Home

Mervyn Freeman

Science Leader

I am Leader of the Space Weather and Atmosphere Team at the British Antarctic Survey.

In 2017, I was awarded the Chapman medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for investigations of outstanding merit in solar-terrestrial physics. My main research theme has been an holistic view of the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system by the synthesis of experiment, data analysis and theory, including the development of new simple mathematical models to explain observations and resolve controversies, e.g., in ionospheric convection and substorms. I have published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Since 2013, I have been the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Delegate to the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Council, responsible for the activities of the EISCAT Scientific Association. The Association is an international organisation that operates radars in Norway, Sweden, and Finland to investigate the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. Together with UK colleagues, Ian McCrea, Yulia Bogdanova, Steve Crothers (RAL Space), and Andrew Kavanagh (BAS), I oversee and support the UK’s scientific exploitation of EISCAT, including a £6M UK capital investment in the new EISCAT-3D radar, which is due to begin operations in 2022.

Career history

Leader, Space Weather and Atmosphere Team, British Antarctic Survey, 2022-
Promotion to UKRI Band G, 2024
Honorary Professor, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, 2019-2024
Chapman medal, Royal Astronomical Society, 2017
Deputy Leader, Space Weather and Atmosphere Team, British Antarctic Survey, 2015-2022
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Delegate to the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Council, 2013-
Senior Space Weather Researcher, Radiation Belts and Atmospheric Chemistry Workpackage, British Antarctic Survey, 2013-2015
Manager, Natural Complexity Workpackage, British Antarctic Survey, 2009-2013
Principal Investigator, Halley SuperDARN radar, 2005-2016, and Falkland Islands SuperDARN radar, 2009-2011
Principal Investigator, Natural Complexity Programme, British Antarctic Survey, 2005-2009
Principal Investigator, BAS Low Power Magnetometer Network, 2000-
Project leader, Magnetic Reconnection Project, British Antarctic Survey, 2000-2005
Promotion to Band 4, British Antarctic Survey, 2000-
Senior Scientific Officer, British Antarctic Survey, 1991-2000
Research Assistant, Imperial College, London, UK, 1991
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Maryland, USA, 1990-1991
Research Assistant, Imperial College, London, UK, 1989
PhD Space Physics, Imperial College, London, UK, 1986-1989
BSc (Hons) Physics, Imperial College, London, UK, 1983-1986

Research interests

Universal properties and theory of substorms at Earth and other planets.
Multi-scale structure and turbulence of plasma convection and currents in Earth’s ionosphere.
Modes of variability of the geomagnetic field.
Space weather and its applications.
Geoelectric circuit influences on climate.
Cross-disciplinary applications of natural complexity.

Collaborations

European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Scientific Association

NERC Space Weather Impact on Ground-based Systems (SWIGS) Highlight Topic grant 2017-2021 (including 10 UK institutes and universities)

STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory RAL Space group

Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN)

University College London Mullard Space Science Laboratory

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2025

Beggan, C.D. . Eastwood, J.P. . Eggington, J.W.B. . Forsyth, C. . Freeman, M.P. . Henley, E. . Heyns, M. . Hübert, J. . Jackson, D.R. . LaMoury, A.T. . Richardson, G.S. . Smith, A.W. . Thomson, A.W.P. . (2025) Implementing an Operational Cloud‐Based Now‐ and Forecasting System for Space Weather Ground Effects in the UK.

Lao, C.J. . Forsyth, C. . Freeman, M.P. . Gjerloev, J.W. . (2025) Separating DP1 and DP2 Current Pattern Contributions to Substorm‐Like Intensifications in SML.

2024

Lao, C.J. Forsyth, C. Freeman, Mervyn . Smith, A.W. Mooney, M.K. (2024) On the Association of Substorm Identification Methods.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M. P. . (2024) The spatial variation of large- and meso-scale plasma vorticity statistics in the high-latitude ionosphere and implications for ionospheric plasma flow models.

Parker, William E. Freeman, Mervyn . Chisham, Gareth . Kavanagh, Andrew John . Siew, Peng Mun. Rodriguez-Fernandez, Victor. Linares, Richard. (2024) Influences of Space Weather Forecasting Uncertainty on Satellite Conjunction Assessment.

2023

Coyle, S.E. Baker, J.B.H. Chakraborty, S. Hartinger, M. D. Freeman, M.P. . Clauer, C.R. Xu, Z. Weimer, D.R. (2023) Substorms and Solar Eclipses: A Mutual Information Based Study.

Coxon, J.C. Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Forsyth, C. Walach, M-T. Murphy, K.R. Vines, S.K. Anderson, B.J. Smith, A.W. Fogg, A.R. (2023) Extreme Birkeland Currents Are More Likely During Geomagnetic Storms on the Dayside of the Earth.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2023) Separating contributions to plasma vorticity in the high-latitude ionosphere from large-scale convection and meso-scale turbulence.

