Collaborative Research: PFISR Ion-Neutral Observations in the Thermosphere (PINOT)

合作研究：PFISR 热层离子中性观测 (PINOT)

• 批准号: 1243467
• 负责人: Miguel Larsen
• 金额: $ 7.5万
• 依托单位: Clemson University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-10-01 至 2015-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1243467&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; PFISR; Ion; Neutral

This collaborative research effort will study magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling through a coordinated campaign of observations and modeling using the Poker Flat Incoherent-Scatter Radar (PFISR), the Resolute Bay Incoherent-Scatter Radar (RISR), a variety of optical instruments, the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), the Homer Very High Frequency (VHF) radar, and the Global Ionospheric-Thermospheric Model (GITM). The ionosphere, thermosphere, and magnetosphere comprise a tightly coupled system at high latitudes. The ionosphere is the mediating element in this view, facilitating the transfer of free energy generated by solar wind-magnetosphere coupling into heat and bulk motion of the neutral atmosphere. This mediation occurs through electric fields, particle precipitation, diffusion, and field-aligned currents, agents that act collectively to structure the plasma density and composition within the system. Although elements of this system have been studied in considerable detail, their nonlinear interactions, and the global implications of these regional processes, remains poorly understood and inadequately observed. The electronic steering capability of PFISR offers a unique diagnostic to fill this gap. Using a dense grid of beams, a three-dimensional, time dependent view of the ion-neutral interactions can be developed. These results, in coordination with observations by common volume optical, and VHF and HF radar observations, allow access to system dynamics and system responses which were previously unobservable. The experimental campaign, involving twenty researchers from nine institutions, will be carried out over two winter seasons. The results will be used to address fundamental questions of the physics of the upper atmosphere and its coupling to the magnetosphere and the lower atmosphere, which have remained obscured for lack of key data. As a result, although it is understood that small-scale processes play critically important roles in this coupling, they have been difficult to include in quantitative models. The new information will be implemented in the GITM model validating the new understanding of the coupled magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere, and thereby providing enhanced simulation capabilities.

这项合作研究工作将通过协调观测和建模活动来研究磁层-电离层-热层耦合，使用 Poker Flat 非相干散射雷达 (PFISR)、Resolute Bay 非相干散射雷达 (RISR)、各种光学仪器、超级双极光雷达网络 (SuperDARN)、荷马甚高频 (VHF) 雷达、全球电离层-热层模型 (GITM)。 电离层、热层和磁层在高纬度地区构成了一个紧密耦合的系统。在这种观点中，电离层是中介元素，有助于将太阳风-磁层耦合产生的自由能转化为中性大气的热量和整体运动。这种调节是通过电场、粒子沉淀、扩散和场对准电流发生的，这些因素共同作用来构建系统内的等离子体密度和成分。尽管对该系统的各个要素进行了相当详细的研究，但它们的非线性相互作用以及这些区域过程的全球影响仍然知之甚少，观察也不够充分。 PFISR 的电子转向功能提供了独特的诊断来填补这一空白。使用密集的光束网格，可以开发离子-中性相互作用的三维、时间相关视图。这些结果与普通体积光学观测以及 VHF 和 HF 雷达观测相结合，可以获取以前无法观测到的系统动态和系统响应。这项实验活动涉及来自 9 个机构的 20 名研究人员，将在两个冬季进行。研究结果将用于解决高层大气物理及其与磁层和低层大气耦合的基本问题，这些问题由于缺乏关键数据而仍然模糊不清。因此，尽管人们知道小规模过程在这种耦合中发挥着至关重要的作用，但它们很难包含在定量模型中。新信息将在 GITM 模型中实施，验证对耦合磁层、电离层和热层的新理解，从而提供增强的模拟功能。