student

Graduate Students

MSc Students:

Ephrat
Levin Graduated in 1999. Ephrat finished her Masters degree in 1999. She worked on a project dealing with Water Balance in the Middle East. She attempted to look at how the water balance (effective precipitation= P-Ep) has changed over the last 50 years in the Middle East based on observational data. (e-mail: ephrat@flash.tau.ac.il)

Mustafa Asfur Graduated in 2000. Mustafa worked on the topic of sprites, and the detection of the extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic radiation emitted by the lightning that produces the sprite. Optical observations of sprites by Dr. Walt Lyons in Colorado were compared with the ELF measurements in Israel. (e-mail: mustafa@flash.tau.ac.il)

Moshe
Blum Graduated in 2001. Moshe worked on the topic of radio waves produced by incoming meteors. We were involved with the 1999 Leonid meteor shower campaign in Israel, duing which we collected ELF/VLF data continuously. We have found clear electromagnetic pulses produced by the incoming meteors. (e-mail: mosheb@zoot.tau.ac.il)

Olga
Pechony
Graduated in 2003. Olga studied the connections between rainfall and lightning activity in winter thunderstorms in Israel. She used a combination of satellite and ground-based measurements to study a few intesnse thunderstorms in Israel. She found a lag of approximately 10 minutes between peak lightning activity and peak rainfall. (e-mail: pechony@hail.tau.ac.il)

Eran Greenberg
Graduated in 2004. Eran developed a new Schumann resonance algorithm for globally geo-locating intense lightning flashes around the globe. This discharges most likely trigger the formation of sprites in the upper atmosphere. Eran also used a number of stations to geolocate lightning during the MEIDEX space shuttle mission. (erangree@post.tau.ac.il)

Bela Federmesser
Graduated in 2004. Bela studied the thunderstorm and lightning patterns over the entire Mediterranean Sea. Using the TRMM satellite with both precipitation radar (PR) and lightning sensors (LIS) she studied the interannual variability of thunderstorms during the winter months, and the relationship between lightning and rainfall. (e-mail: uvai@zoot.tau.ac.il)

Adi
Zomer
Graduated in 2005. Adi studied natural electromagnetic signals in the ultra low frequency (ULF) range. A new ULF monitoring site has been set up near Eilat to investigate the possibility that ULF precursors may exist prior to large earthquakes. Such precursors have been observed in other regions of the world. Adi is involved in the ULF data analysis and interpretation. (adizomer@gmail.com)

Michal
Ganot
Graduated in 2008. Michal hunted for sprites, elves and other transient luminous events (TLEs) above winter thunderstorms in Israel. We hope to observe sprites for the first time in the eastern Mediterranean, and during winter thunderstorms. Michal will investigate the type of thunderstorms that are likely to produce sprites in our region. (michal.ganot@gmail.com)

Yosi
Sherez
Yosi is involved with our sprite hunting program called ILAN. Yosi has developed a remotely controlled system to automatically track thunderstorms with optical cameras. The system can be operated from any location with an internet connection, and hence can be operated from home. Yosi is developing the software to track sprite-producing storms via lightning data obtained from a local VLF lightnign detection system (ysherez@gmail.com).

Oren
Davidoff
Graduated in 2008. Oren studyied the impact of the ENSO cycle on rainfall in the eastern Mediterranean. As a result of some earlier findings showing a positive correlation between ENSO and rainfall in northern Israel, Oren is extending the study, and investigating the physical reasons for these connections. (Oren_Davidoff@yahoo.com)

Moriah
Kohen
Graduated in 2010. Moriah is studying flash floods across the Mediterranean region using lightning data from the ZEUS network in Greece. This is part of a large EU projet named FLASH to try to better understand and predict flash floods. Moriah is using lightnign data to develop nowcasting algorithms for the coming 3-6 hours (moriahko@post.tau.ac.il)

Shahar
Rozalis
Graduated in 2009. Shahar is also involved in the flash flood project FLASH, however, focusing on the hydrological aspects of flash floods. We are working together with Efrat Morin of the Hebrew University on this project to simulate past and future flash flood events in Israel and other Mediterranean countries. (shahar_rozalis@yahoo.com)

Gady
Binshtok
Graduated in 2009. Gady studied in the Porter School for Environmental Sciences (PSES) under my guidance together with Prof. Yoav Yair from the Open University. Gady studied the link between lightning activity in Israel and urban areas. He looked to see if the spatial distribution of lightning is influenced by the large metropolitan regions of Tel Aviv and Haifa. One interesting find is the mazximum in positive ground flashes detected east of Tel Aviv, while a minimum in lightning was detected over parks within the city. (gady.binshtok@intel.com)

Gil
Yosef
Graduated in 2009. Gil studied under the joint guidance of Prof. Pinhas Alpert and myself. The goal of the thesis was to investigate the role of the artificial Yatir forest in the south of Israel, on the local climate. Does the forest have any regional effects on temperature, humidity, wind, and even precipitation. Due to the size of the Yatir forest, the results showed a very small impact on the local climate outside of the forest. (gilyosef@post.tau.ac.il )

