Incoherent Scatter and Associated Studies of Solar Wind: Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in the Vicinity of the Polar Cleft

太阳风与受地球磁场限制的电离气体的相互作用导致磁场和气体(磁层)在下风向长达数百个地球直径的距离，并产生数百万安培的电流。这些电流(Birkeland，或场向电流)将太阳风-磁层边界区域(地表上方约60,000公里)与高导电性电离层(地表上方约100公里)连接起来，并产生被称为极光的引人注目的光发射显示。它们还干扰电离层，并对无线电传输和军用雷达通信造成干扰。该奖项是为了表彰一项研究，该研究旨在利用格陵兰岛桑德勒姆的科学雷达和一系列磁力计，提高我们对与产生电流系统相关的电场的理解。

The interaction of the solar wind with ionized gas confined by the earth's magnetic field results in a long extension downwind, to a distance of hundreds of earth diameters, of the magnetic field and gas (the magnetosphere) and the generation of currents of millions of amperes. These currents (Birkeland, or field aligned currents) link the solar wind - magnetosphere boundary region (about 60,000 km above the surface), with the highly conducting ionosphere (about 100 km above the surface), and create the striking displays of light emission known as the aurora. They also disturb the ionosphere, and cause interference with radio transmissions and military radar communications. This award is for a study aimed at improving our understanding of the electric fields associated with the generation of the current systems, using the scientific radar at Sondestrom Greenland, and a chain of magnetometers.