High-Resolution E/F-Region Waves and Electrodynamics Studies Using the Arecibo Observatory Instrument Cluster and the Chain Radars

使用阿雷西博天文台仪器组和链雷达进行高分辨率 E/F 区域波和电动力学研究

• 批准号: 0721613
• 负责人: John Mathews
• 金额: $ 89.89万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-12-15 至 2013-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0721613&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Resolution; Region; Waves; Electrodynamics; Studies

The project focuses on electrodynamic phenomena in the nighttime ionosphere over Arecibo Observatory. Of particular interest are newly discovered quasi-periodic E/F-region Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances which have been identified over both Arecibo and Millstone Hill Observatory. The chain of incoherent scatter radars, including superDARN, will be used to investigate the disturbances, their source(s), and the underlying wave propagation mode(s). This aspect will include extensive modeling and simulation studies of nighttime F region electrodynamics; of particular interest are the possible influences or contributions of horizontal gradients in total electron content. The project will include the maintenance, upgrading, and remote operation of an instrument suite at Arecibo; the instruments are an all-sky camera, a magnetometer/variometer, and four microbarographs. These instruments will be used in conjunction with the Incoherent Scatter Radar and GPS Total Electron Content data to explore the local/mesoscale nighttime F-region instability processes that give rise to the space weather phenomenon known as mid-latitude spread-F. Of particular interest is the question of "local" versus mesoscale initiation of spread-F as well as the origin of F-region "plumes" seen in the camera. These two phenomena, Spread-F and the plumes, are manifestations of plasma instabilities. Closely coupled simulations of generalized Perkins instabilities under initial conditions similar to those observed will be performed to better understand the seeding mechanisms that initiate instabilities, how the instability structures evolve, and the role of horizontal gradients in the production of kilometer-scale instability structures and associated space weather effects. All the instrumentation funded under this project will be available to the community; the camera, magnetometer, and microbarograph data are immediately and freely available via web-access (http://allsky.ee.psu.edu). An educational outreach component explaining airglow imaging science, atmospheric tides, space-weather, and other related topics will be added to this website. The project involves REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) students during the summer as well as two graduate students.

该项目的重点是阿雷西博天文台夜间电离层的电动现象。 特别令人感兴趣的是新发现的准周期性E/F区域中尺度移动电离层扰动，这些扰动已经在阿雷西博和米尔斯顿山天文台被发现。 包括超级DARN在内的非相干散射雷达链将用于调查干扰、干扰源和潜在的波传播模式。 这方面将包括广泛的建模和模拟研究夜间F区电动力学，特别感兴趣的是可能的影响或贡献的水平梯度的总电子含量。 该项目将包括维护、升级和远程操作阿雷西博的一套仪器;这些仪器是一台全天空照相机、一台磁力计/变感计和四台微气压计。 这些仪器将与非相干散射雷达和全球定位系统总电子含量数据结合使用，以探索引起称为中纬度扩展F的空间天气现象的局部/中尺度夜间F区域不稳定过程。 特别令人感兴趣的是“本地”与中尺度启动的扩展F的问题，以及在相机中看到的F-区域“羽流”的起源。 这两种现象，即α-F和羽流，是等离子体不稳定性的表现。 将在与所观察到的情况类似的初始条件下对广义帕金斯不稳定性进行密切耦合模拟，以更好地了解引发不稳定性的播种机制、不稳定性结构如何演变以及水平梯度在产生更大尺度的不稳定性结构和相关空间天气效应中的作用。 该项目资助的所有仪器都将向社区开放;相机、磁力计和微气压计数据可通过网络访问（http：//www.example.com）立即免费获取。allsky.ee.psu.edu 一个教育推广部分解释气辉成像科学，大气潮汐，空间天气，和其他相关的主题将被添加到这个网站。 该项目涉及REU（本科生研究经验）学生在夏季以及两名研究生。