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Simon G. Shepherd

Professor of Engineering

simon.g.shepherd@dartmouth.edu

Research Interests

HF radar development; ionospheric plasma convection and physics; solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere coupling; space weather and climatology

Education

BA, Physics, Middlebury College 1989
MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington 1991
PhD, Physics, Dartmouth 1998

Research Projects

Sub-auroral convection electric fields

Sub-auroral convection electric fields

Sub-auroral convection electric fields focuses on the study of ionospheric plasma convection in the plasmasphere boundary layer region where complex coupling between the ionosphere and magnetotail occur during geomagnetically disturbed periods. Measurements from the mid-latitude SuperDARN radars are used in conjunction with other ground and space-based observations of sub-auroral phenomena.
Convection electric field climatology and variability

Convection electric field climatology and variability

Convection electric field climatology and variability focuses on the large-scale convection of plasma in the Earth's polar ionospheres. Measurements from the SuperDARN network of HF radars are used to look at statistical properties of convection associated with various drivers as well as the observed small-scale variability.
Mid-latitude HF radar development

Mid-latitude HF radar development

A network of HF radars are being built at several mid-latitude locations to measure ionospheric electric fields. This project involves the construction, maintenance and operation of several HF SuperDARN radars that have recently been built or are in the planning stages.

Courses

ENGS 20: Introduction to Scientific Computing
ENGS 91: Numerical Methods in Computation
ENGS 86: Independent Project
ENGS 87: Undergraduate Investigations
ENGS 88: Honors Thesis

Videos

Bistatic Measurements with Ground-Based Radars

Professor Simon Shepherd

SuperDARN

News

Dartmouth Engineering Researchers Win DoD Funding for Critical Equipment Upgrades
Jan 11, 2024

SuperDARN in Iceland
Jan 27, 2023

Dartmouth Engineering Researcher Receives Early Career Award
Aug 09, 2019

Dartmouth researcher receives NSF grant to build radar systems for space science and engineering
Mar 06, 2011

In the News

Azores Government
Government touts importance of integrating the Azores in the project SuperDARN
Jan 25, 2012

Research Quick Takes

May 25, 2023

SuperDARN Up & Running

The newest addition to the international Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) is officially fully functional! Professor Simon Shepherd: "After configuring the electronics, software, and computer network, followed by extensive testing, first-light (the first data collected by the radars) was achieved on January 24, and I am pleased to report that the arrays appear to have survived their first Icelandic winter."