PhD Student and Researcher in Atmospheric Electricity. CRAAM – Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Brazil.
Research focus: atmospheric electric field, potential gradient, global electric circuit, air pollution, dust storms, space weather, South America.
Publications
Peer-reviewed
Romero, R.M., Tacza, J., Vara-Vela, A., Szpigel, S., Raulin, J.-P. "Regime-dependent sensitivity of the atmospheric potential gradient to anthropogenic air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil." Atmospheric Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109002
Valio, A., Lopez, K., Gamonal, J., Romero, R.M., Da Silva, D. "Space weather impact of three solar flares observed by the POEMAS telescope at 45 and 90 GHz." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025JA034611
Romero, R.M., Tacza, J., Arroyo, J., Prieto, F., Macotela, L., Buleje, Y., Loayza, R., Fernandez, U., Raulin, J.-P. "First results of the potential gradient variation in a tropical station in South America (Ica, Peru)." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2024.106198
Under review
Romero, R.M., Loayza, R., Huaman, G., Calderon, D., Buleje, Y., Arroyo, J., Tasayco, M., Torres, C., Tacza, J.C., Szpigel, S., Raulin, J.-P. "Electrical lead time during an extreme haboob-like dust-front intrusion in Ica, Peru." Atmospheric Research (Submitted March 2026).
Tacza, J., Li, G., Fu, S., Chen, T., Xu, E., Kubicki, M., Gonçalves Silva, H., Raulin, J.-P., Romero, R.M., et al. "The May 2024 geospace superstorm and its impact on the Global Electric Circuit worldwide." Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (2025).
In preparation
Romero, R.M., Tacza, J., Odzimek, A., Szpigel, S., Raulin, J.-P. "Atmospheric potential gradient and ground-level gamma radiation during five solar eclipses at CASLEO, Argentina (2010–2024)."
Romero, R.M., Tacza, J.C., Odzimek, A., Szpigel, S., Raulin, J.-P. "Recovery of a Carnegie-like Diurnal Signature of the Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit from Urban Potential Gradient Measurements." (URSI GASS 2026)
Romero, R.M., Tacza, J., Odzimek, A., Szpigel, S., Raulin, J.-P. "Constraints on the interpretation of atmospheric potential gradient anomalies associated with earthquakes: Evidence from Peru and Argentina."
Romero, R.M., Odzimek, A., Tacza, J., Szpigel, S., Raulin, J.-P. "Advancing the EGATEC Model: Improving Generator Schemes and Validation with Ground-Based Electric Field Observations."
Education
PhD, Electrical Engineering & Computing – Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Brazil (Aug 2023 – Aug 2027). Thesis: Advancing the Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit: Enhanced EGATEC Modeling and Environmental & Seismo-Atmospheric Applications in South America.
Sandwich PhD Fellow (PDSE) – Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland (Feb–Jul 2026). GAEC modeling.
IMCP Space Weather School – National Space Science Center, CAS, Haikou, China (Nov 2025). Advanced training in solar-terrestrial physics; fully funded with performance award.
Research Visitor – Institute of Geophysics, PAS, Poland (May–Jun 2025). GAEC modeling and validation.
Training Fellow – Institute of Geophysics, PAS, Poland (Sep 2024). GAEC modeling.
BSc in Physics – National University San Luis Gonzaga, Peru (2016–2022).
Fellowships & Awards
URSI Young Scientist Award 2026 (Poland) – Selected by the International Union of Radio Science for the URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2026; full support.
CAPES PDSE Sandwich PhD Scholarship 2026 (Brazil) – 6-month fully funded research fellowship at IGF PAS, Poland, for GAEC modeling.
IMCP 2025 Full Financial Support (China) – Full funding by National Space Science Center (CAS) for International Meridian Circle Program Space Weather School.
IMCP 2025 Performance Award (China) – Certificate of Award for top-3 winning project on low-latitude ionosphere monitoring.
PAS Research Visit Support 2025 (Poland) – EUR 1,900 for 1-month GAEC modeling research stay at IGF PAS.
CAPES-Print Project Grant 2024 (Brazil) – EUR 2,990 for 15-day international training at IGF PAS.
UNICA Scientific Research Project Award 2023 (Peru) – PEN 60,000 (approx. USD 16,000) for dust storm early warning project.
CNPq Full Doctoral Scholarship 2023 (Brazil) – Fully funded PhD program 2023–2027.
Scientific Projects
Early Warning System for Dust Storms (Paracas) – Award-winning UNICA 2023 project. Alert system for Paracas-type dust storms in Ica, Peru, integrating electric field (PG), particle (PM1.0/2.5/10) and wind sensors.
Atmospheric Electric Field Monitoring (AFINSA) – PhD research on PG variability across South America: Ica (Peru), São Paulo and Atibaia (Brazil), CASLEO (Argentina).
Web Projects
aireica.com – Real-time environmental monitoring platform for Ica, Peru. PG, PM, and wind data. Python backend.
GOES X-ray Viewer – Interactive historical GOES-15 & GOES-16 solar X-ray flux viewer (2011 to present).
mutsunica.space – Official portal of the MUTSUNICA–UNICA astronomy group.
Selected Presentations
"Potential gradient as a proxy for anthropogenic air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil" – IAGA/IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly, Lisbon, Portugal (2025, oral).
"Advancing the EGATEC model: Improving generator schemes and validation with ground-based electric field observations" – AGU Fall Meeting (2025, poster).
"Integrated climate monitoring and early warning of dust storms in Peru" – XIII CITICI/COINCOM, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (2025, oral).
"The thunderstorm generator in the EGATEC model of the GEC: development and issues" – Workshop Atmospheric Discharges in Dynamic Environments, Bath, UK (2025, oral).
"Atmospheric electricity research at CRAAM: Toward regional and global applications" – Academic Week of Space Geophysics, INPE, Brazil (2025, oral).
"Monitoring of the atmospheric electric field in South America: Advances and applications" – CONACIPA, Ica, Peru (2025, invited oral).
"Modeling the impact of space weather and local effects on the Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit" – São Paulo School of Advanced Science & PRESTO/SCOSTEP, CRAAM, Brazil (2024, poster).
"Neural network-based prediction of the potential gradient: Insights from Peru, Argentina, and Brazil" – PolGEC Workshop, IGF PAS, Poland (2024, poster).