Investigations of Upper Atmosphere Dynamics and Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling using a SuperDARN Radar at South Pole Station

使用南极站 SuperDARN 雷达研究高层大气动力学和磁层-电离层耦合

• 批准号: 0337635
• 负责人: William Bristow
• 金额: --
• 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: 2004-08-01 至 2011-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0337635&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Investigations; Upper; Atmosphere; Dynamics; Magnetosphere

The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network, or SuperDARN, is an international collaborative experiment for observations of plasma convection in the Earth's ionosphere. By observing ionospheric plasma motion, a multitude of geophysical processes can be studied. These processes range from E-region plasma instabilities, to the relationships between auroral luminosity and electric fields, to the global-scale convective response to changes in the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field. Each of these areas of study contributes to the overall goals of space physics: developing an understanding of the coupling of energy from the solar wind into Earth's upper atmosphere and its effects on man or manmade systems. Currently, SuperDARN covers nearly 15 hours of local time in the northern hemisphere, and close to 12 hours in the southern hemisphere. As the network has grown and demonstrated its potential, the number of scientist working with SuperDARN data has increased annually as has the number of scientifically significant publications. Addressing many of the goals, however, requires larger-scale coverage. Specifically, the continuous monitoring of convective flows requires radar observations that circumscribe the magnetic poles. The radar proposed for South Pole Station, along with the other new radars currently being proposed by our international collaborators for other locations on the Antarctic continent, will achieve this goal in the southern hemisphere.Under the proposed program, the HF radar will be constructed Amundsen-Scott South Pole station. Data from the radar will be used, in conjunction with data from the rest of the SuperDARN network and the wealth of other space physics instruments in Antarctica, to study a variety of topics, including: responses of global convection to solar wind and IMF changes, plasma entry into, and exit from, the polar cap, and the accompanying response of the magnetotail, magnetospheric cusp response to changes in the solar wind, the motions of plasma patches through the polar cap, mesospheric winds, and thermospheric gravity waves. In addition, by establishing global-scale coverage in the southern hemisphere, the radar will help addressing questions about geomagnetic conjugacy, and the differences caused by the asymmetry of solar illumination. There are two main areas of broader impact in this proposal. First, as an international network of radars, SuperDARN fosters collaboration among member nations. There are currently eight nations that support SuperDARN work in Antarctica. It plays an important role in space physics research programs in each of these nations. The international cooperative scientific effort fostered under this program will have broad societal impacts. Another broader impact aspect of this proposal is its contribution to the education of the next generation of space physics scientists. Over the lifetime of the program, it will contribute to the education of a number of students and postdoctoral fellows.

超级双极光雷达网，或称SuperDARN，是一项观测地球电离层等离子体对流的国际合作实验。通过观测电离层等离子体运动，可以研究多种地球物理过程。这些过程从E区等离子体不稳定性，到极光光度和电场之间的关系，再到全球范围内对流对太阳风和行星际磁场变化的响应。这些研究领域中的每一个都有助于实现空间物理学的总体目标：了解太阳风能量进入地球高层大气的耦合及其对人类或人造系统的影响。目前，SuperDARN覆盖了北半球近15小时的当地时间，以及南半球近12小时的当地时间。随着该网络的发展并显示出其潜力，使用SuperDARN数据的科学家数量每年都在增加，具有重大科学意义的出版物的数量也在增加。然而，解决许多目标需要更大规模的覆盖。具体地说，对对流流动的持续监测需要在磁极周围进行雷达观测。建议为南极站建造的雷达，以及我们的国际合作者目前正在为南极大陆其他地点提议的其他新雷达，将在南半球实现这一目标。根据拟议的计划，高频雷达将由阿蒙森-斯科特南极站建造。来自雷达的数据将与SuperDARN网络其他部分的数据以及南极洲其他丰富的空间物理仪器的数据一起用于研究各种专题，包括：全球对流对太阳风和国际货币基金组织变化的反应、进入和离开极冠的等离子体以及伴随而来的磁尾反应、磁层尖点对太阳风变化的反应、穿过极帽的等离子体斑块的运动、中间层风和热层重力波。此外，通过在南半球建立全球范围的覆盖，该雷达将有助于解决有关地磁共轭以及太阳照明不对称造成的差异的问题。这项提案有两个主要领域具有更广泛的影响。首先，作为一个国际雷达网络，SuperDARN促进了成员国之间的合作。目前有八个国家支持SuperDARN在南极洲的工作。它在这些国家的空间物理研究计划中发挥着重要作用。在该计划下培育的国际合作科学努力将产生广泛的社会影响。这项提议的另一个更广泛的影响方面是它对教育下一代空间物理科学家的贡献。在该计划的整个生命周期内，它将为一些学生和博士后研究员的教育做出贡献。