David Themens

Dr.

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

David is always looking for new Ph.D. students interested in the ionosphere, data assimilation, and radio propagation.

Interested students should send David a complete CV and a one-page (single sided) statement on their research interests.

20132024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research interests

David’s research focuses on four main topics: ionospheric modelling, physics, measurement techniques, and radio propagation.

David’s main physics research focuses on the interaction between the ionosphere and the atmosphere. His interests concern the degree to which lower atmospheric forcing drives variability within the ionosphere and the interactions between the ionosphere and thermosphere.

David is also actively expanding and improving upon his E-CHAIM ionospheric electron density model, having recently lead the development of a near-real-time and reanalysis data assimilation system, based on E-CHAIM, and having developed an auroral particle precipitation module and a quiet D-Region for the model.

David’s modelling research is applications-oriented, focusing on the mitigation of ionospheric impacts on radio communications, Over-The-Horizon-Radar (OTHR), and navigation systems. To this end, David conducts ionospheric raytracing for HF and UHF signals to assess the impacts of the ionosphere on these systems and develop mitigation strategies.

David is also highly interested in exploring novel ways to extract new information from existing instruments and infrastructure using non-linear data assimilation techniques.

Biography

Dr. David R. Themens earned his B.Sc. (Hon. Phys.) from the University of New Brunswick in 2011, under the supervision of Prof. P.T. Jayachandran, where his research focused on the development of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver calibration and the validation of ionospheric models.

David completed his M.Sc. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at McGill University in 2013, under the supervision of Prof. Frédéric Fabry. At McGill, David participated in the development of a scanning microwave radiometer system, designed to make large-scale volumetric measurements of atmospheric water vapour and temperature, which are vitally important to weather forecasting and severely under-observed. David’s research focused on instrument simulation and information theory, attempting to determine the optimal operating frequencies of the instrument and assessing the distribution of information measured by the system. His work demonstrated that traditional use of these instruments discarded large quantities of information, such that simple modifications to traditional measurement inversion methods could produce a more than 10,000% increase in the information provided by scanning microwave radiometers.

David completed his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of New Brunswick in 2018. His Ph.D. research focused on the development of the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM), a high-latitude alternative to the use of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) in modelling ionospheric electron density, necessary for HF/UHF signal propagation modelling. During his Ph.D., David acquired a pair of contracts with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to expand his E-CHAIM model and develop an operational near-real-time data assimilation system for use with Over-The-Horizon-Radar. This continued into David’s postdoctoral research, where he served as Project Lead for the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Models (CHAIMs) contracts. For access or information about E-CHAIM and its related systems, check the system website here: https://e-chaim.chain-project.net/

David has a passion for data science and a, perhaps unhealthy, fascination with ionosondes.

Qualifications

Lecturer in Space Weather & Space Systems:

  • PhD in Physics University of New Brunswick, 2018

  • MSc in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, McGill University, 2013

  • BSc (Hons) in Physics, University of New Brunswick, 2011

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 13 - Climate Action

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, Modeling electron density at high latitudes: Development of the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model , University of New Brunswick

Award Date: 31 Jul 2018

Master of Science, The quest for accurate three-dimensional water vapour and temperature fields: A theoretical examination of the capabilities of a Mesoscale Microwave Radiometer, McGill University

Award Date: 17 Oct 2013

Bachelor of Science, Seasonal Variations in Total Electron Content at High Latitudes: An Evaluation of International Reference Ionosphere Performance, University of New Brunswick

Award Date: 30 Apr 2011

Keywords

  • QC Physics
  • Radio Physics
  • Plasma Physics
  • Space Weather
  • Space Environment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where David Themens is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or