Alex
Abramov
Alex is using the DEMETER satellite electromagnetic data to investigate anomalies related to seismic events in the eastern Mediterranean region. His work will compliment the ground based measurements in the ULF range performed by others in our group. Alex plans to look at ELF and ULF data from the DEMETER satellite. (doctor_alex78@nana.co.il)

Roy
Yaniv
Graduated in 2009. Roy graduated in 2009. He was in involved in the optical observations of sprites using calibrated cameras. Roy developed a method of using cheap WATEC cameras for obtaining information about the brightness of sprites. He has calibrated our cameras and used the results of our calibrated meausurements to make comparisons with sprite features, such as sprite length, number of elements, etc. (royya@012.net.il)

Naama
Reicher
Naama is working on the problem of hurricane electrification. We have recently found some interesting connections between hurricane genesis and hurricane intensification, and electrical activity in these storms. Naama is looking at the entire lifetime of some hurricanes, starting in Africa as African Easterly Waves (AEWs) and following them across the Atlantic until their arrival in the United States. (naama_reicher@walla.com)

PhD Students:

Mustafa Asfur	Graduated 2005. Mustafa has investigated the connection between regional lightning activity (using the Schumann resonances) over Africa and various important climate parameters, such as surface temperature, large scale updrafts, and upper tropospheric water vapor. Mustafa has found some remarkable relationships between daily thunderstorm activity in Africa and the moistening of the upper atmosphere a day later. In addtion, he devloped and empirical model to study long term thunderstorm activity over tropical Africa. Mustafa started his PhD research working on the geolocation of sprites using ELF/VLF methods. (asfurm@gmail.com)
Olga Pechony	Graduated in 2007. Olga developed a new theoretical model of the Schumann resonance, using a combination of two previous models: the partially uniform (day-night earth-ionosphere cavity) model and the "knee" ionospheric conductivity profile model, into the PUK model (partially-uniform knee model). This model is capable of simulated to observed Schumann resonance parameters for a wide range of boundary conditions, including other planets. Olga will be using her model to explain certain features in the observed ELF data, such as the terminator-effect, and the variability in the amplitude, frequency and damping of the Schumann resonance parameters. (pechony@gmail.com)
Eran Greenberg	Eran is working on ELF detection of lightning, with a focus on ELF transient. These transients are produced by intense lightning flashes around the planet, and are also believed to be the trigger for most of the sprites and othe TLEs around the planet. Eran has been looking at ELF statistics from our Mitzpe Ramon ELF site, and contributing to our winter sprite observation campaigns. (erangree@post.tau.ac.il)
Adi Zomer	Adi has continued his MSc work by expanding our investigation into ULF precursors to earthquakes. Adi is establishing a second ULF site close to the Dead Sea, while simultaneously collecting ULF magnetic data and seismic data. In addition to the seismic comparisons, Adi is also studying space weather anomalies in our data, including changes in the ground observations across the terminator (sunrise and sunset). (adizomer@gmail.com)
Yuval Reuveni	Yuval will be focusing his studies in the very low frequency (VLF) range, to observe and model the natural and anthropogenic radiation in the atmosphere. VLF radiation is emitteed naturally by lightning discharges, while anthropogenic sources are primarily VLF transmitters used for navigation purposes. These transmitters have known location, output energy and frequency, and hence can be used as a controlled source to study changes in the ionospheric properties due to solar storms, sprites, and other transient events. (yuval_edna@yahoo.com)
Daria Dubrovin	Daria is working on sprite formation on Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. Daria spent her first year working on laboratory experiments of sprites in collaboration with the Dutch group of Ute Ebert. Daria is looking at the structure, spectra and formation of sprites in different atmospheric composiitions. (daria.fleurov@gmail.com)
Roy Yaniv	Roy will be working on WRF simulations of hurricanes, looking at the relationship between hurricane development and hurricane electrification (lightning activity). IT has recently been shown that lightnign activity is related to both hurricane genesis (in the Atlantic Ocean), but also hurricane intensification. Roy will be investigating these connections using a mesoscale meteorological model including cloud microphysics, and a new lightning prediction index. (royya@012.net.il)

