Researchers will monitor auroral displays simultaneously from space, jet aircraft, and the ground to gain detailed measurements of the northern lights. The Fast Auroral Snapshot (FAST) Explorer satellite guides this three-dimensional study as it gathers data about the aurora while orbiting high above the polar north.
Expert researcher Juan Roederer is set to begin his long-awaited study of the radiation belts circling Jupiter after 20 years with the Galileo spacecraft. The research aims to understand how Io, one of Jupiter's moons, affects the planet's radiation belts and compare them to Earth's Van Allen belts.
A $1.5 million seismic network around Kilauea Volcano will help scientists make more accurate predictions about when volcanoes will erupt and determine potential hazards in nearby areas. The network, which contains 116 stations, is designed to understand the physical characteristics of earthquakes associated with eruptions.
A graduate student's daily satellite inspection spotted the eruption, providing an early warning system. The discovery also triggered a computerized ash-plume tracking model to forecast the ash cloud's movement and issue alerts to airlines.
The Variegated Glacier surged hundreds of yards by the end of summer, surprising scientists with an early start. Researchers believe the glacier will follow similar surge-and-rest patterns in the future.