Carter, J.A. Dunlop, M. Forsyth, C. Oksavik, K. Donovon, E. Kavanagh, A. . Milan, S.E. Sergienko, T. Fear, R.C. Sibeck, D.G. Connors, M. Yeoman, T. Tan, X. Taylor, M.G.G.T. McWilliams, K. Gjerloev, J. Barnes, R. Billet, D.D. Chisham, G. . Dimmock, A. Freeman, M.P. . Han, D.-S. Hartinger, M.D. Hsieh, S.-Y.W. Hu, Z.-J. James, M.K. Juusola, L. Kauristie, K. Kronberg, E.A. Lester, M. Manuel, J. Matzka, J. McCrea, I. Miyoshi, Y. Rae, J. Ren, L. Sigernes, F. Spanswick, E. Sterne, K. Steuwer, A. Sun, T. Walach, M.-T. Walsh, B. Wang, C. Weygand, J. Wild, J. Yan, J. Zhang, J. Zhang, Q.-H. (2023) Ground-based and additional science support for SMILE.

Lam, M.M. . Shore, R.M. . Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Grocott, A. Walach, M.-T. Orr, L. (2023) A Model of High Latitude Ionospheric Convection Derived From SuperDARN EOF Model Data.

Coyle, S.E. Hartinger, M.D. Clauer, C.R. Baker, J.B.H. Cnossen, I. . Freeman, M.P. . Weygand, J.M. (2023) The 2021 Antarctic Total Eclipse: Ground Magnetometer and GNSS Wave Observations from the 40 Degree Magnetic Meridian.

Maffei, Stefano. Eggington, Joseph W. B. Livermore, Philip W. Mound, Jonathan E. Sanchez, Sabrina. Eastwood, Jonathan P. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2023) Climatological predictions of the auroral zone locations driven by moderate and severe space weather events.

2022

Orr, L. Grocott, A. Walach, M.‐T. Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Lam, M.M. . Shore, R.M. . (2022) A quantitative comparison of high latitude electric field models during a large geomagnetic storm.

Engebretson, Mark J. Simms, Laura E. Pilipenko, Viacheslav A. Bouayed, Lilia. Moldwin, Mark B. Weygand, James M. Hartinger, Michael D. Xu, Zhonghua. Clauer, C. Robert. Coyle, Shane. Willer, Anna N. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Gerrard, Andy J. (2022) Geomagnetic disturbances that cause GICs: investigating their interhemispheric conjugacy and control by IMF orientation..

Daggitt, Thomas A. . Horne, Richard B. . Glauert, Sarah A. . Del Zanna, Giulio. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2022) Variations in Observations of Geosynchronous Magnetopause and Last Closed Drift Shell Crossings with Magnetic Local Time.

Smith, A.W. Rodger, C.J. Manus, D.H. Mac. Forsyth, C. Rae, I.J. Freeman, M.P. . Clilverd, M.A. . Petersen, T. Dalzell, M. (2022) The correspondence between sudden commencements and geomagnetically induced currents: Insights from New Zealand.

Coxon, John C. Chisham, Gareth . Freeman, Mervyn P. . Anderson, Brian J. Fear, Robert C. (2022) Distributions of Birkeland current density observed by AMPERE are heavy‐tailed or long‐tailed.

2021

Bentley, Mike. Siegert, Martin. Jones, Anna . Meredith, Michael . Hendry, Katharine. Arthur, Jennifer. Brooks, Ian. Convey, Peter . Dodds, Klaus. Freeman, Mervyn . Hughes, Kevin A. . Johnston, Nadine M. . Marschalek, Jim. Nichols, Keir. Plaschkes, Charlotte. Rhodes, Rachael. Taylor, Michelle L. (2021) The future of UK Antarctic science: Strategic priorities, essential needs and opportunities for international leadership.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2021) A statistical model of vorticity in the polar ionosphere and implications for extreme values.

Desai, R.T. Freeman, M.P. . Eastwood, J.P. Eggington, J.W.B. Archer, M.O. Shprits, Y.Y. Meredith, N.P. . Staples, F.A. Rae, I.J. Hietala, H. Mejnertsen, L. Chittenden, J.P. Horne, R.B. . (2021) Interplanetary shock‐induced magnetopause motion: Comparison between theory and global magnetohydrodynamic simulations.

Shore, R.M. . Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . (2021) Data‐driven basis functions for SuperDARN ionospheric plasma flow characterisation and prediction.

Smith, A.W. Forsyth, C. Rae, I.J. Rodger, C.J. Freeman, M.P. . (2021) The impact of sudden commencements on ground magnetic field variability: Immediate and delayed consequences.

Dimmock, A.P. Welling, D.T. Rosenqvist, L. Forsyth, C. Freeman, M.P. . Rae, I.J. Viljanen, A. Vandegriff, E. Boynton, R.J. Balikhin, M.A. Yordanova, E. (2021) Modeling the geomagnetic response to the September 2017 space weather event over Fennoscandia using the Space Weather Modeling Framework: Studying the impacts of spatial resolution.

Clilverd, Mark . Rodger, Craig J. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Brundell, James B. Mac Manus, Daniel H. Dalzell, Michael. Clarke, Ellen. Thomson, Alan W.P. Richardson, Gemma S. MacLeod, Finlay. Frame, Ian. (2021) Geomagnetically induced currents during the 07-08 September 2017 disturbed period: a global perspective.

