On 18th November 2011, Professor Michael J. Thompson, Director of High Altitude Observatory and Associate Director of NCAR, visited National Space Science Center, CAS.

　　He was invited to Visit Meridian Project Scientific Data Center & Operation Center, to which his comment was “impressive”. He also delivered a report on the solar-terrestrial physics at NCAR’s High Altitude Observatory which is well received by the audience. Professor Thompson provided a general outline of the research activities in HAO and he elaborated on the future research frontiers.

　　Professor Thompson's scientific research activity is principally in helioseismology, asteroseismology, solar physics, and inverse problems. He has worked extensively over more than 20 years in developing and applying inverse techniques in helioseismology, and in particular measuring the stratification, rotation, and large-scale flows in the solar interior.

　　The High Altitude Observatory (HAO), founded in 1940 in Colorado, USA, is a laboratory of the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, USA. HAO conducts a broad program of research in solar-terrestrial physics (including solar and heliospheric physics, and physics of the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere). HAO operates the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory in Hawaii, USA. It also provides observational and modeling facilities to the wide solar-terrestrial community.

　　(Supplied by Office of International Cooperation)