Space Weather Laboratory

M. Leila Mays (Markus) (she/her)

(Deputy Project Scientist)

M. Leila Mays (Markus) (she/her)'s Contact Card & Information.
Email: m.leila.mays@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.1999
Org Code: 674
Address:
NASA/GSFC
 Mail Code 674
 Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Missions & Projects

Brief Bio

Deputy Director, Community Coordinated Modeling Center


Research Interests:

CME kinematics and propagation, solar energetic particles, space weather, validation


Current projects:

Understanding the propagation of interplanetary CMEs. Modeling SEPs throughout the heliosphere.


With the CCMC (Community Coordinated Modeling Center): Onboarding of heliosphere and SEP models, ENLIL model validation, development of ensemble ENLIL CME modeling system, coupling of SEP models with global heliospheric models, co-leading world-wide community validation of CME arrival time, Flare and SEP predictions, development of space weather analysis tools.

Education

Ph.D. physics, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, 2009

B.S. physics (with high honors) and astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, 2004

Awards

NASA Agency Honor Award - Early Career Achievement Medal (2023)

NASA Heliophysics Science Division Peer Award recognition for superior performance (2019)

NASA Agency Honor Award - Group Achievement: Community Coordinated Modeling Center (2018)

NASA Agency Honor Award - Group Achievement - Exceptional Achievement for Science: Solar Dynamics Observatory Team (2015)

NASA Agency Honor Award - Group Achievement - Exceptional Achievement Customer Service Team: Space Weather Research Center (2014)

NASA Heliophysics Science Division Peer Award recognition for superior performance (2013)

NASA Agency Honor Award - Group Achievement: SDO Science Investigation Teams (2013)

NASA Agency Honor Award - Group Achievement: NASA Transit of Venus Outreach Team (2013)

UMD Institute for Physical Science and Technology Monroe Martin Prize for Undergraduate Research in Physics (2004)

Publications

Refereed

2024. "Improved modelling of SEP event onset within the WSA–Enlil–SEPMOD framework." Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate [10.1051/swsc/2024001] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "CME Propagation Through the Heliosphere: Status and Future of Observations and Model Development." Advances in Space Research [10.1016/j.asr.2023.07.003] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Prediction of Solar Energetic Particle Event Peak Proton Intensity Using a Simple Algorithm Based on CME Speed and Direction and Observations of Associated Solar Phenomena." Space Weather 16 (11): 1862-1881 [10.1029/2018sw002032] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Observations and Impacts of the 10 September 2017 Solar Events at Mars: An Overview and Synthesis of the Initial Results." Geophysical Research Letters [10.1029/2018gl079162] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Modeling the Evolution and Propagation of 10 September 2017 CMEs and SEPs Arriving at Mars Constrained by Remote Sensing and In Situ Measurement." Space Weather [10.1029/2018sw001973] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Forecasting the Arrival Time of Coronal Mass Ejections: Analysis of the CCMC CME Scoreboard." Space Weather [10.1029/2018sw001962] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Ensemble Prediction of a Halo Coronal Mass Ejection Using Heliospheric Imagers." Space Weather 16 (7): 784-801 [10.1029/2017sw001786] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Shock Connectivity and the Late Cycle 24 Solar Energetic Particle Events in July and September 2017." Space Weather 16 (5): 557-568 [10.1029/2018sw001860] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Opening a Window on ICME-driven GCR Modulation in the Inner Solar System." The Astrophysical Journal 856 (2): 139 [10.3847/1538-4357/aab098] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Verification of real-time WSA−ENLIL+Cone simulations of CME arrival-time at the CCMC from 2010 to 2016." Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate 8 A17 [10.1051/swsc/2018005] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "The Drag-based Ensemble Model (DBEM) for Coronal Mass Ejection Propagation." The Astrophysical Journal 854 (2): 180 [10.3847/1538-4357/aaaa66] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Update on the Worsening Particle Radiation Environment Observed by CRaTER and Implications for Future Human Deep-Space Exploration." Space Weather 16 (3): 289-303 [10.1002/2017sw001803] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "A propagation tool to connect remote-sensing observations with in-situ measurements of heliospheric structures." Planetary and Space Science 147 61-77 [10.1016/j.pss.2017.07.001] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Interplanetary coronal mass ejection observed at STEREO-A, Mars, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Saturn, and New Horizons en route to Pluto: Comparison of its Forbush decreases at 1.4, 3.1, and 9.9 AU." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 122 (8): 7865-7890 [10.1002/2017ja023884] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Modeling solar energetic particle events using ENLIL heliosphere simulations." Space Weather 15 (7): 934-954 [10.1002/2017sw001617] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Mars plasma system response to solar wind disturbances during solar minimum." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 122 (6): 6611-6634 [10.1002/2016ja023587] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "The Solar Energetic Particle Event of 2010 August 14: Connectivity with the Solar Source Inferred from Multiple Spacecraft Observations and Modeling." The Astrophysical Journal 838 (1): 51 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa63e4] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Predicting the magnetic vectors within coronal mass ejections arriving at Earth: 2. Geomagnetic response." Space Weather 15 (2): 441-461 [10.1002/2016sw001458] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Validation for global solar wind prediction using Ulysses comparison: Multiple coronal and heliospheric models installed at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center." Space Weather 14 (8): 592-611 [10.1002/2016sw001435] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Continuous solar wind forcing knowledge: Providing continuous conditions at Mars with the WSA-ENLIL + Cone model." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 121 (7): 6207-6222 [10.1002/2015ja021941] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Longitudinal conjunction between MESSENGER and STEREO A: Development of ICME complexity through stream interactions." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 121 (7): 6092–6106 [10.1002/2015ja022307] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Shock Connectivity in the August 2010 and July 2012 Solar Energetic Particle Events inferred from Observations and ENLIL Modeling." The Astrophysical Journal 825 (1): 1 [10.3847/0004-637x/825/1/1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "PROPAGATION OF THE 2014 JANUARY 7 CME AND RESULTING GEOMAGNETIC NON-EVENT." The Astrophysical Journal 812 (2): 145 [10.1088/0004-637x/812/2/145] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Strong coronal channelling and interplanetary evolution of a solar storm up to Earth and Mars." Nat Comms 6 7135 [10.1038/ncomms8135] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Ensemble Modeling of CMEs Using the WSA–ENLIL+Cone Model." Sol Phys 290 (6): 1775-1814 [10.1007/s11207-015-0692-1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Predicting the magnetic vectors within coronal mass ejections arriving at Earth: 1. Initial architecture." Space Weather 13 374 [Full Text] [10.1002/2015SW001171] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "HELIOSPHERIC PROPAGATION OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS: COMPARISON OF NUMERICAL WSA-ENLIL+CONE MODEL AND ANALYTICAL DRAG-BASED MODEL." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 213 (2): 21 [10.1088/0067-0049/213/2/21] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "The SCORE Scale: A Coronal Mass Ejection Typification System Based on Speed." Space Weather [10.1002/swe.20058] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "A major solar eruptive event in July 2012: Defining extreme space weather scenarios." SPACE WEATHER-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS 11 585-591 [10.1002/swe.20097] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Simulation of the 23 July 2012 extreme space weather event: What if this extremely rare CME was Earth directed?." SPACE WEATHER-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS 11 671-679 [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Geospace environment modeling 2008-2009 challenge: D-st index." SPACE WEATHER-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS 11 187-205 [10.1002/swe.20036] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Energy Release from Impacting Prominence Material Following the 2011 June 7 Eruption." The Astrophysical Journal 776 [L12-10.1088/2041-8205/776/1/L12] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Geospace environment modeling 2008–2009 challenge: Dst index." Space Weather 11 [10.1002/swe.20036] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Forecasting the Dst index during corotating interaction region events using synthesized solar wind parameters." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 117 (A3): [10.1029/2011ja017018] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Understanding shock dynamics in the inner heliosphere with modeling and Type II radio data: The 2010-04-03 event." Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics) 117 4105 [10.1029/2011JA017304] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Influence of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling functions on the Dst index." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 116 (A12): [10.1029/2011ja016780] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "A Snapshot of the Sun Near Solar Minimum: The Whole Heliosphere Interval." Sol Phys 274 (1-2): 29-56 [10.1007/s11207-011-9891-6] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Real-time predictions of geomagnetic storms and substorms: Use of the Solar Wind Magnetosphere-Ionosphere System model." Space Weather 7 (7): [10.1029/2008sw000459] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Evaluation of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling functions during geomagnetic storms with the WINDMI model." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 114 (A2): [10.1029/2008ja013530] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Laboratory experiments simulating solar wind driven magnetospheres." Phys. Plasmas 16 (4): 043112 [10.1063/1.3085786] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "A method for the intensification of atomic oxygen green line emission by internal gravity waves." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 113 (A12): [10.1029/2008ja013425] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Effect of Interplanetary Shocks on the AL and Dst Indices." Geophysical Research Letters 34 (11): L11104 [10.1029/2007gl029844] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Analysis of the 3-7 October 2000 and 15-24 April 2002 geomagnetic storms with an optimized nonlinear dynamical model." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 112 (A4): [10.1029/2006ja012019] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "An Attempt to Detect Coronal Mass Ejections in Lyman-α Using SOHO Swan." Solar Physics 241 (1): 113-125 [10.1007/s11207-007-0196-8] [Journal Article/Letter]

Selected Public Outreach

California Academy of Sciences Planetarium - Dean Lecture: Space Weather and Human Exploration

September 2023 - September 2023

American Museum of Natural History Hayden Planetarium Astronomy Online: Solar Storms

November 2020 - November 2020

American Museum of Natural History Frontiers Lecture: Simulating Risks of Space Weather

November 2020 - November 2020

American Museum of Natural History Hayden Planetarium: Sun-Earth Interaction

April 2018 - April 2018

American Museum of Natural History Hayden Planetarium: Astronomy Live: Sun-Earth Connection

July 2017 - July 2017

Contact Us

C. Young
Associate Director for Science Communicaton
301-286-4441
c.a.young@nasa.gov

General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Office of Communications at 1.301.286.8955.