2020

Smith, A.W. Rae, I.J. Forsyth, C. Oliveira, D.M. Freeman, M.P. . Jackson, D.R. (2020) Probabilistic forecasts of storm sudden commencements from interplanetary shocks using machine learning.

Engebretson, Mark J. Kirkevold, Kathryn R. Steinmetz, Erik S. Pilipenko, Viacheslav A. Moldwin, Mark B. McCuen, Brett A. Clauer, C. R. Hartinger, Michael D. Coyle, Shane. Opgenoorth, Hermann. Schillings, Audrey. Willer, Anna N. Edwards, Thom R. Boteler, David H. Gerrard, Andy J. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Rose, Michael C. (2020) Interhemispheric comparisons of large nighttime magnetic perturbation events relevant to GICs.

2019

Smith, A.W. Freeman, M.P. . Rae, I.J. Forsyth, C. (2019) The influence of sudden commencements on the rate of change of the surface horizontal magnetic field in the United Kingdom.

Freeman, Mervyn . Lam, Mai Mai. (2019) Regional, seasonal, and inter-annual variations of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic temperature anomalies related to the Mansurov effect.

Sandhu, J.K. Rae, I.J. Freeman, M.P. . Gkioulidou, M. Forsyth, C. Reeves, G.D. Murphy, K.R. Walach, M.-T. (2019) Substorm ‐ Ring Current Coupling: A comparison of isolated and compound substorms.

Shore, R.M. . Freeman, M.P. . Coxon, J.C. Thomas, E.G. Gjerloev, J.W. Olsen, N. (2019) Spatial variation in the responses of the surface external and induced magnetic field to the solar wind.

Coxon, John C. Shore, Robert M. . Freeman, Mervyn P. . Fear, Robert C. Browett, Stephen D. Smith, Andrew W. Whiter, Daniel K. Anderson, Brian J. (2019) Timescales of Birkeland Currents driven by the IMF.

Freeman, Mervyn P. . Forsyth, Colin. Rae, I. Jonathan. (2019) The influence of substorms on extreme rates of change of the surface horizontal magnetic field in the United Kingdom.

Shore, Robert . Freeman, Mervyn . Gjerloev, Jesper. (2019) Interplanetary magnetic field control of polar ionospheric equivalent current system modes.

Lam, Mai Mai . Freeman, Mervyn P. . Jackman, C.M. Rae, I.J. Kalmoni, N.M.E. Sandhu, J.K. Forsyth, C. (2019) How well can we estimate Pedersen conductance from the THEMIS white-light all-sky cameras?.

Lockwood, Mike. Bentley, Sarah N. Owens, Mathew J. Barnard, Luke A. Scott, Chris J. Watt, Clare E. Allanson, Oliver. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2019) The development of a space climatology: 2. The distribution of power input into the magnetosphere on a 3‐hourly timescale.

2018

Lockwood, Mike. Bentley, Sarah N. Owens, Mathew J. Barnard, Luke A. Scott, Chris J. Watt, Clare E. Allanson, Oliver. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2018) The development of a space climatology: 3. Models of the evolution of distributions of space weather variables with timescale.

Sandhu, J.K. Rae, I.J. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Forsyth, C. Gkioulidou, M. Reeves, G.D. Spence, H.E. Jackman, C.M. Lam, M.M. (2018) Energization of the ring current by substorms.

Coxon, John C. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Jackman, Caitriona M. Forsyth, Colin. Rae, I. Jonathan. Fear, Robert C. (2018) Tailward propagation of magnetic energy density variations With respect to substorm onset times.

Forsyth, C. Shortt, M. Coxon, J.C. Rae, I.J. Freeman, M.. . Kalmoni, N.M.E. Jackman, C.M. Anderson, B.J. Milan, S.E. Burrell, A.G. (2018) Seasonal and temporal variations of field-aligned currents and ground magnetic deflections during substorms.

2017

Shore, R.M. . Freeman, M.P. . Gjerloev, J.W. (2017) An empirical orthogonal function reanalysis of the northern polar external and induced magnetic field during solar cycle 23.

Farrugia, C.J. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Burlaga, L.F. (2017) Magnetic cloud passage at Earth and associated substorm activity.

Cowley, S.W.H. Morelli, J.P. Freeman, M.P. . Lockwood, M. Smith, M.F. (2017) Excitation and decay of flows in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system due to magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause and in the geomagnetic tail.

Morelli, J.P. Bunting, R.J. Cowley, S.W.H. Farrugia, C.J. Freeman, M.P. . Friis-Christensen, E. Jones, G.O.L. Lester, M. Lewis, R.V. Luhr, H. Orr, D. Pinnock, M. Reeves, G.D. Williams, P.J.S. Yeoman, T.K. (2017) Plasma flow bursts in the nightside auroral zone ionosphere and their relation to geomagnetic activity.

Lam, Mai Mai . Freeman, Mervyn P. . Chisham, Gareth . (2017) IMF-driven change to the Antarctic tropospheric temperature due to the global atmospheric electric circuit.

Yeoman, T.K. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Reeves, G.D. Lester, M. Orr, D. (2017) A comparison of midlatitude Pi 2 pulsations and geostationary orbit particle injections as substorm indicators.

