Low-Latitude Ionospheric Research at Jicamarca

本研究涉及赤道等离子体不规则性和赤道大气学的理论和观测。PI(和一名学生)将使用Jicamara雷达进行几组短期观测，然后使用Julia进行长期观测。利用PI在Jicamara的相干散射雷达成像技术，PI将评估和评估一些赤道F区等离子体不规则性的突破性理论，例如为什么大规模等离子体损耗分叉，相干散射多普勒谱意味着什么，以及切变流动如何影响底部扩展F波的演化。PI将把这一项目的另一部分用于Julia雷达的继续运行，以进行E和F区等离子体不规则性研究。Julia资料表明：(1)电喷流中的梯度漂移波有时会被传播到低热层的潮汐调制，(2)风暴时间对赤道电动力学和不规则性产生的影响的证据，以及(3)与传统看法相反的F区不规则性频率在清晨出现。PI将开发新的分析理论来更准确地解释这些现象。最后，他将开发一种新的非相干散射测量模式，包括一种交替的相位编码脉冲，用于在顶部区域进行敏感的温度和成分实验。

This research pertains to theory and observation of equatorial plasma irregularities and equatorial aeronomy. The PI (and one student) will make several sets of short-term observations with the Jicamarca radar, following up with long-term observations using JULIA. Using the PI's coherent scatter radar imaging technique at Jicamarca, the PI will assess and evaluate a number of breaking theories of equatorial F-region plasma irregularities, like why large-scale plasma depletions bifurcate, what coherent scatter Doppler spectra signify, and how shear flow affects the evolution of bottomside spread F waves. The PI will devote another portion of this project to continuing operations of the JULIA radar for E and F region plasma irregularity studies. JULIA data has shown: (1) gradient drift waves in the electrojet are sometimes modulated by tides propagating into the lower thermosphere, (2) evidence of storm-time effects on equatorial electrodynamics and irregularity generation, and (3) F-region irregularities frequency emerge in the early morning, contrary to conventional wisdom. The PI will develop new analytic theories to more precisely account for these phenomena. Finally, he will develop a new mode for incoherent scatter measurements, incorporating an alternating phase-coded pulse for making for sensitive temperature and composition experiment in the topside region.