Collaborative Research: MSI--Mid-Latitude SuperDARN Radar Infrastructure for the Study of Ionospheric Electrodynamics and Atmospheric Processes on Global Scales

这个中型基础设施(MSI)项目的目标是建立SuperDARN高频(HF)雷达网的中纬度延伸。国际SuperDARN网络中的雷达测量地球电离层的重要属性，包括电场、等离子体结构和声重力波。在研究地球近空间环境方面取得的进展越来越依赖于能否在全球范围内获得这些关键测量数据。对SuperDARN数据产品的兴趣促使加拿大同事最近开发了一对极帽雷达，将SuperDARN的能力扩展到最高纬度。该MSI项目是一项涉及四个机构的合作努力，将产生八个新雷达，分布在从亚速尔群岛穿过美国中部一直延伸到阿留申群岛链的弧线上的四个地点。新的雷达将提供前所未有的亚极光电离层和内磁层动态的图像。在美国东部(沃洛普斯岛，黑石)和日本(北海道)部署的单一、孤立的SuperDARN雷达证明了在中纬度进行这种测量的可行性。现有的雷达将在业务上并入MSI链。这一大规模和长期观测能力的实现将为空间物理界提供新的基础设施，并成为让学生参与前沿研究的宝贵工具。从高纬度地区收集的SuperDARN数据被世界各地的太空科学家使用。现有雷达网是在国际伙伴不断增加的情况下，在15年内逐步发展起来的。该项目将开始购置中纬度的可比基础设施，从而利用极地纬度的最新发展和现有的高纬度SuperDARN网络，扩大对磁层、电离层和中性大气影响的覆盖范围。目前用于SuperDARN数据和数据产品的协议和分发方法将被用来确保同样容易访问数据。正如高纬度SuperDARN所发生的那样，国际合作伙伴正在同时寻求资金，在欧洲和亚洲建造互补雷达。该项目的参与者都与高等学府有联系，并将基础设施视为教学和研究投资。来自高纬度SuperDARN雷达的数据为许多高级学位做出了贡献，而中纬度的扩展将提供更多的机会。合作机构的学生将在各自的机构和各自的雷达站积极参与这一项目的工作。该基础设施提供的测量将使变革性科学成为可能，并支持在磁层、电离层和高层大气物理方面的广泛课题的研究。同时，这一努力将：(1)向研究界提供广泛的中纬度电离层和大气数据集；(2)为正在进行的和未来的航天器和火箭飞行任务提供大范围的背景资料；(3)为学生创造新的空间科学研究可能性；(4)为美国大学的学生提供获得雷达技术实践经验和管理重大科学合作的机会。所有数据和数据产品将通过SuperDARN网站免费提供。

The goal of this Mid-Size Infrastructure (MSI) project is to build a mid-latitude extension of the SuperDARN High Frequency (HF) radar network. Radars in the international SuperDARN network measure important properties of Earth's ionosphere, including electric fields, plasma structures, and acoustic gravity waves. Progress in the study of Earth's near-space environment increasingly relies on the availability of these critical measurements on global scales. The interest in SuperDARN data products has spurred the recent development of a pair of polar cap radars by Canadian colleagues, extending SuperDARN capabilities to the highest latitudes. This MSI project, which is a collaborative effort involving four institutions, will result in eight new radars distributed over four sites situated along an arc extending from the Azores through the central United States to the Aleutian Island chain. The new radars will provide unprecedented views of the dynamics of the subauroral ionosphere and inner magnetosphere. The feasibility of such measurements at middle latitudes has been demonstrated with the deployments of single, isolated SuperDARN radars in the eastern United States (Wallops Island, Blackstone) and in Japan (Hokkaido). The existing radars will be operationally folded into the MSI chain. The realization of this large-scale and long-term observational capability will furnish the space physics community with new infrastructure and a valuable tool for engaging students in cutting-edge research. SuperDARN data collected from high latitudes are used by space scientists all over the world. The existing radar network was developed incrementally over 15 years with the steady addition of international partners. This project will initiate the acquisition of comparable infrastructure at mid-latitudes thereby taking advantage of recent developments at polar latitudes and the existing high-latitude SuperDARN network to provide expanded coverage of effects in the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and neutral atmosphere. The protocols and distribution methods currently used for SuperDARN data and data products will be utilized to ensure the same ease of access to data. As occurred with high latitude SuperDARN, international partners are simultaneously seeking funds to build complementary radars in Europe and Asia. The participants in this project are all associated with institutions of higher learning and view the infrastructure as both a teaching and research investment. Data from the high-latitude SuperDARN radars have contributed to numerous advanced degrees and the mid-latitude extension will furnish many more opportunities. Students at the collaborating institutions will be heavily engaged in the work of this project both at their home institutions and at the individual radar sites. Measurements provided by the infrastructure will enable transformational science and support research across a broad range of topics in the physics of the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere. At the same time, this effort will: (1) provide the research community with extensive mid-latitude ionospheric and atmospheric datasets; (2) provide large-scale context for ongoing and future spacecraft and rocket missions; (3) generate new research possibilities in space science for students; (4) provide opportunities for students at U.S. universities to gain hands-on experience with radar technology and in the management of a major scientific collaboration. All data and data products will be made freely available through the SuperDARN website.