Shore, R.M. . Freeman, M.P. . Wild, J.A. Gjerloev, J.W. (2017) A high-resolution model of the external and induced magnetic field at the Earth’s surface in the northern hemisphere.

Fox, N. J. Lockwood, M. Cowley, S. W. H. Freeman, M. P. . Friis-Christensen, E. Milling, D. K. Pinnock, M. Reeves, G. D. (2017) EISCAT observations of unusual flows in the morning sector associated with weak substorm activity.

Morelli, J. P. Bunting, R. J. Cowley, S. W. H. Farrugia, C. J. Freeman, M. P. . Friis-Christensen, E. Jones, G. O. L. Lester, M. Lewis, R. V. Lühr, H. Orr, D. Pinnock, M. Reeves, G. D. Williams, P. J. S. Yeoman, T. K. (2017) Radar observations of auroral zone flows during a multiple-onset substorm.

Morrison, K. Freeman, M.P. . (2017) The role of upstream ULF waves in the generation of quasi-periodic ELF-VLF emissions.

2016

Freeman, M. P. . Farrugia, C. J. (2016) A statistical study of the possible effects of solar wind variability on the recurrence rate of substorms.

Freeman, M. P. . Freeman, N. C. Farrugia, C. J. (2016) A linear perturbation analysis of magnetopause motion in the Newton-Busemann limit.

Smith, A. J. Freeman, M. P. . Reeves, G. D. (2016) Post midnight VLF chorus events, a substorm signature observed at the ground nearL= 4.

Forsyth, C. Rae, I. J. Murphy, K. R. Freeman, M. P. . Huang, C.-L. Spence, H. E. Boyd, A. J. Coxon, J. C. Jackman, C. M. Kalmoni, N. M. E. Watt, C. E. J. (2016) What effect do substorms have on the content of the radiation belts?.

Lewis, R.V. Freeman, M.P. . Rodger, A.S. Reeves, G.D. Milling, D.K. (2016) The electric field response to the growth phase and expansion phase onset of a small isolated substorm.

Forsyth, C. Rae, I. J. Coxon, J. C. Freeman, M. P. . Jackman, C. M. Gjerloev, J. Fazakerley, A. N. (2016) A new technique for determining Substorm Onsets and Phases from Indices of the Electrojet (SOPHIE).

Coxon, J. C. Jackman, C. M. Freeman, M. P. . Forsyth, C. Rae, I. J. (2016) Identifying the magnetotail lobes with Cluster magnetometer data.

2014

Forsyth, C. Watt, C.E.J. Rae, I.J. Fazakerley, A.N. Kalmoni, N.M.E. Freeman, M.P. . Boakes, P.D. Nakamura, R. Dandouras, I. Kistler, L.M. Jackman, C.M. Coxon, J.C. Carr, C. (2014) Increases in plasma sheet temperature with solar wind driving during substorm growth phases.

Longden, N. Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2014) Magnetic local time variation and scaling of poleward auroral boundary dynamics.

Lam, Mai Mai . Chisham, Gareth . Freeman, Mervyn . (2014) Solar-wind-driven geopotential height anomalies originate in the Antarctic lower troposphere.

Jackman, C. M. Arridge, C. S. André, N. Bagenal, F. Birn, J. Freeman, M. P. . Jia, X. Kidder, A. Milan, S. E. Radioti, A. Slavin, J. A. Vogt, M. F. Volwerk, M. Walsh, A. P. (2014) Large-scale structure and dynamics of the magnetotails of Mercury, Earth, Jupiter and Saturn.

Jackman, C.M. Slavin, J. A. Kivelson, M.G. Southwood, D. J. Achilleos, N. Thomsen, M.F. DiBraccio, G. A. Eastwood, J.P. Freeman, M.P. . Dougherty, M.K. Vogt, M.F. (2014) Saturn’s dynamic magnetotail: A comprehensive magnetic field and plasma survey of plasmoids and travelling compression regions, and their role in global magnetospheric dynamics.

Milan, S. E. Grocott, A. de Larquier, S. Lester, M. Yeoman, T. K. Freeman, M. P. . Chisham, G. . (2014) Traveling ionospheric disturbances in the Weddell Sea Anomaly associated with geomagnetic activity.

2013

Lewis, R. V. Freeman, M. P. . Rodger, A. S. Watanabe, M. Greenwald, R. A. (2013) The behavior of the electric field within the substorm current wedge.

Freeman, M. P. . Farrugia, C. J. (2013) Magnetopause motions in a Newton-Busemann approach.

Farrugia, C. J. Scudder, J. D. Freeman, M. P. . Janoo, L. Lu, G. Quinn, J. M. Arnoldy, R. L. Torbert, R. B. Burlaga, L. F. Ogilvie, K. W. Lepping, R. P. Lazarus, A. J. Steinberg, J. T. Gratton, F. T. Rostoker, G. (2013) Geoeffectiveness of three Wind magnetic clouds: A comparative study.

Dudeney, J. R. Rodger, A. S. Freeman, M. P. . Pickett, J. Scudder, J. Sofko, G. Lester, M. (2013) The nightside ionospheric response to IMF by changes.

