M-I Coupling: Ground-based Observations of Ion Dispersion, Electron Energy, and Convection in the Dayside Aurora

M-I 耦合：日侧极光中离子色散、电子能量和对流的地面观测

• 批准号: 0334800
• 负责人: Charles Deehr
• 金额: $ 27万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-03-01 至 2008-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0334800&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Coupling; Ground; based; Observations; Ion

The objective of this research is to map the spatial and temporal variations of the proton and electron energy deposition in Earth's atmosphere observed from two stations under the dayside aurora. This map of ion and electron energy deposition would be combined with the convection pattern observed by the SuperDARN radar network to provide a relatively complete dynamic picture of the ionospheric signatures of dayside magnetospheric processes. Previous studies have indicated a strong relationship between the discrete aurora and the magnetospheric boundary layer processes associated with the transfer of energy from the solar wind to the ionosphere. Auroral hydrogen emission Doppler spectral profiles obtained in the magnetic zenith at Longyearbyen, Svalbard have been shown to be a direct measure of the incoming ion energy, which is correlated with changes in the interplanetary magnetic field. The observations will be made by aiming two large-aperture spectrometers in different directions (initially in the zenith) under the dayside aurora at Longyearbyen and Ny Aalesund, Svalbard to measure the H emission spectral profile simultaneously in different regions of the ionospheric signature of a merging event at the magnetopause. From these spectra, and other supporting optical data, the investigators will deduce the dispersion of ion and electron energy in the ionospheric region of the magnetospheric cusp. From this and the associated observed convection pattern, they will deduce the location and the extent of a merging event on the dayside magnetopause. Governed by Norway, Svalbard is unique in its relation to international scientific investigations of polar phenomena. Students and investigators from many countries carry out research throughout the year. Auroral research is generally restricted to the months around the solstice when it is dark enough to carry out observations of the daytime aurora unique in the northern hemisphere. During each observing season, at least one public popular science lecture is given in Longyearbyen. Visits by the local school classes occur frequently, and the observatory is used as a training laboratory by the local University Courses on Svalbard (UNIS). Svalbard is also the center of an NSF/Polar Programs program of cooperative research between Norway and the US. Advances in the study of Space Weather have led to more accurate descriptions of the production of disturbances in the solar wind due to events on the Sun. Indeed, satellites upwind of Earth continuously observe these changes, but scientists are at a loss to predict, with any accuracy, the extent of these disturbances on the ionosphere. To do so would allow the preparation of contingency plans for radio communications blackouts, electric power grid failures, and satellite subsystem demise. The two most important unknowns in the relationship between the solar wind and the Earth's ionosphere are the magnetospheric processes involved in the transfer of solar wind power to the ionosphere from the dayside magnetopause and the nightside magnetospheric tail.

本研究的目的是映射的质子和电子能量沉积在地球大气中的观测站在阳面极光下的空间和时间变化。这一离子和电子能量沉积图将与SuperDARN雷达网观测到的对流模式相结合，以提供相对完整的日侧磁层过程电离层特征动态图。以前的研究表明，离散极光和磁层边界层过程之间有着密切的关系，磁层边界层过程与太阳风向电离层的能量转移有关。在斯瓦尔巴特群岛朗伊尔城的磁天顶获得的极光氢发射多普勒光谱剖面已被证明是入射离子能量的直接测量，这与行星际磁场的变化有关。观测将通过在斯瓦尔巴特群岛朗伊尔城和新奥勒松的昼侧极光下将两台大孔径光谱仪对准不同方向（最初对准天顶）进行，以便在磁层顶合并事件的电离层特征的不同区域同时测量H发射光谱剖面。从这些光谱和其他支持光学数据，研究人员将推断离子和电子能量在磁层尖点的电离层区域的分散。从这一点和相关的观测到的对流模式，他们将推断出在向阳面磁层顶合并事件的位置和范围。斯瓦尔巴群岛由挪威管理，在国际极地现象科学调查方面是独一无二的。来自许多国家的学生和研究人员全年进行研究。极光的研究通常局限于冬至前后的几个月，那时天足够黑，可以对北方独特的白天极光进行观测。在每个观测季节，朗伊尔城至少举办一场公共科普讲座。当地学校的班级经常来访，天文台被当地的斯瓦尔巴特大学课程用作培训实验室。斯瓦尔巴特群岛也是挪威和美国之间合作研究的NSF/极地计划的中心。空间气象研究的进展使人们能够更准确地描述由于太阳上的事件而产生的太阳风扰动。事实上，位于地球上风处的卫星不断地观测到这些变化，但科学家们无法准确地预测电离层上这些扰动的程度。这样做将有助于为无线电通信中断、电网故障和卫星子系统报废制定应急计划。太阳风与地球电离层之间关系的两个最重要的未知数是太阳风能量从昼侧磁层顶和夜侧磁层尾转移到电离层所涉及的磁层过程。