A Study on the Vertical Circulation and Structure of Metallic Ions in the Mid-Latitude Ionosphere

调查人员将研究大气层120-180公里区域的物理过程，特别是中间层，即在这一高度范围内中纬度存在的电离层。 虽然阿雷西博的非相干散射雷达（ISR）观测表明，中间层几乎每天都在形成，但其组成，结构和形成机制仍然没有得到很好的理解。 研究人员将使用Arecibo ISR，结合激光雷达和全天空成像仪，确定中间层的离子组成，开发一维金属离子循环模型，并研究中间层的水平不均匀性及其与E和F谷地区重力波的关系。 该项目将加深对垂直金属离子分布、中间层成分和形成机制的了解。 它还将提高对与重力波、潮汐和行星波有关的大气动力学的一般认识，因为金属离子的长寿命使它们成为研究各种尺度动力学的良好示踪剂。 研究的许多方面将直接融入迈阿密大学电气和计算机工程（ECE）系的几门课程。 提高信噪比的雷达编码技术将纳入在线初级课程“信号与系统”。 一种新的方法，是上级小波分析在分析非平稳信号将是数字信号处理课程的一部分，为高年级/研究生。 研究的许多方面将包括在一个新的高级/研究生水平的课程，大气遥感，向学生介绍高空大气物理学领域，并作为本科高级顶点项目的主题。 此外，在线课程将免费提供给中央州立大学，一个历史上的黑人大学，通过俄亥俄州第三前沿网络。 所有ISR数据都将公开提供。

The investigators will study physical processes in the 120-180 km region of the atmosphere, particularly the intermediate layer, an ionization layer present at mid-latitude in this altitude range. Although the incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations at Arecibo show that the intermediate layer forms practically every day, its composition, structure, and formation mechanism are still not well understood. The investigators will use the Arecibo ISR, in conjunction with lidars and all-sky imagers, to determine the ion composition of the intermediate layers, to develop a one-dimensional metallic ion circulation model, and to study the horizontal inhomogeneity of intermediate and their relation to gravity waves in the E and F valley region. The project will lead to improved knowledge about vertical metallic ion distribution, the intermediate layer composition, and formation mechanism. It would also improve general understanding of atmospheric dynamics related to gravity wave, tides and planetary wave, since the long lifetime of metallic ions makes them a good tracer to study the dynamics at various scales. Many aspects of the research will be directly integrated into several courses at the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at Miami University. Radar coding techniques to increase the signal-to-noise ratio will be incorporated into an online junior level course, Signals and Systems. A new method that is superior to wavelet analysis in analyzing non-stationary signals will be part of the Digital Signal Processing course for senior/graduate students. Many aspects of the research will be included in a new senior/graduate level course, Atmospheric Remote Sensing, to introduce students to the field of aeronomy and as undergraduate senior capstone projects topics. Also, the online course will be made available free to Central State University, a historically black university, through the Ohio 3rd Frontier Network. All the ISR data will be made publicly available.