Airglow and Auroral Studies of the Earth's Upper Atmosphere

这笔拨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-珀罗干涉仪（FPI）、倾斜滤光片光度计和映射滤光片光度计进行的，通常与非相干散射雷达或其他光学仪器结合使用。这项研究是根据本赠款在三个光学观测站进行的研究的合乎逻辑的继续；宾夕法尼亚州的月桂岭气辉天文台（LRAO），秘鲁的阿雷基帕自动气辉天文台（A30）和马萨诸塞州磨石山的皮特自动气辉天文台（PAAO），自1986年5月开始运行。本赠款下工作的主要重点是发展在持续的基础上同时进行同定位光学测量（中性热层动力学）和雷达测量（电离层等离子体动力学）的能力。秘鲁阿雷基帕的自动气辉天文台是我们在这一领域的第一次努力，对热层运动的初步比较（由Jicamarca雷达测量）表明，从e区控制等离子体漂移到中性风控制的转变。利用FPI和它的同伴倾斜滤光光度计在阿雷基帕的光学观测将继续进行。此外，观测能力将通过增加一个天空映射过滤光度计来提高，以确定赤道气辉消耗和增强的形态。

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.