Radar Studies of the Low Latitude Disturbed Ionosphere

这是一个为期四年的研究项目，利用位于阿雷西博和吉马卡的高层大气研究卫星非相干散射雷达设施测量电离层等离子体漂移。其中一个拟议的研究项目涉及在扰动条件下低纬度电离层对基本磁层-电离层耦合过程的电动力学响应。阿雷西博改进的等离子体漂移测量数据，以及高纬度、磁层和太阳风数据，将与全球对流模型的数值模拟结合使用。目标是获得低纬度提示穿透和扰动发电机电场的定量理解，这是由于屏蔽效率随风暴相位、行星际电场（IMF）、动压和由亚暴引起的IMF变化的影响。最终，这将导致基于太阳风和通量参数的预测低纬度经验电场模型的发展，该模型解释了基本的磁层过程。另一个项目关注低纬度强扰动电场对高纬度等离子体密度分布的时间依赖效应。后者将通过全球定位系统（GPS）接收器网络测量的中低纬度总电子含量（TEC）的影响来研究。第三个项目将通过比较Jicamarca的测量结果和海军研究实验室（NRL）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在不同播种机制和电动力条件下的演变。最后，对电离层等离子体漂移和热层中性风的季节和太阳通量依赖性风暴时间耦合进行量化研究。该项目的目的是建立经验模型的高度和纵向变化的赤道漂移在美国部门。这些纵向研究将包括新的Jicamarca漂移测量，覆盖的高度范围比过去可能的要大得多（高达约1500-2000公里）。该建议包括学生培训和参与的重要组成部分。研究生和本科生都将获得这项资助，并将参与研究项目。具体而言，学生将接受雷达观测高度先进分析技术的培训。通过这种方式，该项目将有助于在航空界建立和维持这种非常理想的专业知识。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进行广泛的跨学科合作。

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.