CEDAR: Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) Excited by Tropospheric Phenomena and their Effect on Plasma Instabilities

在这个项目中，将通过分析地面和卫星测量来研究地球电离层中称为行进电离层扰动(TID)的特征。陆基测量包括分布在中南美洲和加勒比地区的LISN网络(低纬度电离层传感器网络)中的数百个陆基GPS接收器收集的总电子电流(TEC)测量。它还包括电离仪、法布里-珀罗涉仪以及基卡马卡和阿雷西博的非相干散射雷达。这项研究的结果将有助于更好地了解不同电离层和热层条件下中尺度TID(MSTID)和TEC损耗的变化和特点。这项研究还旨在解决热带风暴和MSTID的形成之间是否存在联系。等离子体不规则性的发生对通信、导航和高精度指向系统构成了突出的自然灾害。我们将研究在各种不同的电离层和热层条件下以及在磁安静和活动条件下MSTID和中纬度地区的等离子体结构的共轭特性。具体地说，将讨论以下问题：等离子体电导率的纬向变化和大气重力波的传播方向对MSTID的控制是什么？中纬度亏损的启动机制是什么？在干扰条件下，MSTID是否映射到共轭位置？MSTID或TID会影响赤道等离子体气泡的纬度(然后是高度)延伸吗？在大型磁暴等特殊事件期间，北美现有的大多数GPS接收器收集的TEC值也将用于研究TEC耗竭和MSTID向极地的扩展。使用C/NOFS、DMSP和SARM卫星上的几台仪器收集的电场和密度观测将补充观测。

In this project, features in the Earth's ionosphere called traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) will be studied by analyzing ground- and satellite-based measurements. The ground-based measurements include total electron current (TEC) measurements collected by a few hundred ground-based GPS receivers distributed across South and Central America and the Caribbean region in the LISN network (Low-Latitude ionospheric sensor network). It also includes ionosondes, Fabry-Perot Interferometers, and the incoherent scatter radars at Jicamarca and Arecibo. The outcomes of this research will be a better understanding of the variability and characteristics of medium-scale TIDs (MSTIDs) and TEC depletions during different ionospheric and thermospheric conditions. The study also aims to resolve whether there exists a link between tropical storms and the formation of MSTIDs. The occurrence of plasma irregularities poses a prominent natural hazard to communication, navigation and high precision pointing systems.The conjugate properties of MSTIDs and plasma structures seen at mid-latitudes under a variety of different ionosphere and thermosphere conditions and for magnetically quiet and active conditions will be investigated. Specifically, the following questions will be addressed: What is the control that the latitudinal variability of the plasma conductivity and the propagation direction of atmospheric gravity waves exert on the MSTIDs? What is the initiation mechanism of mid latitude depletions? Do MSTIDs map to conjugate locations during disturbed conditions? Can MSTIDs or TIDs influence the latitudinal (and then altitude) extension of equatorial plasma bubbles? During special events, such as large magnetic storms, TEC values collected by the majority of GPS receivers that exist in North America will be also be used to study poleward expansions of TEC depletions and MSTIDs. Electric fields and density observations gathered with several instruments on-board C/NOFS, DMSP and SWARM satellites will complement the observations.