Wen Li received a B.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2005.[3] She earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Following her Ph.D., she remained at the University of California, Los Angeles as an associate researcher until 2016, when she moved to Boston University.[3]
Li's research focuses on waves in Earth's magnetosphere, modeling Earth's radiation belts, and examining radiation belts on Jupiter. In 2019, she received funding to examine plasma waves called 'whistler mode waves', which are high-energy electrons in Earth's radiation belts.[4]
Research
One of Li's research areas concerns "killer electrons," electrons that emit a high level of radiation that can damage satellites in Earth's radiation belts. Li uses multi-satellite observations to study this process, which has implications for national security and commercial interests.[1][3]
Her research and use of low-altitude satellite data has revealed that electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves during geomagnetic storms and recovery cause the loss of relativistic electrons that would typically be trapped in Earth's radiation belts. To understand the distribution of these plasma waves, Li used low-satellite data to calculate plasma wave properties and create a more detailed global distribution than previously available. These findings have since been incorporated into numerous other research projects and studies.[5][6][7][8]
Li, W.; Shprits, Y. Y.; Thorne, R. M. (2007). "Dynamic evolution of energetic outer zone electrons due to wave-particle interactions during storms: EVOLUTION OF ENERGETIC ELECTRONS". Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 112 (A10): n/a. Bibcode:2007JGRA..11210220L. doi:10.1029/2007JA012368.
↑ Li, W; Shprits, R; Thorne, M (23 October 2007). "Dynamic evolution of energetic outer zone electrons due to wave-particle interactions during storms". Journal of Geophysical Research. 112 (A10). Bibcode:2007JGRA..11210220L. doi:10.1029/2007JA012368.
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