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Oblique Sounding of Ionized Patches in the Antarctic Ionosphere - Instrument Development and Testing

南极电离层电离斑的倾斜探测 - 仪器开发和测试

基本信息

批准号：
1643773
负责人：
Alex Chartier
金额：
$ 11.6万
依托单位：
Johns Hopkins University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2017
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2017-08-15 至 2020-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1643773&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Oblique Sounding Ionized Patches Antarctic

项目摘要

Ionospheric structures associated with ionized patches are known to disrupt radio signals at high latitudes, with important consequences for search-and-rescue operations and other radio communications. These issues are highly relevant in sparsely populated regions, where wired communications networks are unavailable. Recent statistical studies have shown a strong annual occurrence trend of ionized patches at ~300-km altitude. Patch occurrences appear to peak in the same months across both the Northern (Arctic) and Southern (Antarctic) polar regions. This is in contrast with established theories that predict a seasonal trend, with patch occurrence peaking in winter months in each hemisphere. While the observed annual trend matches what is predicted and understood in the Arctic, the trend runs completely opposite to what is expected in the Antarctic. There is an urgent need to confirm the Antarctic patch occurrence rates using independent sounding observations, along with observations of the ionospheric electric field behavior from existing ionospheric radars such as SuperDARN. Both types of observations are needed to determine the physical mechanisms that produce these ionized patches. The existing geospace instrumentation deployed at Antarctic stations is not capable of meeting these objectives. This award will support the development of a low-powered, autonomous ionosonde that would allow oblique sounding measurements of the Antarctic ionosphere between two manned U.S. stations in the Antarctic. The ionosonde's transmitter will be installed at McMurdo and send radio pulses towards South Pole, where the ionosonde's receiver will collect data from this oblique sounding of ionized patches, following their formation, propagation, and dynamics. The 12-months long period of testing this instrument in Antarctica will also allow scientists to collect enough experimental data to potentially deploy an array of ionosonde transmitters at remote Antarctic locations. The various sounding signals will be received and processed at the ionosonde's hub receiver at South Pole.

已知与电离斑有关的电离层结构会干扰高纬度地区的无线电信号，对搜救行动和其他无线电通信产生重要影响。这些问题在没有有线通信网络的人口稀少地区具有高度相关性。最近的统计研究表明，在~300公里的高度上，电离斑每年出现的趋势很强。在整个北方（北极）和南方（南极）极地地区，斑块出现似乎在同一个月达到峰值。这与预测季节性趋势的既定理论相反，在每个半球的冬季月份，斑块发生率达到峰值。虽然观察到的年度趋势与北极的预测和理解相符，但趋势与南极的预期完全相反。迫切需要利用独立的探测观测，沿着现有电离层雷达（如SuperDARN）对电离层电场行为的观测，来确认南极斑块的出现率。这两种类型的观测都需要确定产生这些电离斑的物理机制。在南极各站部署的现有地球空间仪器无法实现这些目标。该合同将支持开发一种低功率、自主的电离层探测仪，以便在美国南极两个载人站之间对南极电离层进行斜向探测测量。电离层探测仪的发射器将安装在麦克默多，并向南极发送无线电脉冲，在那里电离层探测仪的接收器将收集电离斑的倾斜探测数据，跟踪它们的形成、传播和动态。在南极洲对这一仪器进行为期12个月的测试，还将使科学家能够收集足够的实验数据，以便有可能在南极偏远地区部署电离层探测仪发射器阵列。各种探测信号将在南极的电离层探测仪中心接收器接收和处理。