Collaborative Research: ANSWERS: Impacts of Atmospheric Waves and Geomagnetic Disturbances on Quiet-time and Storm-time Space Weather

空间天气是指由复杂的日地相互作用引起的近地空间的动态变化。空间天气可能对电网、电信、航天器运行和宇航员健康造成危害。该项目将增进我们对地球电离层-热层系统如何因太阳变化和地球低层大气变化的综合影响而变化的理解，包括龙卷风等极端天气事件。了解信息技术系统的可变性是预测空间天气的一个基本要素。调查中将使用大量的历史和正在进行的观测数据以及最先进的天气和地球空间模型。 研究生和本科生将是研究工作的组成部分。该项目将开发一个关于空间气象的在线系列讲座，为公众组织虚拟讲习班，并利用现有的可再生能源股、外联和扩大参与的努力。该合作项目包括克莱姆森大学、安柏瑞德航空大学、马萨诸塞州理工学院、新泽西理工学院、弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学。关键的科学问题是：1）低层大气波和持续的地磁扰动引起的日常IT变化是什么？它们的相对贡献和潜在机制如何随地点而变化？2)强空间天气和地面对流事件的多尺度IT响应是什么？他们的反应特征如何比较？3）大气波对IT响应地磁扰动的预处理作用是什么？一组活跃在地球空间CEDAR和GEM社区的研究人员将调查这些问题。他们将利用各种地面和空间仪器提供的数据，开发一个将大气环流模型与区域波浪模型相结合的高分辨率模型，并利用数据同化改进模型驱动因素。该项目的更广泛影响包括通过确定信息技术系统可变性的特点来推进空间气象预报的潜力。该项目将开发新的空间气象课程，并利用合作机构现有的教育和宣传方案。ANSWERS项目将通过填补有关太阳-地球耦合系统的关键知识空白，促进国家的STEM专业知识和社会对空间天气灾害的适应能力。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。

Space weather refers to the dynamic changes in near-Earth space caused by complex Sun--Earth interactions. Space weather can pose hazards to electric power grids, telecommunications, spacecraft operations, and astronaut health. This project will advance our understanding of how the Earth’s ionosphere—thermosphere (IT) system changes due to the combined effects of solar variability and changes in the Earth’s lower atmosphere, including extreme weather events such as tornadoes. Understanding IT system variability is an essential element to predict space weather. Extensive historical and ongoing observational data and state-of-the-art weather and geospace models will be used in the investigation. Graduate and undergraduate students will be integral to the research efforts. The project will develop an online lecture series on space weather, organize virtual workshops for the public, and leverage existing REU, outreach and broadening participation efforts. The collaboration includes Clemson University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.This project studies variations in Earth’s ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) system due to atmospheric waves from both terrestrial sources (including extreme weather) and geomagnetic disturbances triggered by solar activity. The key science questions are: 1) What is the day-to-day IT variability induced by lower-atmosphere waves and persistent geomagnetic disturbances? How do their relative contributions and underlying mechanisms change with locations? 2) What are the multi-scale IT responses to intense space weather and terrestrial convective events? How do their response characteristics compare? and 3) What are the preconditioning effects of atmospheric waves on the IT response to geomagnetic disturbances? A team of researchers active in the geospace CEDAR and GEM communities will investigate these questions. They will use data from a variety of ground-based and space-borne instruments, develop a high-resolution model coupling a general circulation model with a regional wave model, and utilize data assimilation to improve upon the model drivers. Broader impacts of the project include the potential to advance space weather forecasting by characterizing IT system variability. The project will develop a new space weather curriculum and leverage existing education and outreach programs at the collaborating institutions. ANSWERS projects will advance the nation’s STEM expertise and societal resilience to space weather hazards by filling key knowledge gaps regarding the coupled Sun-Earth system.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.