CEDAR: MISETA--Ion-Neutral Coupling

研究人员继续在一个称为MISETA（赤道热层高层大气物理学多仪器研究）的方案下研究赤道的热层/电离层耦合系统。 MISETA涉及在秘鲁的Jicamarca、Ancon和Arequipa使用各种仪器进行的协调测量。 这些仪器提供关于中性和电离大气层的数据，包括垂直和纬向离子漂移、电子密度、离子、电子和中性温度、纬向、纬向和垂直中性风、展频F和闪烁活动。 研究人员检查和表征赤道热层风和温度的太阳变化，以及这些变化如何与发展中的闪烁活动和扩展F。 全天空成像数据的特点发展枯竭和F区结构的条件变得更加动态与更高的太阳通量。 他们还观察到发展中的纬向风和温度不对称性与反相关的F-区域梯度，因为等离子体密度的增加耦合到重力波振荡引入的纬向运动中，导致重力波能量转化为局部加热区域。 研究人员正在与Jicamarca射电天文台协调观测，以观察水平和垂直离子漂移中的重力波效应。 MISETA是一项由克莱姆森大学、波士顿学院和波士顿大学的科学家共同努力的成果。

The investigators continue studying the coupled thermosphere/ionosphere system at the equator under a program referred to as MISETA (Multi-Instrumented Studies of Equatorial Thermosphere Aeronomy). MISETA involves coordinated measurements by a variety of instruments at Jicamarca, Ancon, and Arequipa in Peru. These instruments provide data on the neutral and ionized atmosphere, including vertical and zonal ion drifts, electron densities, ion, electron and neutral temperatures, zonal, meridional and vertical neutral winds, spread-F and scintillation activity. The investigators examine and characterize solar variations in the equatorial thermospheric winds and temperatures, and how these variations relate to developing scintillation activity and spread-F. The all-sky imaging data characterizes developing depletions and F-region structures as conditions become more dynamic with the higher solar fluxes. They also observe developing zonal wind and temperature asymmetry with anti-correlated F-region gradients as the increasing plasma density couples into the zonal motions introduced by gravity wave oscillations, resulting in conversion of gravity wave energy into a localized region of heating. The researchers are coordinating observations with the Jicamarca Radio Observatory to observe the gravity wave effects in horizontal and vertical ion drifts. MISETA is a collaborative effort involving scientists at Clemson University, Boston College, and Boston University.