Ephrat Levin	Graduated in 1999. Ephrat finished her Masters degree in 1999. She worked on a project dealing with Water Balance in the Middle East. She attempted to look at how the water balance (effective precipitation= P-Ep) has changed over the last 50 years in the Middle East based on observational data. (e-mail: ephrat@flash.tau.ac.il)
Mustafa Asfur	Graduated in 2000. Mustafa worked on the topic of sprites, and the detection of the extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic radiation emitted by the lightning that produces the sprite. Optical observations of sprites by Dr. Walt Lyons in Colorado were compared with the ELF measurements in Israel. (e-mail: mustafa@flash.tau.ac.il)
Moshe Blum	Graduated in 2001. Moshe worked on the topic of radio waves produced by incoming meteors. We were involved with the 1999 Leonid meteor shower campaign in Israel, duing which we collected ELF/VLF data continuously. We have found clear electromagnetic pulses produced by the incoming meteors. (e-mail: mosheb@zoot.tau.ac.il)
Olga Pechony	Graduated in 2003. Olga studied the connections between rainfall and lightning activity in winter thunderstorms in Israel. She used a combination of satellite and ground-based measurements to study a few intesnse thunderstorms in Israel. She found a lag of approximately 10 minutes between peak lightning activity and peak rainfall. (e-mail: pechony@hail.tau.ac.il)
Eran Greenberg	Graduated in 2004. Eran developed a new Schumann resonance algorithm for globally geo-locating intense lightning flashes around the globe. This discharges most likely trigger the formation of sprites in the upper atmosphere. Eran also used a number of stations to geolocate lightning during the MEIDEX space shuttle mission. (erangree@post.tau.ac.il)
Bela Federmesser	Graduated in 2004. Bela studied the thunderstorm and lightning patterns over the entire Mediterranean Sea. Using the TRMM satellite with both precipitation radar (PR) and lightning sensors (LIS) she studied the interannual variability of thunderstorms during the winter months, and the relationship between lightning and rainfall. (e-mail: uvai@zoot.tau.ac.il)
Adi Zomer	Graduated in 2005. Adi studied natural electromagnetic signals in the ultra low frequency (ULF) range. A new ULF monitoring site has been set up near Eilat to investigate the possibility that ULF precursors may exist prior to large earthquakes. Such precursors have been observed in other regions of the world. Adi is involved in the ULF data analysis and interpretation. (adizomer@gmail.com)
Michal Ganot	Graduated in 2008. Michal hunted for sprites, elves and other transient luminous events (TLEs) above winter thunderstorms in Israel. We hope to observe sprites for the first time in the eastern Mediterranean, and during winter thunderstorms. Michal will investigate the type of thunderstorms that are likely to produce sprites in our region. (michal.ganot@gmail.com)
Yosi Sherez	Yosi is involved with our sprite hunting program called ILAN. Yosi has developed a remotely controlled system to automatically track thunderstorms with optical cameras. The system can be operated from any location with an internet connection, and hence can be operated from home. Yosi is developing the software to track sprite-producing storms via lightning data obtained from a local VLF lightnign detection system (ysherez@gmail.com).
Oren Davidoff	Graduated in 2008. Oren studyied the impact of the ENSO cycle on rainfall in the eastern Mediterranean. As a result of some earlier findings showing a positive correlation between ENSO and rainfall in northern Israel, Oren is extending the study, and investigating the physical reasons for these connections. (Oren_Davidoff@yahoo.com)
Moriah Kohen	Graduated in 2010. Moriah is studying flash floods across the Mediterranean region using lightning data from the ZEUS network in Greece. This is part of a large EU projet named FLASH to try to better understand and predict flash floods. Moriah is using lightnign data to develop nowcasting algorithms for the coming 3-6 hours (moriahko@post.tau.ac.il)
Shahar Rozalis	Graduated in 2009. Shahar is also involved in the flash flood project FLASH, however, focusing on the hydrological aspects of flash floods. We are working together with Efrat Morin of the Hebrew University on this project to simulate past and future flash flood events in Israel and other Mediterranean countries. (shahar_rozalis@yahoo.com)
Gady Binshtok	Graduated in 2009. Gady studied in the Porter School for Environmental Sciences (PSES) under my guidance together with Prof. Yoav Yair from the Open University. Gady studied the link between lightning activity in Israel and urban areas. He looked to see if the spatial distribution of lightning is influenced by the large metropolitan regions of Tel Aviv and Haifa. One interesting find is the mazximum in positive ground flashes detected east of Tel Aviv, while a minimum in lightning was detected over parks within the city. (gady.binshtok@intel.com)
Gil Yosef	Graduated in 2009. Gil studied under the joint guidance of Prof. Pinhas Alpert and myself. The goal of the thesis was to investigate the role of the artificial Yatir forest in the south of Israel, on the local climate. Does the forest have any regional effects on temperature, humidity, wind, and even precipitation. Due to the size of the Yatir forest, the results showed a very small impact on the local climate outside of the forest. (gilyosef@post.tau.ac.il )
Alex Abramov	Alex is using the DEMETER satellite electromagnetic data to investigate anomalies related to seismic events in the eastern Mediterranean region. His work will compliment the ground based measurements in the ULF range performed by others in our group. Alex plans to look at ELF and ULF data from the DEMETER satellite. (doctor_alex78@nana.co.il)
Roy Yaniv	Graduated in 2009. Roy graduated in 2009. He was in involved in the optical observations of sprites using calibrated cameras. Roy developed a method of using cheap WATEC cameras for obtaining information about the brightness of sprites. He has calibrated our cameras and used the results of our calibrated meausurements to make comparisons with sprite features, such as sprite length, number of elements, etc. (royya@012.net.il)
Naama Reicher	Naama is working on the problem of hurricane electrification. We have recently found some interesting connections between hurricane genesis and hurricane intensification, and electrical activity in these storms. Naama is looking at the entire lifetime of some hurricanes, starting in Africa as African Easterly Waves (AEWs) and following them across the Atlantic until their arrival in the United States. (naama_reicher@walla.com)