Sciences were noted as significant and impo rtant 

factors. General agreement was reached that the next meeting, in 

1992, should cover 

Palaeomagnetism along the Europrobe Profile 

Assessment of Quality of Palaeomagnetic Data 

Status of Palaeomagnetic Databases 

General Rock Magnetism and Magnetostratigraphy, 

Physical Background 

Relation between Palaeomagnetism and Global Change 

54 

and their

NOTICES OF THE ASSOCIATION 

GOLD MEDAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (RAS] 

Presentation of the Gold Medal for Geophysics & Planetary 

Science: On February 9, 1990, the President of the RAS 

presented Professor J W Dungey with the gold medal of the 

Society. The citation spoke of Dungey's innovative researches 

in the field of solar-terrestrial physics and particularly of 

his having established the foundations of current 

understanding of the magnetosphere and ionosphere. All members 

of the IAGA community will join in congratulating Dungey on 

this award. 

CALL FOR CANDIDATE IGRF MODELS 

The next revision of the International Geomagnetic Reference 

Mode l [ IGRF] will take place at the Assembly in 1991. This 

revision will consist of adoption of a definitive main field 

model for epoch 1985 to replace the present IGRF for that 

epoch, adoption of a main-field model (nondefinitive) for 

1990, and adoption of a predictive model for the secular 

variation for the interval 1990-1995. 

Candidate models are solicited. Model coefficients should be 

sent as soon a spossible to R A Langel, Code 922, Goddard 

Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD 20771, USA. The models 

rece ived by December 1, 1990, will then be distributed to 

interested parties for evaluation and comment. 

Ground rules remain as before: the maximum degree and order of 

main field models shall be 10 and the maximum degree and order 

of the secular variation modrel shall be 8. 

OPTICAl, CALIBRATIONS: 

Airglow low light l evel sources 

Hans Lauche writes t hat he continues to offer a service of 

calibration of photometric standards, specifically those for 

use in nightglow instruments. Everybody who needs calibration 

of an airglow low-light- level source is invited to bring his 

(or h er ) source to Lindau. Lauche plans to offer an 

international cross-calibration facility (similar to the one 

at Saskatoon in August 1987) in Vienna, during or adjacent to 

the Union General Assembly. Please prepare for the transport 

of sources, starting now. 

Infor mation : 

Postfach 20, 

Germany). 

Hans Lauche, Max-Planck-Insti tut fuer Aeronomie, 

D-3411 Katlenburg-Lindau (Federal Republic of 

Telephone 055 56 41-l Fax 055 56 4 12 40 Telex 965527/AERLI D 

55

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS 

InterDivisional Commission on Devloping Countries 

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON GEOMAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS 

Ile-Ife, Nigeria 

4-22 February 1991 

This will consist of a 3-week course in geomagnetic field 

variations including observations, lectures and practical 

work. It is specially oriented towards the future scientific 

and technical needs of specialists in geomagnetic observations 

and data reduction and analysis. 

Local Organizing office: 

S 0 Ogunade 

Department of Physics 

Obafemi Awolowo University 

Ile-Ife, NIGERIA 

XII-ICCP LATE PALEOZOIC PALEOMAGNETISM SYMPOSIUM 

Buenos Aires, Argentina 

22-27 September 1991 

Topics covered include: Plate tectonics and palaeographic 

reconstructions; Tectonic evolution of orogenic zones; 

Evolution of accretional terranes; Magnetostratigraphy · and 

geologic correlation. 

Copies of the first and subsequent circulars are available 

from 

Dr Sergio Archangelsky 

XII-ICCP Convener 

Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 

Av A Gallardo 470 

Buenos Aires 1405, ARGENTINA . 

Workshop/Seminar 

PALEOTECTONICS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA 

Havana, Cuba 

10-16 November 1991 

For more information, please write to 

Juan Perez Hernandez 

Institute of Geophvsics and Astronomy 

Cuban Academy of s · i ences 

Ave 212 No.l2906 e/29 y 31 

La Lisa 

Ciudad de la Habana 

CUBA 

59

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOMAGNETISM AND AERONOMY 

(IAGA) 

IAGA is one of the seven Associations in 

Union of Geodesy and Geophysics ( IUGG). 

IAGA are: 

the 

The 

International 

objectives of 

a) To promote studies of magnetism and aeronomy of the Earth 

and other bodies of the solar system, and of the 

interplanetary . medium and its interaction with these bodies, 

where such studies have international interest; 

b) to encourage research in these subjects by individual 

countries, institutions or persons and to facilitate its 

international coordination; 

c) to provide an opportunity on an international basis for 

_discussion and publication of the results of the researches; 

and 

d) to promote appropriate standardisations of observational 

programmes, data acquisition systems, data analysis and 

publication. 

IAGA holds an Ordinary General Assembly every four years in 

conjunction with each Ord;inary General Assembly of IUGG . 

Between the Ordinary General Assemblies, IAGA holds a 

Scienti fie General Assembly, often meeting with one of the 

other Associations of IUGG. IAGA therefore meets every other 

year. The next Assembly is the Union General Assembly 

scheduled for Vienna (Austria) in 1991. 

IAGA has two types of publications: 

(i) IAGA Bulletins, which include the Programme and Abstracts 

and the Transactions of the Assemblies; Geomagnetic Data and 

Indices, published annually; and special Data Summaries or 

Information Booklets, published occasionally. 

(ii) IAGA News, which contains items and announcements of 

general interest to the IAGA community and which is published 

annually. 

The IAGA Bulletins are available at low cost from the 

Secretary-General of IAGA. The IAGA News is sent free of 

charge to all addresses on the IAGA Mailing List (which at 

present contains nearly 2500 addresses of individual 

scientists in some 72 countries) and is available on request 

from the Secretary-General. 

IAGA welcomes all scientists throughout the world to join in 

research in "Geomagnetism and Aeronomy". IAGA is subdivided 

into a number of Divisions and Commissions, many of which have 

working groups for the study of particular subjects in their 

general areas of interest. On occasion, these internal IAGA 

groups issue their own newsletters or circulars. At the IAGA 

Assemblies, the groups organize specialist symposia, invite 

scholarly reviews and receive contributed papers which present 

up-to-the-minute results of currrent research. 

Published 

Building, 

(UK). 

by the 

Aberdeen 

Secretary General of IAGA, Fraser Noble 

University, Aberdeen AB9 2UE, Scotland 

Printed by the Langstane Press, Aberdeen.

xxth GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IUGG VIENNA (AUSTRIA)

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