Radar Studies of the Low Latitude Disturbed Ionosphere

低纬度扰动电离层的雷达研究

• 批准号: 0534038
• 负责人: Bela Fejer
• 金额: $ 50.5万
• 依托单位: Utah State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-04-01 至 2011-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0534038&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Radar; Studies; Low; Latitude; Disturbed

This is a four-year research program utilizing measurements of ionospheric plasma drifts from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite incoherent scatter radar facilities at Arecibo and Jicamarca. One of the proposed research projects concerns the electrodynamic response of the low-latitude ionosphere to fundamental magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes during disturbed conditions. Improved plasma drift measurements from Arecibo together with high latitude, magnetospheric, and solar wind data will be used in combination with numerical simulations using global convection models. The objective is to obtain a quantitative understanding of the low latitude prompt penetration and disturbance dynamo electric fields due to the effects of the variation of the shielding efficiency with storm phase, interplanetary electric field (IMF), dynamic pressure, and IMF-By and, for the first time, due to substorms. Ultimately this is believed to lead to the development of a predictive low latitude empirical electric field model based on solar wind and flux parameters, which accounts for essential magnetospheric processes. Another project concerns the time dependent effects of the strongly disturbed low latitude electric fields on the plasma density distribution at higher latitudes. The latter will be investigated by means of the effects on mid and low latitude total electron content (TEC) as measured by a global network of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. A third project will examine the evolution of equatorial plasma bubbles in response to different seeding mechanisms and electrodynamic conditions by comparing the Jicamarca measurements with numerical simulations using the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) three-dimensional plasma instability model. Finally, a research project will be carried out to quantify the season and solar flux dependent storm time coupling of ionospheric plasma drifts and thermospheric neutral winds. The goal of this project is to model empirically the altitudinal and longitudinal variation of the equatorial vertical drifts in the American sector. These altitudinal studies will include new Jicamarca drift measurements covering a much larger range of altitudes (up to about 1500-2000 km) than has been possible in the past.The proposal includes a significant component of student training and participation. Graduate as well as undergraduate students will be supported under this grant and will participate in the research projects. Specifically, the students will be trained in highly advanced analysis techniques for the radar observations. In this way the project will contribute to building and sustaining this highly desirable expertise within the aeronomy community. University participation in the utilization of the UARS radar facilities is an important aspect of the facility program and this project will play an important role in meeting this goal. In addition, the proposed research involves widespread, cross-disciplinary collaborations with a broad range of scientists at several institutions.

这是一个为期四年的研究方案，利用位于阿雷西博和希卡马卡的高层大气研究卫星非相干散射雷达设施对电离层等离子体漂移进行的测量。拟议的研究项目之一涉及低纬度电离层在扰动条件下对基本磁层-电离层耦合过程的电动响应。改进的等离子体漂移测量从阿雷西博连同高纬度，磁层和太阳风数据将结合使用全球对流模型的数值模拟。我们的目标是获得一个定量的了解低纬度的即时渗透和干扰发电机电场的影响，由于屏蔽效率的变化与风暴阶段，行星际电场（IMF），动压，和IMF-By的，第一次，由于亚暴。最终，这被认为会导致一个预测性的低纬度经验电场模型的基础上太阳风和通量参数，占基本的磁层过程的发展。另一个项目涉及强扰动低纬电场对高纬等离子体密度分布的时间效应。将通过全球定位系统接收器全球网络测量的对中低纬度总电子含量的影响来研究后者。第三个项目将通过比较Jicamarca的测量结果和使用海军研究实验室三维等离子体不稳定性模型的数值模拟，研究赤道等离子体气泡对不同的播种机制和电动条件的反应。最后，将开展一个研究项目，以量化电离层等离子体漂移和热层中性风与季节和太阳通量相关的风暴时间耦合。这个项目的目标是建立经验模型，在美国的部门赤道垂直漂移的高度和纵向变化。这些海拔研究将包括新的希卡马卡漂移测量，覆盖的海拔范围比过去可能的范围大得多（高达约1 500 - 2 000公里），该建议包括学生培训和参与的重要组成部分。研究生和本科生将根据这项补助金得到支持，并将参加研究项目。具体而言，学生将接受雷达观测的高级分析技术培训。通过这种方式，该项目将有助于在高空大气学社区内建立和维持这种非常可取的专业知识。大学参与UARS雷达设施的利用是该设施计划的一个重要方面，该项目将在实现这一目标方面发挥重要作用。此外，拟议的研究涉及与几个机构的广泛科学家的广泛的跨学科合作。