CEDAR: Plasma Electrodynamics in the Low Latitude E Region

PI将研究低纬度E区域的等离子体电动力学。他将通过对现有的赤道电喷流和低纬度电离层模型所需的基本等离子体参数进行全面测量来实现这一目标。这些测量将包括电离层区域的非相干散射（IS）光谱测量，以及半相干后向散射雷达测量，以补充IS测量。等离子体参数和电场测量的缺乏减缓了对低纬度e区电动力学的理解。PI将在一系列协调实验中使用两台雷达：(1)ALTAIR，位于Kwajalein的全可操纵IS雷达，首次获得低纬度E区域的高分辨率IS光谱测量；(2) FAR，一种便携式、频率敏捷雷达，用于测量赤道电喷流中2型不规则的后向散射和150公里的回波。总之，这项研究对于理解不同地理区域以及不同海拔地区等离子体与中性气体之间的耦合过程至关重要。

The PI will investigate the plasma electrodynamics of the low-latitude E region. He will accomplish this by making comprehensive measurements of basic plasma parameters needed to evaluate existing models of the equatorial electrojet and low-latitude ionosphere. These measurements will include incoherent scatter (IS) spectral measurements of the ionospheric region, and semi-coherent backscatter radar measurements to complement the IS measurements. The lack of plasma parameters and electric field measurements has slowed progress in understanding low-latitude E-region electrodynamics. The PI will use two radars in a series of coordinated experiments: (1) the ALTAIR, a fully steerable IS radar located in Kwajalein, to obtain the first high-resolution, IS spectral measurements of the low-latitude E region; and (2) the FAR, a portable, frequency-agile radar, to measure backscatter from type-2 irregularities in the equatorial electrojet and the 150 km echoes. In sum, this research is essential for understanding the coupling processes occurring in different geographical regions, and between plasma and neutral gas in different altitude regions.