Scientific, Educational and Logistical Preparation for Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) Relocation to Argentina

调查人员将完成对阿根廷合适地点的详细评估，以确定下一个可能的地点，以重新安置和操作先进模块化非相干散射雷达（AMISR）。AMISR仪器的这一迁移旨在通过在同一地磁场线的两端放置两个国家科学基金会（NSF）-高层大气设施（UAF）来创建一个全球规模的电离层等离子体实验室。研究工作将涉及三个平行和互补的工作活动：1）通过一系列实地考察和技术研讨会，建立最合适的地点安装和操作AMISR的后勤方法。2)一种科学方法，将在阿根廷进行关键的大气测量，其中一些与阿雷西博雷达及其即将投入使用的电离层高频加热器相吻合。3)一种人力资源开发方法，其中，通过一系列教育计划，PI将建立一个教学环境，通过合作研究和国际互动来培训阿根廷和美国的学生和博士后研究将为更好地理解大气层，电离层和磁层（AIM）系统的三维结构铺平道路，特别是在南纬度，目前缺乏基于地面的测量。这项工作将以协同的方式利用现有的NSF高层大气观测设施，从而扩展能力，以提供更好的全球范围内的重要AIM相互作用。研究人员正在让年轻学生参与现场评估工作，并将开发宝贵的国际教学课程，为下一代大气科学家操作雷达和解释科学结果做好准备。该项目的智力价值是有机会使用测试雷达和几台光学相机进行一系列研究，以更好地了解南半球的大规模动力学和电动力学研究，并为可能在阿根廷部署AMISR仪器做好准备，这是NSF UAF网络的合理扩展。这项工作由NSF大气科学部高层大气研究部门和NSF国际科学与工程办公室（OISE）联合资助。

The investigator will complete a detailed evaluation of suitable locations in Argentina, to determine the potential next site to relocate and operate the Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR). This relocation of the AMISR instrument aims to create a global scale ionospheric plasma laboratory by placing two National Science Foundation (NSF) - Upper Atmospheric Facilities (UAF) at both ends of the same geomagnetic field line. The research effort will involve three parallel and complimentary work activities: 1) A logistic approach to establish the most suitable location to install and operate AMISR, via a series of field trips and technical workshops. 2) A scientific approach in which crucial atmospheric measurements will be made in Argentina, some coincident with the Arecibo radar and its soon-to-be-operational ionospheric HF heater. 3) A human resources development approach in which, through a series of educational programs, the PI will build a teaching environment to train Argentine and US students and postdocs through collaborative studies and international interactionsThe research will pave the way for an improved understanding of the 3-dimensional structure of the atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere (AIM) system, especially at Southern latitudes, where there is currently a scarcity of ground based measurements. The work will leverage existing NSF upper atmosphere observing facilities in a synergistic fashion, and thus extend the capabilities to provide improved global coverage of important AIM interactions. The investigator is involving young students in the site evaluation work, and will develop valuable international teaching courses to prepare the next generation of atmospheric scientists to operate the radar, and interpret the scientific results. The intellectual merit of this project is the opportunity to perform a series of studies, using a test radar and several optical cameras, to better understand inter-hemispheric large-scale dynamics and electrodynamics studies at Southern latitudes, and prepare for the possible deployment of the AMISR instrument in Argentina, which represents a logical expansion of the NSF UAF network. This work is funded jointing by the NSF Upper Atmosphere Research Section in the Division of Atmospheric Sciences, and the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE).