Dr Robert Fear

Head of Space Environment Physics Group

Director of Studies for Year 4

Programme Leader for MPhys Physics with Space Science

Coordinator for Geophysics degree programme within Physics & Astronomy

Dr Robert Fear is an Associate Professor in Space Physics, and head of the Space Environment Physics group. After completing his PhD at University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Leicester. He joined the University of Southampton as an STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow (2013-18). His research interests are in large-scale solar wind/magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling, and he has extensive experience in the use of in situ satellite data, radar data and global-scale auroral imaging to understand the dynamics of the region of space occupied by the Earth’s magnetic field (the magnetosphere) and its influence on the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere (the ionosphere). In recent years, his research interests have broadened to include global scale magnetospheric dynamics during periods when the interplanetary magnetic field is northward, which has led to several key publications on this topic in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letters and Science magazine. Community roles include membership of MIST Council, the UK representative body for Magnetospheric, Ionospheric and Solar Terrestrial physics (2011-2017), and he is a member of STFC’s Astronomy Grants Panel (2017-).

Research

Research interests

Large-scale solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

Global magnetospheric dynamics using combined in situ and ionospheric data

Formation, evolution and dynamics of transpolar arcs and polar cap auroras

Formation, structure and global contribution of flux transfer events (FTEs)

Magnetospheric dynamics associated with northward interplanetary magnetic field

Fine-scale auroral structure in the polar cap and auroral oval

Publications

2021

Coxon, John C., Fear, Robert C., Reidy, Jade A., Fryer, Laura Jane and Plank, James (2021) Hot Plasma in the Magnetotail Lobes Shows Characteristics Consistent With Closed Field Lines Trapped in the Lobes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 126 (9), [e2021JA029516]. (doi:10.1029/2021JA029516).
Fryer, L. J., Fear, R. C., Coxon, J. C. and Gingell, I. L. (2021) Observations of closed magnetic flux embedded in the lobes during periods of northward IMF. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 126 (6), [e2021JA029281]. (doi:10.1029/2021JA029281).

2020

Tuttle, Sam Arthur, Lanchester, Betty, Gustavsson, Bjorn J., Whiter, Daniel, Ivchenko, Nickolay, Fear, Robert and Lester, Mark (2020) Horizontal electric fields from flow of auroral O⁺(²P) ions at sub-second temporal resolution. Annales Geophysicae, 38 (4), 845–859. (doi:10.5194/angeo-38-845-2020).
Reidy, Jade, Fear, Robert, Whiter, Daniel, Lanchester, Betty, Kavanagh, Andrew, Price, David John, Chadney, Joshua M, Zhang, Y and Paxton, Larry (2020) Multi-scale observation of two polar cap arcs occurring on different magnetic field topologies. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 125 (8), 1-17, [e2019JA027611]. (doi:10.1029/2019JA027611).

2019

Hoilijoki, S., Ganse, U., Sibeck, D. G., Cassak, P. A., Turc, L., Battarbee, M., Fear, R. C., Blanco-Cano, X., Dimmock, A. P., Kilpua, E. K.J., Jarvinen, R., Juusola, L., Pfau-Kempf, Y. and Palmroth, M. (2019) Properties of Magnetic Reconnection and FTEs on the Dayside Magnetopause With and Without Positive IMF B_x Component During Southward IMF. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. (doi:10.1029/2019JA026821).
Trenchi, L., Coxon, J.C., Fear, R.C., Eastwood, J.P., Dunlop, M.W., Trattner, K. J., Gershman, D.J., Graham, D.B., Khotyaintsev, Y. and Lavraud, B. (2019) Signatures of magnetic separatrices at the borders of a crater flux transfer event connected to an active x-line. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. (doi:10.1029/2018JA026126).
Fear, Robert, Coxon, John and Jackman, Caitriona (2019) The contribution of flux transfer events to Mercury's Dungey cycle. Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (24), 14239-14246. (doi:10.1029/2019GL085399).
Coxon, John C., Shore, Robert M., Freeman, Mervyn P., Fear, Robert C., Browett, Stephen D., Smith, Andrew W., Whiter, Daniel K. and Anderson, Brian J. (2019) Timescales of Birkeland currents driven by the IMF. Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (14), 1-9. (doi:10.1029/2018GL081658).