Smith, A. J. Freeman, M. P. . Wickett, M. G. Cox, B. D. (2013) On the relationship between the magnetic and VLF signatures of the substorm expansion phase.

Grocott, A. Hosokawa, K. Ishida, T. Lester, M. Milan, S. E. Freeman, M. P. . Sato, N. Yukimatu, A. S. (2013) Characteristics of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances observed near the Antarctic Peninsula by HF radar.

Nishitani, Nozomu. Ogawa, Tadahiko. Pinnock, Mike. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Dudeney, John R. Villain, Jean-Paul. Baker, Kile B. Sato, Natsuo. Yamagishi, Hisao. Matsumoto, Haruhisa. (2013) A very large scale flow burst observed by the SuperDARN radars.

Freeman, M. P. . Farrugia, C. J. (2013) Solar wind input between substorm onsets during and after the October 18–20, 1995, magnetic cloud.

Lam, Mai Mai . Chisham, Gareth . Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2013) The interplanetary magnetic field influences mid-latitude surface atmospheric pressure.

Moffat-Griffin, Tracy . Lester, Mark. Freeman, Mervyn . (2013) From atmosphere to space: a new scientific frontier.

Smith, A.J. Freeman, M.P. . Hunter, S. Editors: Wilson, A (2013) VLF, magnetic and Pi2 substorm signatures.

2012

Chisham, Gareth . Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2012) A reassessment of SuperDARN meteor echoes from the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

Edwards, Andrew M. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Breed, Greg A. Jonsen, Ian D. (2012) Incorrect likelihood methods were used to infer scaling laws of marine predator search behaviour.

Freeman, M.P. . Watkins, N.W. Riley, D.J. (2012) Power law distributions of burst duration and interburst interval in the solar wind: Turbulence or dissipative self-organized criticality?.

Freeman, M.P. . Watkins, N.W. Riley, D.J. (2012) Evidence for a solar wind origin of the power law burst lifetime distribution of the AE indices.

Freeman, M.P. . (2012) Effect of magnetopause leakage on the lifetime of magnetospheric cavity modes.

Watkins, N.W. Oughton, S. Freeman, M.P. . (2012) What can we infer about the underlying physics from burst distributions observed in an RMHD simulation?.

Watkins, N.W. Freeman, M.P. . Rhodes, C.S. Rowlands, G. (2012) Ambiguities in determination of self-affinity in the AE-index time series.

Watkins, N.W. Freeman, M.P. . Chapman, S.C. Dendy, R.O. (2012) Testing the SOC hypothesis for the magnetosphere.

Kunduri, B.S.R. Baker, J.B.H. Ruohoniemi, J. M. Clausen, L.B.N. Grocott, A. Thomas, E.G. Freeman, M.P. . Talaat, E.R. (2012) An examination of inter-hemispheric conjugacy in a subauroral polarization stream.

Capparelli, V. Franzke, C. Vecchio, A. Freeman, M.P. . Watkins, N.W. Carbone, V. (2012) A spatiotemporal analysis of U.S. station temperature trends over the last century.

Phan, T.D. Freeman, M.P. . Kistler, L.M. Klecker, B. Haerendel, G. Paschmann, G. Sonnerup, B.U.Ö. Baumjohann, W. Bavassano-Cattaneo, M.B. Carlson, C.W. DiLellis, A.M. Fornacon, K.-H. Frank, L.A. Fujimoto, M. Georgescu, E. Kokubun, S. Moebius, E. Mukai, T. Paterson, W.R. Reme, H. (2012) Evidence for an extended reconnection line at the dayside magnetopause.

Partamies, Ni. Freeman, M.P. . Kauristie, K. (2012) On the winding of auroral spirals: Interhemispheric observations and Hallinan’s theory revisited.

Horne, Richard B. . Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2012) A new code for electrostatic simulation by numerical integration of the Vlasov and Ampere equations using MacCormack’s method.

Coleman, Iain J. Chisham, Gareth . Pinnock, Mike. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2012) An ionospheric convection signature of antiparallel reconnection.

Freeman, M.P. . (2012) A unified model of the response of ionospheric convection to changes in the interplanetary magnetic field.

Farrugia, C.J. Jordanova, V.K. Freeman, M.P. . Cocheci, C.C. Arnoldy, R.L. Engebretson, M. Stauning, P. Rostoker, G. Thomsen, M.F. Reeves, G. Yumoto, K. (2012) Large-scale geomagnetic effects of May 4, 1998.

Farrugia, C.J. Burlaga, L.F. Jordanova, V.K. Freeman, M.P. . Lawrence, G. Matsui, H. Cocheci, C.C. Arnoldy, R.L. Scudder, J.D. Ogilvie, K.W. Lepping, R.P. (2012) Power to the magnetosphere: May 4, 1998.

Watt, C.E.J. Horne, R.B. . Freeman, M.P. . (2012) Ion-acoustic resistivity in plasmas with similar ion and electron temperatures.

Smith, A.J. Freeman, M.P. . Hunter, S. Milling, D.K. (2012) VLF, magnetic bay, and Pi2 substorm signatures at auroral and midlatitude ground stations.

