CAREER: Quantifying Radiation Belt Precipitation and Atmospheric Impacts through D-region Ionosphere Imaging

来自太阳的高能粒子不断轰击地球。 许多被地球磁场捕获在一个称为辐射带的区域，该区域从海拔约640公里延伸到58，000公里。 这些被捕获的高能粒子可以下降到极地地区的高层大气（称为粒子沉淀的过程），与大气分子相互作用，产生彩色极光。 一些非常高能量的粒子可以进一步下降，将能量沉积到大气中，改变化学物质，影响全球能量平衡和循环。 这些高能粒子的影响还没有得到很好的理解，因为缺乏测量的粒子从辐射带进入大气层的损失。这个CAREER项目概述了一个综合的研究和教育计划，以量化粒子从辐射带的损失及其在高层大气中的影响，使用负担得起的，大规模的成像技术。辐射带降水形成了磁层、电离层和大气层之间的重要联系。 主要研究员（PI）的研究目标是量化能量粒子降水（EPP）事件的通量，光谱，空间和时间尺度，它们在高层大气中的化学效应，以及它们对辐射带人口的影响。为实现这些研究目标，研究所将：㈠在加拿大全境建立一个低成本、自主的甚低频观测网络，以观测中高纬度D区电离层中由于EPP而产生的变化; ㈡利用基于集合卡尔曼滤波器的反演技术，完善和提高我们对EPP特征和过程及其与辐射带损失之间关系的认识;和iii）使用运行航天器数据验证结果。 PI的教育目标是通过以下方式在CU Boulder建立一个强大的本科生和研究生教育和空间物理学与工程培训计划：i）为博士生和本科生提供咨询，同时保持PI在招募和支持女性和代表性不足的学生方面的记录; ii）通过新的高级研究生课程将研究成果纳入研究生空间物理学课程;（三）为高中生提供研究经验的机会; ㈣通过一个新的校园，促进非技术界对空间物理学的更广泛的了解，关于空间环境及其影响的广泛的本科课程和一本涵盖这一课程材料的新教科书。量化降水通量还将导致改进空间天气临近预报和预报该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

High energy particles from the Sun constantly bombard the Earth. Many are trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field in a region called radiation belt, which extends from an altitude of about 640 to 58,000 km. These trapped high energy particles can come down to the upper atmosphere at polar region (a process called particle precipitation), interacting with atmospheric molecules to create the colorful aurora. Some very high energy particles can come further down, depositing energy into the atmosphere and altering the chemistry, and affecting global energy balance and circulation. The effects of these high energy particles are not well understood because of lack of measurements of the particles lost from the radiation belt into the atmosphere.This CAREER project outlines an integrated research and education initiative to quantify particle losses from the radiation belts and their effects in the upper atmosphere, using an affordable, large-scale imaging technique. Radiation belt precipitation forms a critical link between the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere. The Principal Investigator (PI)'s research goal is to quantify the flux, spectra, spatial and temporal scales of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) events, their chemical effects in the upper atmosphere, and their effects on radiation belt populations. In pursuit of these research goals, the PI will: i) establish a low-cost, autonomous very-low-frequency observation network across Canada to observe variations due to EPP in the mid- to high-latitude D-region ionosphere; ii) refine and improve our understanding of EPP signatures and processes and their relationship to radiation belt losses using an ensemble Kalman Filter-based inversion technique; and iii) validate results using operational spacecraft data. The PI's education goal is to build a robust undergraduate and graduate education and training program in space physics and engineering at CU Boulder by: i) advising PhD and undergraduate students while maintaining the PI's track record for recruiting and supporting female and underrepresented students; ii) incorporating research outcomes into the graduate space physics curriculum through a new upper-level graduate course; iii) providing research experience opportunities to high school students; and iv) promoting broader understanding of space physics in the non-technical community through a new campus-wide undergraduate course on the space environment and its effects and a new textbook covering this course material.Quantifying precipitating fluxes will also lead to improved Space Weather nowcasting and forecasting and has implications for spacecraft design and operations in the radiation belts; orbital dynamics and drag in Low Earth Orbit; and radiation safety for high-altitude aircraft.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.