2018

Dong, X. C., Dunlop, M. W., Wang, T. Y., Cao, J. B., Trattner, K. J., Bamford, R., Russell, C. T., Bingham, R., Strangeway, R. J., Fear, R. C., Giles, B. L. and Torbert, R. B. (2018) Carriers and sources of magnetopause current: MMS Case Study. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123 (7), 5464-5475. (doi:10.1029/2018JA025292).
Blanco-Cano, Xochitl, Battarbee, Markus, Turc, Lucile, Dimmock, Andrew P., Kilpua, Emilia K.J., Hoilijoki, Sanni, Ganse, Urs, Sibeck, David G., Cassak, Paul A., Fear, Robert C., Jarvinen, Riku, Juusola, Liisa, Pfau-Kempf, Yann, Vainio, Rami and Palmroth, Minna (2018) Cavitons and spontaneous hot flow anomalies in a hybrid-Vlasov global magnetospheric simulation. Annales Geophysicae, 36 (4), 1081-1097. (doi:10.5194/angeo-36-1081-2018).
Smith, A. W., Jackman, C. M., Frohmaier, C. M., Fear, R. C., Slavin, J. A. and Coxon, J. C. (2018) Evaluating single spacecraft observations of planetary magnetotails with simple Monte Carlo Simulations: 2. Magnetic flux rope signature selection effects. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123 (12), 10124-10138. (doi:10.1029/2018JA025959).
Smith, A. W., Jackman, C. M., Frohmaier, C. M., Coxon, J. C., Slavin, J. A. and Fear, R. C. (2018) Evaluating single-spacecraft observations of planetary magnetotails with simple Monte Carlo Simulations: 1. Spatial distributions of the neutral line. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123 (12), 10109-10123. (doi:10.1029/2018JA025958).
Reidy, J. A., Fear, R. C., Whiter, D. K., Lanchester, B., Kavanagh, A. J., Milan, S. E., Carter, J. A., Paxton, L. J. and Zhang, Y. (2018) Interhemispheric survey of polar cap aurora. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. (doi:10.1029/2017JA025153).
Genestreti, K.J., Varsani, A., Burch, J.L., Cassak, P.A., Torbert, R.B., Nakamura, R., Ergun, R.E., Phan, T.D., Toledo-Redondo, S., Hesse, M., Wang, S., Giles, B.L., Russell, C.T., Vörös, Z., Hwang, K.J., Eastwood, J.P., Lavraud, B., Escoubet, C.P., Fear, R.C., Khotyaintsev, Y., Nakamura, T.K.M., Webster, J.M. and Baumjohann, W. (2018) MMS observation of asymmetric reconnection supported by 3-D electron pressure divergence. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123 (3), 1806-1821. (doi:10.1002/2017JA025019).
Hwang, K. J., Sibeck, D. G., Burch, J. L., Choi, E., Fear, R. C., Lavraud, B., Giles, B. L., Gershman, D., Pollock, C. J., Eastwood, J. P., Khotyaintsev, Y., Escoubet, Philippe, Fu, H., Toledo-Redondo, S., Torbert, R. B., Ergun, R. E., Paterson, W. R., Dorelli, J. C., Avanov, L., Russell, C. T. and Strangeway, R. J. (2018) Small-scale flux transfer events formed in the reconnection exhaust region between two X lines. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123 (10), 8473-8488. (doi:10.1029/2018JA025611).
Nowada, Motoharu, Fear, Robert C., Grocott, Adrian, Shi, Quan Qi, Yang, Jun, Zong, Qiu Gang, Wei, Yong, Fu, Sui Yan, Pu, Zu Yin, Mailyan, Bagrat and Zhang, Hui (2018) Subsidence of ionospheric flows triggered by magnetotail magnetic reconnection during transpolar arc brightening. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. (doi:10.1029/2017JA024701).
Coxon, John C., Freeman, Mervyn P., Jackman, Caitriona M., Forsyth, Colin, Rae, I. Jonathan and Fear, Robert C. (2018) Tailward propagation of magnetic energy density variations with respect to substorm onset times. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123 (6), 4741-4754. (doi:10.1029/2017JA025147).
Sandhu, J.K., Yeoman, T.K., James, M.K., Rae, I.J. and Fear, R.C. (2018) Variations of high-latitude geomagnetic pulsation frequencies: a comparison of time-of-flight estimates and IMAGE magnetometer observations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. (doi:10.1002/2017JA024434).

