Published: Sept. 9, 2019

Tomoko MatsuoTomoko Matsuo
Assistant Professor, Smead Aerospace
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 | AERO 111 | 2:30 P.M.

Abstract: Prediction serves as the ultimate test of our scientific understanding of geophysical systems. Accurate forecasting of near-Earth space environmental conditions is critical to radio communication, navigation, positioning, and satellite tracking. Effective numerical prediction of the region’s conditions allows us to better protect important space assets and related systems in the event of natural hazards.  My research group aims to advance the science and engineering of forecasting, as applied to the Earth’s atmosphere from the ground to near-Earth space environments.  Prediction of constantly changing environmental conditions, affected by both space and terrestrial weather, requires a systematic integration of observations with a first-principles models using data assimilation.  Data assimilation reduces uncertainties in initial conditions and drivers, extending the predictive capability of numerical models of near-Earth space environments.  The data assimilation and ensemble-based probabilistic modeling framework being developed can be used for designing of future missions and targeting of observations to maximize scientific returns of observing systems. This reappointment seminar will showcase the latest research results and future plans along with my professional journey.

Bio: Tomoko Matsuo is an Assistant Professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.  As a Principal Investigator with funding from the NSF, NASA, ESA, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Air Force Research Lab, she has developed original and independent research programs centered on data assimilation of Earth and geospace observations, and has authored and co-authored over 50 refereed publications.  She is a recipient of the 2019 NSF CAREER award. She has served on high-level external committees, including the NASA Heliophysics Advisory Committee (2017-). Before joining the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 2017, she worked at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center as a CIRES Research Associate and at NCAR's Institute for Mathematics Applied to Geosciences as a Visiting Scientist. She has a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from SUNY Stony Brook, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Physics from Nagoya and Hokkaido Universities in Japan.

 

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