Space Weather: Real-time Ionospheric Specification Using the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network

该方案将改进15台超级雷达实时确定电离层反射点临界频率和层高的技术。这些观测将在目前电离层探空仪取样较少的大地理区域进行。这项工作代表了superdamn系统在“探测模式”中的一种新用途。这种新的操作模式已经由Kodiak雷达的PI开发和实施。探测模式利用正常方位扫描模式的暂停时间（~10秒），利用地面反射来确定不同频率射线的跳过距离。通过确定跳频距离随频率的变化，就有可能找到最大可用频率作为接地距离的函数。PI的主要目标包括六个不同的研究活动：(1)修改当前的superdam软件，在实时数据流中包含到达角（AOA）信息；(2)利用探测模式数据实时确定电离层临界频率和层高；(3)利用临界频率测定来观测、跟踪和研究大尺度高纬度电离层密度变化的动态；(4)通过互联网向空间气象界分发SuperDARN实时foF2值和虚拟高度；(5) superdamn测深模式技术的持续发展；(6)利用探测模式数据优化各超级雷达的工作频率。

This proposal will improve techniques used by the fifteen SuperDARN radars to determine in real-time the critical frequency and layer height at the ionospheric reflection point. These observations will be made over large geographical regions that are currently sparsely sampled by ionosondes. This effort represents a new use of the SuperDARN system in "sounding mode." This new mode of operation has been developed and implemented by the PI at the Kodiak radar. The sounding mode exploits the pause time (~10 sec) during the normal azimuth scan mode, making use of ground reflections to determine the skip distance of rays at various frequencies. By determining how the skip distance varies with frequency, it will be possible to find the maximum useable frequency as a function of ground range. The PI's main goals involve six distinct research activities: (1) modification of current SuperDARN software to include angle-of-arrival (AOA) information in the real-time data stream; (2) use of sounding mode data to determine real-time ionospheric critical frequencies and layer heights; (3) use of critical frequency determinations to observe, track, and study the dynamics of large-scale high latitude ionospheric density irregularities; (4) distribution of SuperDARN real-time foF2 values and virtual heights to the space weather community via the internet; (5) continued development of the SuperDARN sounding mode technique; and (6) use of sounding mode data to optimize the operating frequency at each SuperDARN radar.