Solar Wind and Illumination Control of Plasma Irregularity Production in the Polar Cap

该项目旨在提高我们对电离层不规则现象的理解，以最近在南纬高纬度地区的工作为基础，这些工作表明行星际磁场（IMF）与极光e区不规则现象的产生之间存在明确的联系。要解决的根本问题是通过间接的国际货币基金组织效应和太阳诱导电离的直接效应来控制不规则的产生。这项研究将侧重于评价货币基金组织对小规模违规行为的控制程度及其与其他比额表的关系。该项目将解决两极斑块的存在是否是不规则产生的必要条件，以及太阳光照是否抑制或增强不规则产生的问题。将研究半球间的差异，以确定太阳风驱动因素与太阳电离的相对重要性。早期对小规模等离子体不规则性的研究利用火箭和/或无线电技术分析了当地的观测结果。该项目将在其全球驱动因素的背景下分析极帽的不规则产生，重点是在南极洲麦克默多的第一个美国南极HF （SuperDARN）雷达和补充仪器的观测结果。极帽电离层与太阳风直接相连；因此，可以预期货币基金组织对小规模不规则现象产生的影响将比以前研究的极光区域更为明显。极帽在至点附近也有相当均匀的太阳电离条件和季节之间的强烈对比，因此太阳照明效应可以更清楚地揭示出来。此外，极帽似乎特别丰富的不规则。该项目将利用美国国家科学基金会资助的南极设施的数据，为美国新成立的教员研究员提供必要的支持，并扩大阿拉斯加地球科学领域的研究生培训计划。

This project seeks to improve our understanding of ionospheric irregularities, building on recent work at high southern latitudes that demonstrated a clear connection between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and irregularity production in the auroral E-region. The fundamental issue to be addressed is solar control of irregularity production via indirect IMF effects versus direct effects of solar-induced ionization. This study will focus on evaluating the extent of IMF control of small-scale irregularities and the relationship to other scales. The project will address the question of whether the presence of the polar patches is a necessary condition for irregularity production, and whether solar illumination suppresses or enhances irregularity generation. Inter-hemispheric differences will be investigated to determine the relative importance of solar wind drivers versus solar ionization.Earlier studies of small-scale plasma irregularities have analyzed local observations using rockets and/or radio techniques. This project will analyze irregularity production in the polar cap in context of its global drivers focusing on observations from the first US Antarctic HF (SuperDARN) radar at McMurdo, Antarctica and complementary instrumentation. The polar cap ionosphere is directly connected to the solar wind; hence, one can expect IMF effects on small-scale irregularity production to be even more pronounced than in the previously studied auroral region. The polar cap also has reasonably uniform solar ionization conditions near solstices and sharp contrasts between seasons, so solar illumination effects can be revealed more clearly. In addition, the polar cap appears to be especially rich in irregularities. This project will leverage data from the NSF-funded Antarctic facilities, providing essential support for a newly-established faculty researcher in the US, and expand a graduate student training program in the geosciences area in Alaska.