Continuing Operation of a Magnetometer Array on the Greenland Ice Cap (MAGIC) to Investigate Propogating Ionospheric Current Systems

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This proposal is directed toward the operation of an array of unattended, automatic magnetic data collection platforms on the Greenland ice cap and the reduction, distribution and analysis of these data. We propose to make the data from the MAGIC array, after reduction and verification, fully available to those who request it ıMAGIC = Magnetometer Arrary on the Greenland Ice Cap!. The MAGIC array compliments the magnetic stations on the coast of Greenland for the investigation of small-scale, ionospheric current systems. Operation of this array in the interior of Greenland takes advantage of the established logistical support for the Greenland Ice Sheet Program II (GISP II) at the Greenland summit. Thus, it is possible to establish and maintain these stations for a small cost. These magnetic stations form a two-dimensional array with station separation of about 150km. The scientific objective of these magnetic measurements is to investigate small-scale propagating magnetic disturbances which appear to result from moving filamentary field-aligned currents interacting with the ionosphere. Different classes of these systems have now been identified and the origin of the field-aligned currents appears to be the magnetospheric boundary layer and magnetopause region. It is particularly important to have a dense two-dimensional array in order to resolve the motion and structural evolution of these current systems. The MAGIC stations in combination with the existing west coast and east coast Greenland magnetometers and with stations to be deployed in Canada, permit us to observe these phenomena over a sufficient region as to identify their generation location and resolve their motion and spatial evolution as they propagate tailward. Further the comparatively high time resolution (15-s data) of the MAGIC and coastal stations will permit investigations which were limited by the one minute data previously available. This data and the proposed research is important to understanding the physics of the processes that couple energy and momentum from the solar wind to the magnetosphere and ionosphere. The proposed research is a collaborative effort between the University of Michigan, SRI International, and the Danish Meteorological Institute.