Thermospheric Estimation and CHaracterization with Nitric Oxide (TECHNO)

使用一氧化氮进行热层估计和表征 (TECHNO)

• 批准号: 2343844
• 负责人: Daniel Brandt
• 金额: $ 22.7万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-02-15 至 2027-01-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2343844&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Thermospheric; Estimation; CHaracterization; Nitric; Oxide

Auroras appear in the form of spectacular light displays usually at high latitudes and can occur either as discreet, continuous, or diffuse varieties. The different kinds of auroras have different generation mechanisms with the discreet appearing as “curtains” or well defined “ribbons or lines” in the sky, while the latter are visible as “fuzzy” structures from the ground. TECHNO (Thermospheric Estimation and Characterization with Nitric Oxide) aims at improving the modeling of aurora and probing in detail how the circulation in the upper atmosphere responds during magnetic storms. The methodology involves incorporating the physics and chemistry associated with discrete aurora in the Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (GITM) model, as it currently is limited to diffuse aurora. TECHNO will investigate how the circulation of the upper atmosphere changes during magnetic storms by looking at how key chemical components of the atmosphere, Nitric Oxide (NO) varies seasonally and how it is related to changes in the aurora and the polar vortex. Investigating these issues is crucial to improving forecasts of the aurora that directly impact HF radio communication and GPS/GNSS satellite navigation, as well as changes in the density of the upper atmosphere that affect the orbits of satellites and space debris in Low Earth Orbit. This inter-disciplinary work advances scientific knowledge and will support training of an early-career scientist.NO plays a significant role in the overall heat budget of the thermosphere due to its role in radiative cooling via infrared emissions. Thus, it is one of the processes that govern the distribution of energy and momentum in the ionosphere-thermosphere system. The other factors include intensification of (a) discreet aurora during increased particle precipitation and (b) meridional winds due to increased pressure gradients. The main objective of the work is to investigate the changes in NO concentrations caused by the polar vortex variability and discreet aurora. The second goal is to quantify the model uncertainties in temperature and densities as it relates to NO. The methodology comprises use of various ionospheric models (GITM, MAGNIT), simulations of storms using GITM, validation with the satellite data sets. The project will conclude with a study of how the uncertainties in auroral energy and increased downward flux affect variations in the resulting neutral density and temperature. Relevance of this research to both GEM and CEDAR programs will enhance collaborations between these two scientific communities.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.

极光通常以壮观的光显示的形式出现在高纬度地区，可以是离散的，连续的或漫射的变化。不同种类的极光有不同的产生机制，在天空中看起来像“窗帘”或定义明确的“丝带或线条”，而后者则是从地面上可见的“模糊”结构。利用一氧化氮对热层进行估计和表征（Thermospheric Estimation and Characterization with Nitric Oxide）的目的是改进极光的建模，并详细探测高层大气环流在磁暴期间的反应。该方法包括将与离散极光相关的物理和化学纳入全球电离层-热层模型（GITM），因为它目前仅限于扩散极光。CNONO将通过观察大气的关键化学成分一氧化氮（NO）如何随季节变化以及它如何与极光和极地涡旋的变化相关，来研究高层大气的环流在磁暴期间如何变化。调查这些问题对于改进直接影响高频无线电通信和全球定位系统/全球导航卫星系统卫星导航的极光预测以及影响卫星轨道和低地球轨道空间碎片的高层大气密度变化的预测至关重要。这项跨学科的工作推进了科学知识，并将支持早期职业科学家的培训。NO在热层的整体热收支中发挥着重要作用，因为它通过红外发射在辐射冷却中发挥作用。因此，它是控制电离层-热层系统中能量和动量分布的过程之一。其他因素包括：（a）粒子沉降增加时的离散极光增强;（B）气压梯度增加时的赤道风增强。这项工作的主要目的是调查的极涡变化和离散极光引起的NO浓度的变化。第二个目标是量化模型的不确定性，温度和密度，因为它涉及到NO。该方法包括使用各种电离层模型（GITM，MAGNIT），模拟风暴使用GITM，验证与卫星数据集。该项目最后将研究极光能量的不确定性和向下通量的增加如何影响所产生的中性密度和温度的变化。这项研究与GEM和CEDAR计划的相关性将加强这两个科学团体之间的合作。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。