Hibbins, R.E. . Freeman, M.P. . Milan, S.E. Ruohoiemi, J.M. (2012) Winds and tides in the mid-latitude Southern Hemisphere upper mesosphere recorded with the Falkland Islands SuperDARN radar.

Pinnock, M. Chisham, G. . Coleman, I.J. Freeman, M.P. . Hairston, M. Villain, J.-P. (2012) The location and rate of dayside reconnection during an interval of southward interplanetary magnetic field.

Petkaki, P. Watt, C.E.J. Horne, R.B. . Freeman, M.P. . (2012) Anomalous resistivity in non-Maxwellian plasmas.

Coleman, Iain J. Chisham, Gareth . Pinnock, Michael. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2012) Reply to comment by S.M. Petrinec and S.A. Fuselier on ‘An ionospheric convection signature of antiparallel reconnection’.

Clarke, Richard W. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Watkins, Nicholas W. (2012) Application of computational mechanics to the analysis of natural data: an example in geomagnetism.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2012) A technique for accurately determining the cusp-region polar cap boundary using SuperDARN HF radar measurements.

Rodger, A.S. Chisham, G. . Coleman, I.J. Freeman, M.P. . Pinnock, M. Editors: Newell, P.T. Onsager, T (2012) Anti-parallel reconnection at the dayside magnetopause: ionospheric signatures and implications for the low latitude boundary layer.

Freeman, M.P. . Morley, S.K. . (2012) A minimal substorm model that explains the observed statistical distribution of times between substorms.

Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . (2012) On the probability distributions of SuperDARN Doppler spectral width measurements inside and outside the cusp.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2012) A statistical comparison of SuperDARN spectral width boundaries and DMSP particle precipitation boundaries in the nightside ionosphere.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Coleman, I.J. Pinnock, M. Hairston, M.R. Lester, M. Sofko, G. (2012) Measuring the dayside reconnection rate during an interval of due northward interplanetary magnetic field.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2012) An investigation of latitudinal transitions in the SuperDARN Doppler spectral width parameter at different magnetic local times.

2011

Grocott, A. Milan, S.E. Baker, J.B.H. Freeman, M.P. . Lester, M. Yeoman, T.K. (2011) Dynamic subauroral ionospheric electric fields observed by the Falkland Islands radar during the course of a geomagnetic storm.

Hnat, B. Chapman, S.C. Rowlands, G. Watkins, N.W. Freeman, M.P. . (2011) Scaling of solar wind epsilon and the AU, AL and AE indices by WIND.

Morley, S.K. Freeman, M.P. . Tanskanen, E.I. (2011) A comparison of the probability distribution of observed substorm magnitude with that predicted by a minimal substorm model.

Chisham, G. . Coleman, I.J. Freeman, M.P. . Pinnock, M. Lester, M. (2011) Ionospheric signatures of split reconnection X-lines during conditions of IMF Bz < 0 and |By| ∼ |Bz|: Evidence for the antiparallel merging hypothesis.

Freeman, Mervyn P. . Watkins, Nicholas W. (2011) The heavens in a pile of sand.

Boakes, P.D. Milan, S.E. Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . Hubert, B. (2011) A superposed epoch investigation of the relation between magnetospheric solar wind driving and substorm dynamics with geosynchronous particle injection signatures.

Freeman, Mervyn P. . Editors: Riffenburgh, B (2011) Magnetic storm.

Freeman, Mervyn P. . Editors: Riffenburgh, B (2011) Auroral substorm.

Freeman, Mervyn P. . Watkins, Nicholas W. Yoneki, Eiko. Crowcroft, Jon. (2011) Rhythm and randomness in human contact.

2010

Longden, Nicola. Chisham, Gareth . Freeman, Mervyn P. . Abel, Gary A. Sotirelis, Tom. (2010) Estimating the location of the open-closed magnetic field line boundary from auroral images.

Alfonsi, Lucilla. Kavanagh, Andrew J. Amata, Ermanno. Cilliers, Pierre. Correia, Emilia. Freeman, Mervyn . Kauristie, Kirsti. Liu, Ruiyuan. Luntama, Juha-Pekka. Mitchell, Cathryn N. Zherebtsov, G.A. (2010) Probing the high latitude ionosphere from ground-based observations: the state of current knowledge and capabilities during IPY (2007-2009).

Morley, S.K. Rouillard, A.P. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2010) Recurrent substorm activity during the passage of a corotating interaction region.

Jackman, C.M. Lamy, L. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Zarka, P. Cecconi, B. Kurth, W.S. Cowley, S.W.H. Dougherty, M.K. (2010) On the character and distribution of lower-frequency radio emissions at Saturn and their relationship to substorm-like events.

Freeman, Mervyn P. . Morley, S. K. (2010) No evidence for externally triggered substorms based on superposed epoch analysis of IMF Bz.

Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . (2010) IMF clock angle control of multifractality in ionospheric velocity fluctuations.

Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . (2010) A statistical analysis of ionospheric velocity and magnetic field power spectra at the time of pulsed ionospheric flows.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . (2010) On the non-Gaussian nature of ionospheric vorticity.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Abel, G.A. Bristow, W.A. Marchaudon, A. Ruohoniemi, J.M. Sofko, G.J. (2010) Spatial distribution of average vorticity in the high-latitude ionosphere and its variation with interplanetary magnetic field direction and season.

2009

Boakes, P.D. Milan, S.E. Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . Hubert, B. (2009) A statistical study of the open magnetic flux content of the magnetosphere at the time of substorm onset.

Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . Watkins, N.W. (2009) Investigating turbulent structure of ionospheric plasma velocity using the Halley SuperDARN radar.

Watkins, Nicholas W. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2009) Natural complexity.

Edwards, Andrew M. Phillips, Richard A. . Watkins, Nicholas W. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Murphy, Eugene J, . Afanasyev, Vsevolod. Buldyrev, Sergey V. da Luz, M. G. E. Raposo, E. P. Stanley, H. Eugene. Viswanathan, Gandhimohan M. (2009) Revisiting Lévy flight search patterns of wandering albatrosses, bumblebees and deer.

Boakes, P.D. Milan, S.E. Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . Hubert, B. Sotirelis, T. (2009) On the use of IMAGE FUV for estimating the latitude of the open/closed magnetic field line boundary in the ionosphere.

Petkaki, P. Freeman, M.P. . (2009) Nonlinear dependence of ion-acoustic anomalous resistivity on electron drift velocity.

2008

Morley, S.K. Freeman, M.P. . (2008) On the association between northward turnings of the interplanetary magnetic field and substorm onsets.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Abel, G.A. Lam, M. M. . Pinnock, M. Coleman, I. J. Milan, S. E. Lester, M. Bristow, W. A. Greenwald, R. A. Sofko, G. J. Villain, J.-P. (2008) Remote sensing of the spatial and temporal structure of magnetopause and magnetotail reconnection from the ionosphere.

2007

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Lam, M.M. . Abel, G.A. Sotirelis, T. Greenwald, R.A. Lester, M. (2007) A statistical comparison of SuperDARN spectral width boundaries and DMSP particle precipitation boundaries in the afternoon sector ionosphere.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Sotirelis, T. Greenwald, R.A. Lester, M. Villain, J.-P. (2007) A statistical comparison of SuperDARN spectral width boundaries and DMSP particle precipitation boundaries in the morning sector ionosphere.

Chisham, G. . Freeman, M.P. . Sotirelis, T. Greenwald, R.A. (2007) The accuracy of using the spectral width boundary measured in off-meridional SuperDARN HF radar beams as a proxy for the open-closed field line boundary.

Coleman, Iain J. Freeman, Mervyn P. . (2007) Fractal reconnection structures on the magnetopause.

Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . (2007) Comment on “Location of the reconnection line for northward interplanetary magnetic field” by K. J. Trattner, S. A. Fuselier, and S. M. Petrinec.

Abel, Gary A. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Chisham, Gareth . Watkins, Nicholas W. Editors: Shaikh, Dastgeer. Zank, Gary P (2007) Investigating the turbulent structure of ionospheric plasma velocities on open and closed magnetic field lines.

Chisham, G. . Lester, M. Milan, S.E. Freeman, M.P. . Bristow, W.A. Grocott, A. McWilliams, K.A. Ruohoniemi, J.M. Yeoman, T.K. Dyson, P.L. Greenwald, R.A. Kikuchi, T. Pinnock, M. Rash, J.P.S. Sato, N. Sofko, G.J. Villain, J.-P. Walker, A.D.M. (2007) A decade of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN): scientific achievements, new techniques and future directions.

Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Chisham, G. . (2007) Spatial structure of ionospheric convection velocities in regions of open and closed magnetic field topology.

Abel, G.A. Freeman, M.P. . Smith, A.J. Reeves, G.D. (2007) Association of substorm chorus events with drift echoes.

Petkaki, P. Freeman, M.P. . Walsh, A.P. (2007) Cluster observations of broadband electromagnetic waves in and around a reconnection region in the Earth’s magnetotail current sheet.

Petkaki, P. Freeman, M.P. . Kirk, T. Watt, C.E.J. Horne, R.B. . (2007) Anomalous resistivity and the non-linear evolution of the ion-acoustic instability.

Watkins, Nicholas W. Credgington, Daniel. Hnat, Bogdan. Chapman, Sandra C. Freeman, Mervyn P. . Greenhough, John. (2007) Towards synthesis of solar wind and geomagnetic scaling exponents: a fractional Levy motion model.

