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

该奖项的首要目标是利用南极大陆上的极低频和甚低频(~5赫兹？32千赫)观测资料，定量研究来自地球S辐射带的闪电和高能粒子降水。协调工作将充分说明北半球发生的个别闪电回击的特征，同时观测南极(和其他全球地点)相关的极低频/甚低频射电大气(SFERIC)。一项特别工作将侧重于一类被称为Q爆发的大幅度极低频辐射，以量化全球电离层条件和引起闪电的特征。为了验证闪电电流波形和回击速度的新模型，将在北半球和南半球同时进行闪电诱导电子沉淀(LEP)的窄带甚低频观测。此外，该计划还严格评估了在南极是否可以探测到火箭触发的闪电，允许进行可控的宽带ELF/VLF传播研究，以及它是否可能在共轭半球产生LEP。该奖项的更广泛影响是确定空间气象事件对大气和空间电力研究界研究的直接影响。该项目介绍了一个新的平台，在该平台上使用火箭触发的闪电在佛罗里达州进行与闪电相关的受控ELF/VLF实验，它通过互联网提供实时的实验观测，并通过操作美国高中的VLF接收器向年轻人展示该计划。方案成果的传播还采取参考期刊出版物和会议报告的形式。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气象科学调查方面的培训。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.