Collaborative Research: Meteor Plasma Formation and Dynamics with Implication for Radar Measurements

合作研究：流星等离子体的形成和动力学对雷达测量的影响

• 批准号: 1754895
• 负责人: Robert Marshall
• 金额: $ 19.9万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2018-09-01 至 2023-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1754895&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Meteor; Plasma; Formation

Earth's upper atmosphere is densely populated by molecular, atomic and ionized meteors. These particles are important for maintaining the conductivity of the E region ionosphere (~90-150 km). They can be sensed using radio and optical methods, and therefore provide a great deal of information about the state of the upper atmosphere and the extraterrestrial environments of their origin. However, current estimates of total meteoric input are accurate only to within approximately two orders of magnitude. It is important to improve upon such estimates, since meteor chemistry affects Earth from roughly 150 km above the surface all the way down to the ice cores. The research will apply radar data and first-principles computer models to trace the evolution of meteor plasma in the ionosphere. The project will support a full-time graduate student and an undergraduate. The Principal Investigators (PIs)' work will yield knowledge of the types of meteors that contribute most to Earth's upper atmosphere. This information is important to Space scientists, engineers, and astronomers. Spacecraft designers need to know the distribution of particle orbits and masses in order to mitigate potential hazards. Meteor population characteristics provides greater understanding of the evolution and composition of the outer solar system. The PIs and co-PI will continue their efforts to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about space and meteor science with the larger community through outreach to K-12 schools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

地球上层大气中密集分布着分子、原子和电离流星。这些粒子对维持E区电离层(约90-150公里)的导电性很重要。它们可以用无线电和光学方法探测到，因此提供了大量关于高层大气状态和它们起源的外星环境的信息。然而，目前对总流星输入的估计仅准确到大约两个数量级以内。改进这样的估计很重要，因为流星化学从地表上方约150公里处一直到冰芯都会影响地球。这项研究将应用雷达数据和第一性原理计算机模型来追踪电离层中流星等离子体的演化。该项目将资助一名全日制研究生和一名本科生。首席调查人员(PI)的工作将产生对地球上层大气贡献最大的流星类型的知识。这些信息对太空科学家、工程师和天文学家来说很重要。航天器设计者需要知道粒子轨道和质量的分布，以减轻潜在的危险。流星群特征提供了对外太阳系演化和组成的更多了解。PIS和共同PI将继续努力通过与K-12学校的接触，与更大的社区分享他们在空间和流星科学方面的知识和热情。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Meteoroid Mass Estimation Based on Single‐Frequency Radar Cross Section Measurements

• DOI: 10.1029/2021ja029525
• 发表时间: 2020-12
• 期刊: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
• 作者: L. K. Tarnecki;R. Marshall

Simulation‐Derived Radar Cross Sections of a New Meteor Head Plasma Distribution Model

模拟——新流星头等离子体分布模型的衍生雷达截面

• DOI: 10.1029/2021ja029171
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
• 作者: Sugar, G.;Marshall, R.;Oppenheim, M. M.;Dimant, Y. S.;Close, S.
• 通讯作者: Close, S.