Support of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center for Research in Radio and Radar Astronomy (NAIC)

该奖项涵盖了在阿雷西博天文台进行的研究的空间和大气科学（SAS）部分。 它包括计划在该场址建造的450兆赫雷达、激光雷达仪器、其他无源光学仪器和电离层加热设施的运行。 SAS工作人员进行的科学研究涵盖了从中层大气到上层电离层的高度范围。 工作人员将研究流星撞击的电离层影响、中间层的化学和动力学、E区的不稳定性、F区的等离子体组成和动力学以及顶侧电离层的次要离子种类。 工作人员还为使用阿雷西博天文台作为实验活动一部分的其他大气科学家提供支持。 科学家使用阿雷西博仪器研究与空间气象和全球变化研究有关的广泛的大气现象。 电离层加热设施建成后，将允许研究人工修改的等离子体过程、波激发和离子中性耦合。 430兆赫雷达在天文台有1000英尺长的天线，是世界上同类仪器中最灵敏的，它继续为各种科学目的提供独特的观测数据。

This award covers the Space and Atmospheric Sciences (SAS) portion of the research conducted at the Arecibo Observatory. It includes the operation of the 450 MHz radar, lidar instrumentation, other passive optical instruments, and the ionospheric heating facility, planned for construction at the site. Scientific studies conducted by the SAS staff cover the altitude range from the middle atmosphere through the topside ionosphere. The staff will study ionospheric effects of meteor impacts, the chemistry and dynamics of the mesosphere, E-region instabilities, plasma composition and dynamics in the F-region, and minor ion species in the topside ionosphere. The staff also provides support for other atmospheric scientists using the Arecibo observatory as part of experimental campaigns. Scientists using the Arecibo instrumentation study a broad range of atmospheric phenomena relevant to studies of space weather and global change. When completed the ionospheric heating facility will allow study of artificially modified plasma processes, wave excitation, and ion-neutral coupling. With the 1000 foot antenna at the observatory, the 430 MHz radar is the most sensitive instrument of its kind in the world and it continues to provide unique observational data for a variety of scientific purposes.