Collaborative Research: Antarctic ELF/VLF Observations of Q-bursts, Radio Atmospherics, and Energetic Particle Precipitation

该奖项的总体目标是利用南极大陆的极低频和极低频（ELF/VLF，~5 Hz？32 kHz）观测来定量研究来自地球辐射带的闪电和高能粒子降水。协调一致的努力将充分描述北半球发生的个别闪电回击的特征，同时观测南极（和全球其他地点）相关的 ELF/VLF 射电大气（sferic）。一项特别的工作将集中于一类被称为 Q 爆发的大振幅 ELF sferics，以量化全球电​​离层条件和引起闪电的特征。将在北半球和南半球同时进行雷电诱发电子降水 (LEP) 的窄带 VLF 观测，以验证解释雷电电流波形和回击速度的新 LEP 模型。此外，该计划严格评估是否可以在南极检测到火箭触发的闪电，从而进行受控宽带 ELF/VLF 传播研究，以及是否可以在共轭半球中产生 LEP。该奖项的更广泛影响在于确定空间天气事件对大气和空间电力研究界研究的直接影响。该项目引入了一个新平台，利用佛罗里达州的火箭触发闪电进行受控闪电相关的 ELF/VLF 实验，通过互联网提供实时实验观测结果，并通过美国高中 VLF 接收器的操作向青少年展示该项目。计划成果的传播还采取参考期刊出版物和会议演示的形式。该项目将对研究生进行已部署仪器的开发和操作以及空间天气科学研究的培训。使用这些数据来验证空间天气模型可以为整个社会带来好处。

The overarching goal of this award is to quantitatively investigate lightning and energetic particle precipitation from the Earth?s radiation belts using the extremely and very low frequency (ELF/VLF, ~5 Hz?32 kHz) observations on the Antarctic continent. A coordinated effort will fully characterize individual lightning return strokes occurring in the Northern hemisphere while simultaneously observing the associated ELF/VLF radio atmospheric (sferic) in the Antarctic (and other global locations). A special effort will focus on a class of large-amplitude ELF sferics known as Q-bursts in order to quantify global ionospheric conditions and the characteristics of the causative lightning flash. Narrowband VLF observations of lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP) will be simultaneously conducted in the Northern and Southern hemispheres in order to validate a new LEP model that accounts for the lightning current waveform and return stroke speed. Furthermore, this program critically evaluates whether rocket-triggered lightning may be detected in the Antarctic, allowing for controlled broadband ELF/VLF propagation studies, and whether it may produce LEP in the conjugate hemisphere. The broader impacts of this award are in identifying direct effects of space weather events for the studies by atmospheric and space electricity research communities. The project introduces a new platform from which to conduct controlled lightning-related ELF/VLF experiments using rocket-triggered lightning in Florida, it provides real-time access to experimental observations via the Internet, and it exposes the program to youths through the operation of VLF receivers at high schools in the United States. The dissemination of program results also takes the form of refereed journal publications and conference presentations. The project will train graduate students with the development and operation of the deployed instruments, as well as with space weather science investigations. Use of these data to validate space weather models can provide benefit to society as a whole.