2017

Smith, A.W., Slavin, J.A., Jackman, C.M., Fear, R.C., Poh, G.-K., DiBraccio, G.A., Jasinski, J.M. and Trenchi, L. (2017) Automated force-free flux rope identification. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122 (1), 780-791. (doi:10.1002/2016JA022994).
Coxon, John, Rae, I. Jonathan, Forsyth, Colin, Jackman, Caitriona M., Fear, Robert C. and Anderson, Brian J. (2017) Birkeland currents during substorms: Statistical evidence for intensification of Regions 1 and 2 currents after onset and a localized signature of auroral dimming. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122 (6). (doi:10.1002/2017JA023967).
Smith, A.W., Slavin, J.A., Jackman, C.M., Poh, G.-K. and Fear, R.C. (2017) Flux ropes in the Hermean magnetotail: distribution, properties and formation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. (doi:10.1002/2017JA024295).
Fear, R.C., Trenchi, L., Coxon, J.C. and Milan, S. E. (2017) How much flux does a flux transfer event transfer? Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122 (12), 12310-12327. (doi:10.1002/2017JA024730).
Reidy, J.A., Fear, R.C., Whiter, D.K., Lanchester, B.S., Kavanagh, A.J., Paxton, L.J., Zhang, Y. and Lester, M. (2017) Multi-instrument observation of simultaneous polar cap auroras on open and closed magnetic field lines. Journal of Geophysical Research, 122 (4), 4367-4386. (doi:10.1002/2016JA023718).
Sandhu, J.K., Yeoman, T.K., Rae, I.J., Fear, R.C. and Dandouras, I. (2017) The dependence of magnetospheric plasma mass loading on geomagnetic activity using Cluster. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122 (9), 9371-9395. (doi:10.1002/2017JA024171).
Browett, S.D., Fear, R.C., Grocott, A. and Milan, S.E. (2017) Timescales for the penetration of IMF By into the Earth's magnetotail. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122 (1), 579-593. (doi:10.1002/2016JA023198).
Carter, J.A., Milan, S.E., Fear, R.C., Walach, M.-T., Harrison, Z.A., Paxton, L.J. and Hubert, B. (2017) Transpolar arcs observed simultaneously in both hemispheres. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122 (6), 6107-6120. (doi:10.1002/2016JA023830).

2016

Trenchi, L., Fear, R. C., Trattner, K. J., Mihaljcic, B. and Fazakerley, A. N. (2016) A sequence of flux transfer events potentially generated by different generation mechanisms. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121 (9), 8624-8639. (doi:10.1002/2016JA022847).
Sandhu, J.K., Yeoman, T.K., Fear, R.C. and Dandouras, I. (2016) A statistical study of magnetospheric electron density using the Cluster spacecraft. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121 (11), 11,042-11,062. (doi:10.1002/2016JA023397).
Sandhu, J.K., Yeoman, T.K., Fear, R.C. and Dandouras, I. (2016) A statistical study of magnetospheric ion composition along the geomagnetic field using the Cluster spacecraft for L values between 5.9 and 9.5. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121 (3), 2194-2208. (doi:10.1002/2015JA022261).

