Airglow and Auroral Studies of the Earth's Upper Atmosphere

这笔赠款继续进行地面光学研究，以支持有关高层大气和电离层耦合和动力学的Cedar计划目标。这些光学观测是使用法布里-珀罗涉仪(FPI)、倾斜滤光片测光仪和映射滤光片测光仪进行的，通常与非相干散射雷达或其他光学设备结合使用。这项研究是根据目前拨款在三个光学观测站--宾夕法尼亚州的Laurel Ridge气辉观测站(LRAO)、秘鲁的阿雷基帕自动气辉观测站(A30)和马萨诸塞州米尔斯通山的PITT自动气辉观测站(PAAO)--自1986年5月开始运行的研究的合乎逻辑的继续。这笔赠款项下工作的主要重点是发展一种能力，能够持续地同时进行同一地点的光学测量(中性热层动力学)和雷达测量(电离层等离子体动力学)。秘鲁阿雷基帕的自动气辉观测站是我们在这一领域的第一项努力，对热层运动(由Jicamara雷达测量)的初步比较表明，从对等离子体漂移的E区控制过渡到由中性风控制。将继续在阿雷基帕使用FPI及其配套的倾斜滤光片光度计进行光学观测。此外，还将增加一台天空测绘滤光片光度计，以确定赤道气辉减弱和增强的形态，从而提高观测能力。

This grant continues ground-based optical studies in support of CEDAR program objectives concerning upper atmosphere and ionosphere coupling and dynamics. These optical observations are made using Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI), tilting-filter photometers and mapping filter photometers, often in conjunction with incoherent scatter radars or other optical apparatus. The research is a logical continuation of the studies carried out under the present grant at three optical observatories; the Laurel Ridge Airglow Observatory (LRAO) in Pennsylvania, the Arequipa Automated Airglow Observatory (A30) in Peru and Pitt Automated Airglow Observatory (PAAO) at Millstone Hill, Massachusetts, in operation since May 1986. The major emphasis of the work under the present grant has been the development of a capability to make simultaneous, co- located optical measurements (neutral thermosphere dynamics) and radar measurements (ionospheric plasma dynamics) on a continuing basis. The automated airglow observatory at Arequipa, Peru was our first effort in this area, and initial comparisons of the motions of the thermosphere (measured by the Jicamarca radar) indicate the transition from E-region control of the plasma drift to control by the neutral wind. The optical observations at Arequipa using the FPI and its companion tilting filter photometer will continue. Further, the observational capabilities will be improved by the addition of a sky-mapping filter photometer to determine the morphology of equatorial airglow depletions and enhancements.