AGS-FIRP Track 1: Solar Eclipse Effects on Weather and Aerial Fauna (SEEWAF)

在这个项目中，PI和项目团队将部署移动大气轮廓网络(MAPNet)仪器套件，以观测2024年4月8日在阿肯色州中部发生的日全食期间的气象、昆虫和鸟类飞行活动等空中动物以及太阳辐射变化。MAPNet套件将部署在总体中心线附近的三个不同地点，包括K-12学校系统、一所高中和一所包括研究生和本科生的研究所。预计这三个教育级别的数百名学生将获得MAPNet和收集的数据的经验。新的观测将促进我们对大气快速变化的了解，以应对太阳辐射的快速变化，并将为不同教育水平的学生提供一个独特的机会，以获得经验和/或了解如何进行科学观测。MAPNet设施，以及在三个剖面点发射的无线电探空气球，将提供大气最低3公里(包括边界层)温度、风、湍流和云的垂直剖面变化的数据。移动阿拉巴马州X波段(MAX)扫描雷达将进行监视和扫描，以监测MAX雷达和剖面图地点周围的边界层气流和空中动物行为。三个剖面点中的每一个都将包括Windsond或IMET气球探测，以记录温度、水蒸气和风廓线的详细信息，以及以5分钟或更短的时间分辨率测量风、温度、湿度和气溶胶廓线。将为从幼儿园到研究生阶段的学生开展教育和外展活动。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。

In this project, the PI and project team will deploy the Mobile Atmospheric Profiling Network (MAPNet) instrumentation suite to take observations of meteorology, aerial fauna such as insect and bird flight activity, and solar radiation changes during the total solar eclipse taking place on April 8, 2024, in central Arkansas. The MAPNet suite will be deployed to three different locations near the totality centerline including a K-12 school system, a high school, and an institute that includes graduate and undergraduate students. It is expected that hundreds of students across these three education levels will gain experience with MAPNet and the collected data. The new observations taken will advance our understanding of rapid changes in our atmospheric in response to fast solar radiation changes and will provide a unique opportunity for students across educational levels to gain experience and/or see how scientific observations are taken and processed.The MAPNet facilities, along with radiosonde balloon launches at each of the three profiling sites, will provide data on changes in vertical profiles of temperature, wind, turbulence, and clouds over the lowest 3 km of the atmosphere, including the boundary layer. The Mobile Alabama X-band (MAX) scanning radar will conduct surveillance and scans to monitor boundary layer airflow and aerial fauna behavior around the MAX radar and profiling sites. Each of the three profiling sites will include Windsond or iMet balloon soundings to document details of temperature, water vapor, and wind profiles as well as measurements of wind, temperature, humidity, and aerosol profiles at a temporal resolution of 5 min or less. Education and outreach activities will be developed for students ranging from kindergarten through the graduate level.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.