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

研究人员将研究大气层120-180公里区域的物理过程，特别是中间层，即在这个高度范围内中纬度存在的电离层。虽然在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、结构和形成机制仍不清楚。研究人员将使用阿雷西博ISR，结合激光雷达和全天成像仪，确定中间层的离子组成，建立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谷区的重力波的关系。该项目将提高人们对金属离子垂直分布、中间层组成和形成机制的认识。金属离子寿命长，是研究不同尺度大气动力学的良好示踪剂，对引力波、潮汐和行星波等大气动力学的认识也会有所提高。该研究的许多方面将直接整合到迈阿密大学电气与计算机工程系的几门课程中。提高信噪比的雷达编码技术将被纳入初级在线课程《信号与系统》。一种优于小波分析的分析非平稳信号的新方法将成为高年级/研究生数字信号处理课程的一部分。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，向学生介绍航空领域，并作为本科高级顶点项目的主题。此外，该在线课程将通过俄亥俄第三前沿网络（Ohio third Frontier Network）免费提供给中央州立大学（Central State University），这是一所历史悠久的黑人大学。所有ISR数据都将公开。

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.