Lam, M., Shore, R., Chisham, G., & Freeman, M. (2023). Forecast regression model of the northern Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) high-latitude ionospheric plasma motion built from data interval 1997-2008 inclusive (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/22272b8e-1aa3-483b-9867-224fe02db4e8
Daggitt, T. (2022). TS05 and TS07 external magnetic field model L*, LCDS and B field data for the GOES-13, GOES-15 and HIMAWARI-8 satellites for three geomagnetic storm periods (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/346ce427-6663-45e6-b706-285bb79e41ce
Shore, R., Freeman, M., Chisham, G., Lam, M., & Breen, P. (2022). Dominant spatial and temporal patterns of horizontal ionospheric plasma velocity variation covering the northern polar region, from 1997.0 to 2009.0 – VERSION 2.0 (Version 2.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/2b9f0e9f-34ec-4467-9e02-abc771070cd9
Shore, R., Freeman, M., & Chisham, G. (2021). Dominant spatial and temporal patterns of horizontal ionospheric plasma velocity variation covering the northern polar region, for the month of February 2001 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/f4245a21-dee9-46cf-85b2-114798cb7ebc
Shore, R., & Freeman, M. (2020). Dominant spatial and temporal patterns of horizontal ionospheric plasma velocity variation covering the northern polar region, for the period 1997.0 to 2009.0 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/8db4c41b-e549-45dd-bc85-386e6e0e6e07
Freeman, M., Gjerloev, J., & Shore, R. (2018). An empirical orthogonal function reanalysis of the northern polar external and induced magnetic field during solar cycle 23 – VERSION 1.0 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01102
Shore, R., Freeman, M., & Gjerloev, J. (2017). An empirical orthogonal function reanalysis of the northern polar external and induced magnetic field during solar cycle 23 – VERSION 2.0 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00935

PRESCIENT

PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.

Read more of: PRESCIENT
Space Weather Impact on Ground-based Systems (SWIGS)

SWIGS investigated how space weather drives geomagnetically induced currents in power grids, pipelines, and railways.

Read more of: Space Weather Impact on Ground-based Systems (SWIGS)
Atmospheric warming impacts on satellite debris

Joule Heating investigated how space weather affects the upper atmosphere’s ability to slow down orbiting satellite debris.

Read more of: Atmospheric warming impacts on satellite debris
Space Weather Observatory

Assessing Space Weather impacts

Read more of: Space Weather Observatory
Thermospheric Heating Modes and Effects on Satellites (THeMES)

Using meteorological statistical techniques, THeMES aimed to improve satellite trajectory predictions and identify which orbital paths face the greatest risk from space weather disturbances.

Read more of: Thermospheric Heating Modes and Effects on Satellites (THeMES)
SuperDARN

The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) has been operating as an international co-operative organisation for over 25 years, and has proved to be one of the most successful tools for studying dynamical processes in the Earth’s magnetosphere, ionosphere, and neutral atmosphere.

Read more of: SuperDARN
The Global Electric Circuit

Quantifying the Effect of the Upper Atmospheric Electric Potential on Lower Atmospheric Temperature and Pressure.

Read more of: The Global Electric Circuit
Low Power Magnetometer (LPM) Network

Access data from the Low Power Magnetometer (LPM) network

Read more of: Low Power Magnetometer (LPM) Network
Arctic atmosphere and space weather research facilities

The UK EISCAT support group (UKESG) is a collaboration between the British Antarctic Survey and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, funded via the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS).

Read more of: Arctic atmosphere and space weather research facilities
A High-Order Model of the Earth’s External and Induced Magnetic Field

For centuries people have used magnetic compasses to guide them on their way and explore new territories. This has led scientists to embark on their own journeys of discovery about […]

Read more of: A High-Order Model of the Earth’s External and Induced Magnetic Field
Space weather risk modelling

SWIMMR-T generated accurate and actionable nowcasts and forecasts of the thermosphere to reduced uncertainty estimates of the orbital characteristics of satellites and debris.

Read more of: Space weather risk modelling

Climate change to increase lifetime of space pollution

Satellites face greater chances of collision with space debris as a result of reduced density in the upper atmosphere. Increasing levels of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere will result in […]

Read more of: Climate change to increase lifetime of space pollution
Antarctica experiences rare total solar eclipse

A rare total solar eclipse in Antarctica this weekend (Saturday 4 December) is giving researchers a unique opportunity to learn more about how solar eclipses affect space weather. The next […]

Read more of: Antarctica experiences rare total solar eclipse
Space weather monitoring receives funding boost

Space weather research at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) receives a funding boost of around £2M today (Saturday 27 June) from the SWIMMR (Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk) programme. […]

Read more of: Space weather monitoring receives funding boost
Royal Astronomical Society honours BAS scientist

Dr Mervyn Freeman, Senior Space Weather Researcher at British Antarctic Survey, has been awarded the prestigious Chapman Medal in Geophysics by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). The medal recognises his […]

Read more of: Royal Astronomical Society honours BAS scientist
Search Coil Magnetometer

BAS operates a network of magnetometers across Antarctica that measure Earth’s magnetic field and space weather, from detecting aurora-generating waves to tracking radiation belt activity and mapping ionospheric currents that affect satellites.

Read more of: Search Coil Magnetometer
Halley radars

Studying winds, waves, and tides in the upper atmosphere across the polar regions.

Read more of: Halley radars

UKRI Delegate, EISCAT Council
Principal Investigator of BAS low power magnetometer network, SuperMAG Executive Committee
Member, NERC Radar Advisory Group

Team

BAS Science Strategy Executive Group
Space Weather and Atmosphere team

Links/Websites

European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Scientific Association
Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN)
SuperMAG
Global electric circuit

General enquiries

For general enquiries please see our contact page.