Collaborative Research: CEDAR: Modeling and Observation of Secondary Gravity Waves in the Thermosphere and Ionosphere Generated from Deep Convection

合作研究：CEDAR：深对流产生的热层和电离层次级重力波的建模和观测

• 批准号: 1552310
• 负责人: Irfan Azeem
• 金额: $ 15.68万
• 依托单位: ATMOSPHERIC & SPACE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-06-15 至 2021-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1552310&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; CEDAR; Modeling; Observation

This grant will support an effort to enhance the understanding of the formation processes for ionospheric plasma wave structures seen in regional distributions of Total Electron Content (TEC) events that exhibit circular patterns. These events are believed to be generated by deep convective processes within thunderstorm systems that launch gravity wave structures into the upper atmosphere region of 60 to 100 km where strong viscous dissipation of these wave packets occurs. Part of the wave energy of these primary waves is transformed into the production of secondary waves that are able to propagate higher into the region of atmospheric heights above 200 km. Here, the interaction of these waves with the ionospheric plasma (pushing or pulling plasma along magnetic field lines) would then generate structures called Traveling Ionosphere Disturbances (TIDs) that are so often seen in TEC data. The primary objective of the research is to compare the observed concentric TEC perturbations with those calculated from realistic modeling of the primary and secondary GWs from deep convection in order to strengthen and validate the models for the calculation of these TID structures. A secondary objective would be to utilize the amplitudes and scales of the observed secondary GWs to probe the dynamics of the 'dark' (but highly variable) region near 125-225 km where most of the primary GWs dissipate. A satisfactory explanation of these TID events in terms of gravity wave processes by reference to the successful modeling of the formation of these structures has never been achieved. Thus, the funded research has a significant potential for providing an enhanced understanding of the properties of these circular TID events that relate to the heating and cooling processes associated with the dissipation and transformation of the primary wave structure into the secondary wave output. Significant societal impact and transformative research outcomes for this award are expected to be achieved as a result of the success in modeling these circular TID events. Because GWs cause scintillation and plasma bubbles that can disrupt satellite communication and GPS signals, this study may lead to better predictions for the occurrence of these phenomena, which is nationally relevant. In order to enhance scientific understanding for the general public, the researcher will disseminate broadly the results via a web site, conference talks, and journal publications. Finally, this project would support the research of a woman scientist (PI).

这笔赠款将支持加强对电离层等离子体波结构形成过程的理解，电离层等离子体波结构在呈现圆形图案的总电子含量（TEC）事件的区域分布中可见。这些事件被认为是由雷暴系统内的深对流过程产生的，这些过程将重力波结构发射到 60 至 100 公里的高层大气区域，在那里发生这些波包的强烈粘性耗散。这些初级波的部分波能转化为次级波的产生，次级波能够传播到更高的大气高度200公里以上的区域。在这里，这些波与电离层等离子体的相互作用（沿着磁场线推动或拉动等离子体）将产生称为行进电离层扰动（TID）的结构，这种结构在 TEC 数据中经常出现。 该研究的主要目的是将观测到的同心 TEC 扰动与根据深对流初级和次级引力波的实际模型计算出的扰动进行比较，以加强和验证这些 TID 结构的计算模型。 次要目标是利用观测到的次要引力波的幅度和尺度来探测 125-225 公里附近“黑暗”（但高度可变）区域的动态，那里大部分主要引力波消散。 从未通过参考这些结构的形成的成功建模，从重力波过程的角度对这些 TID 事件进行令人满意的解释。因此，这项资助的研究具有巨大的潜力，可以增强对这些圆形 TID 事件特性的理解，这些特性与初级波结构的耗散和转换为次级波输出相关的加热和冷却过程有关。由于对这些循环 TID 事件建模的成功，预计该奖项将产生重大社会影响和变革性研究成果。由于引力波会引起闪烁和等离子体气泡，从而扰乱卫星通信和 GPS 信号，因此这项研究可能会更好地预测这些现象的发生，这与全国相关。为了增强公众对科学的理解，研究人员将通过网站、会议演讲和期刊出版物广泛传播研究结果。最后，该项目将支持女科学家（PI）的研究。