Professor Jim Wild FRAS SFHEA
Professor of Space PhysicsProfile
Jim Wild is a scientist studying the space environment and the links between the Sun, the Earth and other planets.
Jim studied for a degree in Physics with Space Science and Technology before completing a doctorate in solar-terrestrial physics at the University of Leicester. He is now the Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University’s Department of Physics.
Research Interests
His research investigates the physics behind the aurora borealis (sometimes known as the northern lights), the impact of space weather on human technology and the interaction between the Martian atmosphere and the interplanetary environment. As well as exploiting an international flotilla of satellites, Jim’s research has regularly taken him to the high arctic to carry out experiments.
As a passionate science communicator, Jim has established himself as a popular speaker for public audiences and he also contributes to print and broadcast media. In 2010, he was awarded a Science in Society Fellowship by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Jim is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of the European Geosciences Union and American Geophysical Union.
PhD Supervisions Completed
Dr. Patrick Daum: "Global MHD Simulations of Magnetospheric Phenomena" [Lancaster University, 2008]
Dr. Peter Tullet: "ULF Oscillations in the Terrestrial Magnetosphere" [Lancaster University, 2009]
Dr. Katie Turnbull: "A Study of Geomagnetically Induced Currents in the UK National Grid" [Lancaster University, 2011]
Dr. Nathan Case: "Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Interactions: A Statistical Analysis of Spacecraft Measurements" [Lancaster University, 2014]
Dr. Robert Kidd: "The Origins of Space Weather: Solar Activity and Geomagnetic Response" [Lancaster University, 2014]
Dr. Jonathan Doyle: "Magnetospheric Plasma Dynamics: Investigating Ion and Electron Flow in the Magnetotail" [Lancaster University, 2019]
Dr. Daniel Billett: "The Great Space Weather Washing Machine: Examining the Dynamics of High-Latitude Ionosphere-Thermosphere Coupling" [Lancaster University, 2019]
PhDs Examined
Robert Fear [University College London, 2006]
Amin Aminaei [Lancaster University, 2007]
Nicola Longdon [Lancaster University, 2007]
Peter Boakes [University of Leicester, 2010]
Daniel Whiter [University of Southampton, 2011]
Paul Wild [Lancaster University, 2012]
Adam Kellerman [La Trobe University, 2012]
Segheen Beyene [University College London, 2012]
Carl Bryers [Lancaster University, 2014]
Martin Archer [Imperial College London, 2014]
Matt James [University of Leicester, 2014]
Olugbenga Ogunmodimu [Lancaster University, 2016]
Benjamin Hall [University of Leicester, 2017]
Hasanain Abbas Hasan Al-Behadili [University of Leicester, 2018]
Rececca Gray [Lancaster University, 2018]
Katie Raymer [University of Leicester, 2018]
Stephen Browett [University of Southampton, 2018]
External Roles
For the Royal Astronomical Society: The RAS was established in 1820 to promote the study of astronomy and geophysics (which has grown to include solar and solar-terrestrial physics, planetary sciences, astroparticle physics & astrobiology) and comprises nearly 3,400 Fellows and Honorary Fellows. I have contributed to the running of this prestigious learned society as follows:
Vice-president, Geophysics (2014 - 2016)
Diversity Champion (2014-2016)
Member of the RAS Education Committee (2009 – 2013)
Member of the RAS Awards Committee, Geophysics Division (2009 – 2011)
Member of the RAS Membership Committee, invited member (2005 – 2011)
Member of the RAS Presidential Election Committee (2009)
Elected member of RAS Council and trustee of the society (2007 – 2010)
For the Science & Technology Facilities Council
Member of the STFC Consolidated Grant Review Panel (2018 - present)
Chair of the STFC Astronomy Grants Panel (2017 - present)
Deputy Chair of the STFC Astronomy Grants Panel (2016)
Member of the STFC Astronomy Grants Panel (2012 – 2015)
Member of the STFC Cluster Oversight Committee (2007 – 10)
PhD Supervision Interests
The impact of space weather on UK railways. This is an exciting opportunity to explore how changes in the near-Earth space environment are linked to potentially damaging electrical currents induced in the UK rail network. It will use measurements of variations in the Earth’s geomagnetic field and rail-monitoring equipment installed through in collaboration with a major UK rail infrastructure stakeholder. Space weather describes the changing properties of near-Earth space, which influences the flow of electrical currents in this region, particularly within the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere. Space weather results from solar magnetic activity, which waxes and wanes over the Sunspot cycle of 11 years, due to eruptions of electrically charged material from the Sun's outer atmosphere. Particularly severe space weather can affect ground-based, electrically conducting infrastructures such as power transmission systems, pipelines and railways. Ground based networks are at risk because rapidly changing electrical currents in space, driven by space weather, cause rapid geomagnetic field changes on the ground. These magnetic changes give rise to electric fields in the Earth that cause geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) to flow to or from the Earth, through conducting networks, instead of in the more resistive ground. Railway infrastructure, safety-critical systems, and operations can be affected by induced electrical currents during extreme space weather. Studies of railway operations outside the UK have shown that induced and/or stray currents from the ground during strong magnetic storms result in increased numbers of signalling anomalies in track currents. Meanwhile, induced direct current flowing in overhead line equipment have the potential to stop train movement. In this project, you will investigate the level of GIC in UK rail infrastructure for the first time by undertaking a comparison of naturally-occurring geomagnetic activity with rail GIC measurements. The outcomes of this project will increase our understanding of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to the space weather hazard. Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in subjects such as physics or geophysics. Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof Jim Wild (j.wild@lancaster.ac.uk).
Selected Publications
Shapes of magnetically controlled electron density structures in the dayside Martian ionosphere
Dieval, C.C.G., Kopf, A., Wild, J.A. 05/2018 In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 123, 5, p. 3919-3942. 24 p.
Journal article
Diurnal variations in global Joule heating morphology and magnitude due to neutral winds
Billett, D.D., Grocott, A., Wild, J.A., Walach, M., Kosch, M.J. 5/03/2018 In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 123, 3, p. 2398-2411. 14 p.
Journal article
AuroraWatch UK: an automated aurora alert system
Case, N.A., Marple, S.R., Honary, F., Wild, J.A., Billett, D., Grocott, A. 10/01/2018 In: Earth and Space Science. 4, 12, p. 746-754. 9 p.
Journal article
Nightside ionospheric convection asymmetries during the early substorm expansion phase: relationship to onset local time
Grocott, A., Laurens, H., Wild, J.A. 16/12/2017 In: Geophysical Research Letters. 44, 23, p. 11696-11705. 10 p.
Journal article
A high-resolution model of the external and induced magnetic field at the Earth’s surface in the northern hemisphere
Shore, R., Freeman, M., Wild, J.A., Gjerloev, J. 17/03/2017 In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 122, 2, p. 2440-2454. 15 p.
Journal article
All Publications
IAA: Impacts of space weather on railway infrastructure
01/12/2018 → 28/02/2019
Research
Space Weather Impacts on Ground-based Systems
01/05/2017 → 30/04/2021
Research
Plasma environments in the solar system
01/04/2015 → 31/08/2018
Research
Iceland West SuperDARN Radar
01/04/2013 → 31/03/2016
Research
A High-Order Model of the Earth's External and Induced Magnetic Field
01/02/2013 → 03/08/2016
Research
A place in the sun: Taking solar system science to the public
01/04/2010 → 30/09/2012
Research
Investigating the influences of open crustal magnetic field regions on the Martian Ionosphere
01/01/2010 → 30/06/2013
Research
CASE: Electromagnetic coupling between the sun and earth
01/10/2007 → 30/09/2011
Research
Multipoint measurements of magnetospheric substorms
01/06/2007 → 31/01/2011
Research
AuroraWatch UK
01/04/2003 → …
Other
National Astronomy Meeting 2019
Participation in conference
UK Government (External organisation)
Membership of committee
STFC (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (External organisation)
Membership of committee
STFC (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Current and Future Research with the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network
Participation in conference
ISSI Team: Field-Aligned Currents: Their Morphology, Evolution, Source Regions and Generators (Event)
Membership of committee
Royal Astronomical Society (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Annales Geophysicae (Journal)
Editorial activity
Institute of Physics Plasma Lecture: Weathering Solar Storm
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
The Big Bang Fair
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Forseeing Space Weather: Darwin College Lecture 2013
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
International Space Science Institute Workshop (Event)
Membership of committee
British Science
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations)
School Engagement
STFC (Science & Technology Facilities Council) (External organisation)
Membership of committee
International Space Science Institute Workshop (Event)
Membership of committee
Cafe Scientifique: Solar flares and northern lights: the beauty and danger of the Sun
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2011
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Rutherford and radio
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Wrexham Science Festival
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Here is the Space Weather
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
The Big Bang Fair 2012
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Royal Astronomical Society Lecture
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Astrofest
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Cunard "Insights" Lecturer
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
British Astronomical Association Conference
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Expert Speaker: Northern Lights Pleasure Flights
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Royal Astronomical Society James Dungey Lectureship 2018
Prize (including medals and awards)
Space and Planetary Physics
Space and Planetary Physics
- Space and Planetary Physics