Collaborative Research: Causes and Consequences of the Gradients in the Vertical Plasma Drift in the Equatorial Plasma Drift Vortex

在低纬度地区，在黄昏期间，由于e区等离子体由于快速化学反应而重新组合，在f区峰值高度以下将出现等离子体密度的强烈垂直梯度。在F峰以下的垂直漂移梯度可能是惊人的大，动态的，并且每天都在变化。该奖项将应用电离层-热层-电场的物理模型来研究这些垂直梯度的发展与等离子体气泡结构的可能产生之间的关系。在这种情况下，当致密流体覆盖在轻流体上时，就会出现不稳定的等离子体流体现象，这种现象将产生奇怪的三维结构。这些等离子体耗尽区（通常称为“气泡”）严重影响无线电波的通信，这些无线电波通常是从f区等离子体层的光滑底部反射出来的。本研究将使用的数据来自Jicamarca射电天文台和低纬度电离层传感器网络（LISN）对整个南美洲的总电子含量和电离层探空仪对等离子体密度的测量。与LISN数据相关的还有赤道磁力计测量数据，这些数据可以解释为傍晚期间等离子体垂直向上漂移速率的估计。这些结果将用于探索梯度的日常变化，以帮助更好地理解垂直漂移速率与赤道等离子体气泡产生的开始之间的关系。UTD将利用一名研究生来完成大部分数据分析和建模。大型赤道等离子体气泡（EPBs）与最强的信号闪烁有关，对通信和导航技术具有负面影响。社会已经变得依赖这些技术来完成运输服务、工业企业和军事行动中的共同任务。除了解决这些减轻f区等离子体结构负面影响的重要科学问题外，这些活动还将继续并扩大与LISN项目和JRO有关的多国合作。

At low latitudes during the evening twilight period, as the E-region plasma recombines due to fast chemistry, a strong vertical gradient in the plasma density will appear below the F-region peak height. This vertical drift gradient in altitude below the F peak can be surprising large, dynamic, and variable from day-to-day. This award would apply a physics-based model of the ionosphere-thermosphere-electric field to study the relationship between the development of these vertical gradients and a possible production of plasma bubble structure. In these circumstances the phenomenon of unstable plasma fluids that occur whenever a dense fluid overlies a light fluid will generate strange three-dimensional structures. These plasma depletion regions (often called "bubbles") affect severely communications of radio waves that normally are reflected off the smooth bottom side of the F-region plasma layer. The data that would be used in this study are derived from observations by the Jicamarca Radio Observatory and by the Low Latitude Ionosphere Sensor Network (LISN) network of total electron content and ionosonde measurements of plasma density throughout South America. Also associated with LISN data are equatorial magnetometer measurements that can be interpreted to produce estimates of upward vertical plasma drift rates during the evening period. These results would be used to explore the day-to-day variability of the gradients to help develop a better understanding of the relationship between the rate of vertical drift and the onset of equatorial plasma bubble production. UTD will be utilizing a graduate student to accomplish much of the data analysis and modeling.Large equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which are associated with the strongest signal scintillations, have negative impacts on communication and navigation technologies. Society has become dependent on these technologies to accomplish common tasks in transportation services, industrial ventures, and military operations. In addition to addressing these important science questions for the mitigation of negative impacts of F-region plasma structures, these activities will continue and expand multinational collaborations associated with the LISN Project and the JRO.