The working group on VLF/ELF Remote Sensing of the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere (VERSIM) is an international group of scientists interested in studying the behaviour of the magnetosphere and ionosphere by means of ELF (300 Hz - 3 kHz) and VLF (3-30 kHz) radio waves, both naturally and artificially generated.
The group was set up in 1975 by IAGA (International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy) and URSI (International Union of Radio Science), as described in the working group history. Originally the emphasis was on probing of the magnetosphere by whistlers, but later the scope became somewhat broader.
The group aims to promote research in this field by facilitating the exchange of ideas, information and experience between active research workers and other interested scientists. This is done through regular meetings at IAGA and URSI Assemblies, a regular VERSIM community workshop, and via the circulation of a newsletter. The group has also been active in sponsoring scientific symposia at IAGA and URSI Assemblies, in areas relevant to its field of interest, and in coordinating observational campaigns.
At present the main subjects of interest include Plasma structures and boundaries - morphology and dynamics, Wave-particle and wave-wave interactions, Wave-induced particle precipitation, Wave propagation in magnetosphere and ionosphere, Sprites and the effects of lightning on the ionosphere.
There are currently over 100 scientists from about 26 different countries on the VERSIM mailing list.
The 11th VERSIM workshop was the first workshop held in the United States, set against the stunning backdrop of the Colorado mountains in the picturesque town of Breckenridge−a welcome return to a fully in-person gathering.
The 11th VERSIM workshop was the first workshop held in the United States, set against the stunning backdrop of the Colorado mountains in the picturesque town of Breckenridge−a welcome return to a fully in-person gathering. This time 55 attendees gathered to discuss advancements in VLF and ELF science and foster collaboration. Participants included 11 students, 11 early-career scientists, and 33 senior researchers, creating a diverse mix that encouraged knowledge sharing across career stages. Attendees came from 12 countries across four continents: North America (43), Europe (13), Asia (6), and New Zealand (1). The workshop featured 56 talks in seven categories, covering topics like wave-particle interactions, space missions, and machine learning applications. This diversity of ideas and participants made the workshop a success, driving collaboration, innovation, and networking on a global scale.
The workshop was supported by IAGA, URSI, and SCOSTEP, ISEE (Nagoya U.)
The 10th VERSIM workshop went back to its roots, as it was held in the same location as the very first workshop. It was also a return to in-person presentations and was preceeded by the first VERSIM school.
The 10th VERSIM workshop went back to its roots, as it was held in the same location as the very first workshop! It was also a return to in-person presentations. It was a great pleasure to meet new and old friends in Sodankylä again, but also online as this was the first hybrid workshop. We had 17 online talks and 35 in-person presentations, including 11 made by Early Career Scientists and 6 by Students.
Topics included data analysis and theoretical studies, from the effects of lightning-generated whistlers to non-linear wave-particle interactions, the response of the D-region ionosphere to pulsating aurora and multipoint observations to better understand waves, particles and the magnetosphere as a whole.
The 1st VERSIM School, held on the weekend prior to the workshop with 14 participants, including 4 students and 8 early-career scientists. The school had introductory tutorials over an array of VERSIM topics. We also made a tour of SGO, visited the VLF receiver at Kannuslehto and held a networking session.
The workshop was supported by IAGA, URSI, SCOSTEP, ISEE (Nagoya U.), and SGO (Oulu U.)
The 9th VERSIM workshop took place during a particular time in everyone's lives. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we switched to a fully online meeting.
The 9th VERSIM workshop took place during a particular time in everyone's lives. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we switched to a fully online meeting. However, even through these difficult times and different time zones, we not only had great invited talks but also the largest attendance of any previous workshop (100+ listeners during online oral and poster presentations).
The presentations are still available for review until the end of 2021 to all the participants at the meeting website.
The workshop was supported by IAGA, URSI, SGEPSS, ISEE (Nagoya U.), Kyoto University and of course the organisers at RISH (Kyoto U.). In addition to all traditional VERSIM topics, results of recent space missions such as Arase, MMS and Van Allen Probes were presented. All information directly related to The 9th VERSIM workshop is available online.
The 8th VERSIM workshop was hosted on March 2018 by The Polar Geophysical Institute (PGI) located in above the Arctic circle in the city of Apatity, Russia.
The 8th VERSIM workshop was hosted on March 2018 by The Polar Geophysical Institute (PGI) located in above the Arctic circle in the city of Apatity, Russia. The workshop was supported by SCOSTEP/VarSITI, IAGA and URSI. Our conference program focused on all traditional VERSIM topics, such as sptires and effects of lightning in the ionosphere, wave-particle and wave-wave interactions, wave genereation in the magnetosphere, with additional radiation-belt themed reports after their succesful integration into the 7th VERSIM meeting.
This meeting was also marked by our first 'Happy Bus', organized by our colleagues at the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. A group of 15 brave scientists from several countries travelled through the Salla border post by land from Finland and into Russia.
All information directly related to The 8th VERSIM workshop is available online.
The 7th VERSIM workshop was hosted on September 2016 by The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa.
The 7th VERSIM workshop was hosted on September 2016 by The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa. The workshop was supported by IAGA, URSI and VarSITI. This time a Radiation Belt session was added to the programme, recognizing the strong synergy between radiation belt and VERSIM science. The main subjects focused on near-Earth dynamics as a function of space, time, and energy; wave-particle processes; and interactions among different inner magnetosphere particle populations.
The 6th VERSIM workshop took place in January 2014 at the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand).
The 6th VERSIM workshop took place in January 2014 at the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand). It was organized by the Space Physics Group of the Department of Physics of the University of Otago and supported by IAGA, URSI and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development. This was a chance for the VERSIM IAGA/URSI joint working group to meet and discuss current issues, developments, and techniques. The 6th VERSIM Abstract and Programme Book is available online. The workshop attracted 35 participants from 14 countries, with 58 abstracts.
During the 6th VERSIM Workshop there was a VERSIM business meeting on the last day, and the minutes are available.
The VERSIM group had its origins in the 1950s as a committee of Commission IV of URSI, and in 1969 was established as a joint committee of Commissions III and IV on Whistlers in the Magnetosphere, chaired by D.L. Carpenter of Stanford University.
Following the URSI General Assembly at Lima in 1975, the group was reconstituted as a joint working group of URSI and IAGA on Passive Electromagnetic Probing of the Magnetosphere, under URSI Commissions G and H and IAGA Divisions II and III. The working group was endorsed by IAGA at its meeting in Grenoble later the same year and was constituted to have two co-chairpersons, one from IAGA and one from URSI.
The working group was endorsed by IAGA at its meeting in Grenoble later the same year and was constituted to have two co-chairpersons, one from IAGA and one from URSI.
Here is a list of some of the VLF data accessible on the web and more information about VLF waves. If you would like to make additions or modifications to this database please contact us
.The VERSIM Newsletter (and its predecessor, the PEPM Newsletter) has been published about 1-2 times per year. Newsletters up to No. 13 were distributed on paper. From No. 14 onwards they will be distributed electronically, either via the VERSIM electronic mailing list or through this web page.
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