Risk Retirement for WAMS: The Water and Ash MM-wave Spectrometer

该奖项是对探索性研究早期概念拨款（EAGER）提案提交的回应，为开发最终用于研究火山羽流的概念验证微波雷达系统所需的关键电子元件提供资金。所谓的WAMS（水和火山灰毫米波光谱仪），将是一个双天线，主动式被动系统。低频系统将作为水蒸气辐射计，使用22千兆赫的发射线，而高频系统将估计水蒸气温度（通过183和232千兆赫的辐射测量），也可以作为雷达来研究灰烬。亚利桑那州立大学的研究人员在设计和建造类似的射电天文学仪器方面有经验。成功开发的WAMS仪器具有双天线主动被动雷达成像火山羽流的能力，提供了在接近实时的测量火山灰浓度的同时测量火山羽流中路径集成水蒸气的潜力，因此可能有助于我们对导致喷发的基本火山导管过程的基本知识的基本进展。这种支持将允许开发原型仪器，该仪器将由亚利桑那州立大学研究生进行实验室测试。已实现的WAMS仪器有可能更好地了解火山灰羽流动力学和进化（例如，粒子聚集动力学和运输），这可能有利于减轻火山活动对空中交通的危害。再加上该奖项将促进学生在电子测试方面的培训，这两个方面都支持了nsf促进科学进步和促进国家福利的使命。***更广泛的影响EAGER项目将直接让一名研究生参与WAMS原型仪器的实验室测试。WAMS在更好地了解火山灰羽流动力学和进化（例如颗粒聚集动力学和运输）方面的潜力可能有助于减轻火山活动对空中交通的危害。

1613067GroppiThis award, made in response to a EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposal submission, provides funds to allow for the acquisition of key electronic components necessary to develop a proof-of-concept microwave radar system ultimately intended to study volcano plumes. The so-called WAMS (Water and Ash MM-Wave Spectrometer), would be a two-antenna, active-passive system. The low frequency system would function as a water vapor radiometer, using the 22 GHz emission line, while the high frequency system would estimate water vapor temperature (via radiometry at 183 and 232 GHZ), and also function as a radar to study the ash. The investigators at Arizona State University have experience in the design and construction of similar instruments for radio astronomy. A successfully developed WAMS instrument with a dual antenna active-passive radar capability for imaging volcanic plumes offers the potential to measure path-integrated water vapor in a volcanic plume concurrently with measurement of ash concentration in near real time and thus might contribute to fundamental advances in our knowledge of basic volcanic conduit processes leading to eruption. This support will allow for development of a prototype instrument that will be laboratory tested by an ASU graduate student. The potential of a realized WAMS instrument to yield a better understanding of volcanic ash plume dynamics and evolution (e.g., particle aggregation dynamics and transport) may have benefits for mitigating air traffic hazards from volcanic activity. Coupled with the student training in electronics testing that will be fostered by this award, these two aspects support NSFs mission of promoting the progress of science and advancing the national welfare.*** Broader ImpactsThe EAGER project would directly engage a graduate student in laboratory testing of the prototype WAMS instrument. The potential of WAMS for better understanding volcanic ash plume dynamics and evolution (e.g. particle aggregation dynamics and transport) may have benefits for mitigating air traffic hazards from volcanic activity.