2015

Carter, J.A., Milan, S.E., Fear, R.C., Kullen, A. and Hairston, M.R. (2015) Dayside reconnection under interplanetary magnetic field By-dominated conditions: The formation and movement of bending arcs. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120 (4), 2967-2978. (doi:10.1002/2014JA020809).
Lidtke, Aleksander A., Rumpf, Clemens, Tatnall, Adrian, Lewis, Hugh G., Walker, Scott J., Taylor, Mia, Fear, Robert C., Weddell, Alex S., Maunder, Robert G. and Bantock, James R.B. (2015) Enhancing spaceflight safety with UOS3 cubesat. 1st Symposium on Space Educational Activities, Padova, Italy. 09 - 12 Dec 2015.
Maes, L., Maggiolo, R., De Keyser, J., Dandouras, I., Fear, R.C., Fontaine, D. and Haaland, S. (2015) Solar illumination control of ionospheric outflow above polar cap arcs. Geophysical Research Letters, 42 (5), 1304-1311. (doi:10.1002/2014GL062972).
Trenchi, L., Marcucci, M.F. and Fear, R.C. (2015) The effect of diamagnetic drift on motion of the dayside magnetopause reconnection line. Geophysical Research Letters, 42 (15), 6129-6136. (doi:10.1002/2015GL065213).
Fear, R.C., Milan, S.E., Carter, J.A. and Maggiolo, R. (2015) The interaction between transpolar arcs and cusp spots. Geophysical Research Letters, 42 (22), 9685-9693. (doi:10.1002/2015GL066194).
Kullen, A., Fear, R.C., Milan, S.E., Carter, J.A. and Karlsson, T. (2015) The statistical difference between bending arcs and regular polar arcs. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120 (12), 10,443-10,465. (doi:10.1002/2015JA021298).
Mailyan, B., Shi, Q.Q., Kullen, A., Maggiolo, R., Zhang, Y., Fear, R.C., Zong, Q.-G., Fu, S.Y., Gou, X.C., Cao, X., Yao, Z.H., Sun, W.J., Wei, Y. and Pu, Z.Y. (2015) Transpolar arc observation after solar wind entry into the high-latitude magnetosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120 (5), 3525-3534. (doi:10.1002/2014JA020912).

2014

Fear, R.C., Milan, S.E., Maggiolo, R., Fazakerley, A.N., Dandouras, I. and Mende, S.B. (2014) Direct observation of closed magnetic flux trapped in the high-latitude magnetosphere. Science, 346 (6216), 1506-1510. (doi:10.1126/science.1257377).
Radioti, A., Grodent, D., Gérard, J.-C., Milan, S.E., Fear, R.C., Jackman, C.M., Bonfond, B. and Pryor, W. (2014) Saturn's elusive nightside polar arc. Geophysical Research Letters, 41 (18), 6321-6328. (doi:10.1002/2014GL061081).

Dataset

Tuttle, Sam Arthur, Lanchester, Betty, Gustavsson, Bjorn J, Whiter, Daniel, Ivchenko, Nickolay, Fear, Robert and Lester, Mark (2020) Dataset for Horizontal electric fields from flow of auroral O+(2P) ions at sub-second temporal resolution. University of Southampton doi:10.5258/SOTON/D1460 [Dataset]
Reidy, Jade, Fear, Robert, Whiter, Daniel, Lanchester, Betty, Kavanagh, A. J., Price, David, John, Chadney, Joshua, Zhang, Yongliang and Paxton, Larry (2020) Dataset for Multi-scale observations of two polar cap arcs occuring on different magnetic field topologies. University of Southampton doi:10.5258/SOTON/D1270 [Dataset]

Dr Robert Fear

Research

Teaching

Publications

Contact

Research

Research interests

Teaching

Publications

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Dataset

Contact