Aeronomy Research Using Ionospheric Modifications

了解高层大气的变化很重要，因为这将有助于我们更好地了解该地区的空间天气影响。HAARP设施可以在大气中产生人工加热，从而能够研究大气的可变性、高能电子分布以及高频无线电波的传播将如何受到影响。该项目将导致发现并促进我们对空间天气影响的理解。国家研究理事会强调了电离层改装技术(人工加热)在主流大气研究中的潜力。“从国家利益出发的北极研究”也强调了HAARP设施的战略和技术意义，并主张扩大在基础研究中的作用。研究生和本科生将参与到这个项目中来。每年将举办暑期班和专题研讨会。事实证明，过去的这些活动在招生和留住学生方面表现出色。该项目将使用阿拉斯加HAARP设施的电离层修正方法来研究四个科学课题：1)中性大气的日变化和逐日变化，2)高能电子分布和控制因素，3)上层混合波的探测，以及4)通过实验和理论研究计划的高频无线电波传播和闪烁。使用新的实验模式，这项工作将测量用其他方法难以测量的中性风，使用一种新的方法来推断超热电子分布，并将电离层修正应用于一般空间气象研究。该小组将现场并操作几种诊断仪器来检测影响，并将每半年在HAARP开展一次取暖运动。这些诊断仪器将可供其他HAARP调查人员使用，以增加科学影响。该奖项反映了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。

Understanding the variability in the upper atmosphere is important because it will help us better understand the space weather effects in that region. The HAARP facility can generate artificial heating in the atmosphere to enable the study of the variability of the atmosphere, the energetic electron distribution, and how the HF radio wave propagation would be affected. The project will lead to discovery and advance our understanding of space weather effects. The National Research Council emphasized the potential of ionospheric modification techniques (artificial heating) for mainstream aeronomy research. The “Arctic Research in the National Interest” also highlighted the strategic and technological significance of HAARP facility and argued in favor of an expanded role in basic research. Graduate and undergraduate students will be involved in the project. There will be a summer school and a topical symposium annually. These activities in the past have proven to be excellent in student recruitment and retention. This project will use ionospheric modification methods at the HAARP facility in Alaska to investigate four scientific topics: 1) the diurnal and day-to-day variability of the neutral atmosphere, 2) the energetic electron distribution and controlling factors, 3) the detection of upper-hybrid waves, and 4) the HF radio wave propagation and scintillation through a program of experimental and theoretical research. Using novel experimental modalities, this work will measure neutral winds that are difficult to measure by other means, employ a novel method to infer the suprathermal electron distribution, and apply ionospheric modification for general space weather studies. The team will field and operate several diagnostic instruments to detect the effects and will run heating campaigns at HAARP semiannually. The diagnostic instruments will be available to other HAARP investigators for use to increase the scientific impact.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.