Rolling Grant Support for a Programme of Research in Solar-Planetary and Atmospheric Physics at the University of Leicester

对莱斯特大学太阳行星和大气物理研究项目的滚动资助

• 批准号: PP/E000983/1
• 负责人: Stanley Cowley
• 金额: $ 475.39万
• 依托单位: University of Leicester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2007 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=PP%2FE000983%2F1
• 关键词: Rolling; Grant; Support; Programme; Research

We propose a broadly-based programme of research on the outer environments of the Earth and planets, shaped by the interactions that take place between the planetary magnetic field, the solar wind on the outside, and the planetary atmosphere on the inside. The programme will consist of experimental work, data analysis, theory, and computer modelling, and can be described most simply in terms of four interactive elements. The first element consists of research in 'solar terrestrial physics' in which ground- and space-based experimental facilities will be used to examine the response of the Earth's magnetosphere to the highly-variable inputs from the interplanetary medium, namely the solar wind and embedded interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The direction of the IMF is known to be a principal determinant of the interaction, but the solar wind ram pressure also plays a role. How the fundamental processes that occur within the outer regions vary in response to these inputs will be investigated, together with the transmission of the resulting effects along outer magnetic field lines into the Earth's polar ionosphere and atmosphere. Experimental research will focus on data from the SuperDARN radar array, the ESA Cluster space mission, and the new NASA THEMIS mission. A second area of study will consider related phenomena in the outer plasma environments of the planets, where similar considerations apply but under very different conditions. Results thus inform and are informed by understanding of the terrestrial system. Planetary research will initially focus on Jupiter and Saturn, using auroral data from the Hubble Space Telescope and in situ data from the Cassini space mission. Later, work will also begin on Mars in preparation for the ESA ExoMars orbiter mission, and on Mercury in preparation for BepiColombo. This work will also inform later studies on the outer environments of extra-solar planets. In the third research area novel active experiments will be undertaken in the terrestrial environment using the SPEAR, Tromso, and HAARP high-power radar facilities. These will first be used to study natural phenomena through the production of artificial scatter that can be detected by the SuperDARN radars. Secondly, they will also be used to artificially excite waves and oscillations in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere in a controlled manner. Such wave excitation can 'tag' magnetic field lines connected to the radar deep into the Earth's magnetosphere, where they can be detected by spacecraft. Through these means the highly uncertain paths that magnetic field lines take through the outer environment of the Earth can be experimentally pinned down for the first time. The fourth area finally considers the impact that the space environment has on the upper atmosphere of the Earth, and the onward consequences at lower altitudes that may effect Earth's climate. This work will be undertaken principally through sophisticated computer modelling of the middle and upper atmosphere, and its responses to changes in the forcing at low altitudes and in the boundary conditions at high altitudes. Substantial development of existing computer models is required to do this. The work will also inform future studies of the atmospheres of extra-solar planets.

我们提出了一个基础广泛的方案，研究地球和行星的外部环境，形成行星磁场之间发生的相互作用，太阳风在外面，和行星大气层在里面。该计划将包括实验工作，数据分析，理论和计算机建模，并可以在四个互动元素方面最简单地描述。第一个要素包括“日地物理学”研究，其中将利用地面和空间实验设施来研究地球磁层对来自行星际介质的高度可变输入，即太阳风和嵌入行星际磁场的反应。IMF的方向是已知的相互作用的主要决定因素，但太阳风冲压压力也发挥了作用。将研究外部区域内发生的基本过程如何响应这些输入而发生变化，以及由此产生的效应沿着外部磁场线传输到地球极地电离层和大气层中。实验研究将侧重于来自SuperDARN雷达阵列、欧空局集群空间使命和新的NASA THEMIS使命的数据。研究的第二个领域将考虑行星外部等离子体环境中的相关现象，其中类似的考虑适用于非常不同的条件。因此，结果告知和了解地球系统。行星研究最初将集中在木星和土星上，利用哈勃太空望远镜的极光数据和卡西尼空间使命的现场数据。之后，还将开始在火星上的工作，为欧空局的ExoMars轨道飞行器使命做准备，并在水星上为BepiColombo做准备。这项工作也将为以后关于太阳系外行星外部环境的研究提供信息。在第三个研究领域，将利用SPEARS、Tromso和HAARP高功率雷达设施在陆地环境中进行新的主动实验。这些将首先用于研究自然现象，通过生产可以被SuperDARN雷达探测到的人工散射。第二，它们还将用于以受控方式在地球电离层和磁层中人工激发波和振荡。这种波激发可以“标记”连接到地球磁层深处雷达的磁场线，在那里它们可以被航天器检测到。通过这些手段，磁力线穿过地球外部环境的高度不确定的路径可以首次通过实验确定下来。第四个领域最后考虑了空间环境对地球高层大气的影响，以及在较低高度可能影响地球气候的后果。这项工作将主要通过对中层和高层大气及其对低海拔强迫变化和高海拔边界条件变化的反应进行复杂的计算机模拟来进行。要做到这一点，需要对现有的计算机模型进行大量开发。这项工作还将为未来对太阳系外行星大气的研究提供信息。

项目成果

Relationship between solar wind corotating interaction regions and the phasing and intensity of Saturn kilometric radiation bursts

太阳风共转相互作用区域与土星千米辐射爆发的相位和强度之间的关系

• DOI: 10.5194/angeo-26-3641-2008
• 发表时间: 2008
• 期刊: Annales Geophysicae
• 影响因子: 1.9
• 作者: Badman S

An estimate of the impact of transient luminous events on the atmospheric temperature

瞬态发光事件对大气温度影响的估计

• DOI: 10.5194/adgeo-13-37-2008
• 发表时间: 2008
• 期刊: Advances in Geosciences
• 作者: Arnone E

Saturn's magnetodisc current sheet

• DOI: 10.1029/2007ja012540
• 发表时间: 2008-04
• 期刊: Scopus
• 作者: C. Arridge;C. Russell;N. Achilleos;K. Khurana;M. Dougherty;S. Cowley;E. Bunce;D. Southwood

Planetary period oscillations in Saturn's magnetosphere: Phase relation of equatorial magnetic field oscillations and Saturn kilometric radiation modulation

土星磁层中的行星周期振荡：赤道磁场振荡与土星千米辐射调制的相位关系

• DOI: 10.1029/2007ja012937
• 发表时间: 2008
• 期刊: Space Physics
• 作者: Andrews D

Magnetospheric period oscillations at Saturn: Comparison of equatorial and high-latitude magnetic field periods with north and south Saturn kilometric radiation periods

土星磁层周期振荡：赤道和高纬度磁场周期与南北土星千米辐射周期的比较

• DOI: 10.1029/2010ja015666
• 发表时间: 2010
• 期刊: Space Physics
• 作者: Andrews D