Radar investigations of the auroral and polar cap ionosphere

极光和极帽电离层的雷达调查

• 批准号: 194324-2008
• 负责人: Hussey, Glenn
• 金额: $ 1.72万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2008-01-01 至 2009-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=392457
• 关键词: Radar; investigations; auroral; polar; cap

My research interests involve the ionospheric high-latitude E- (altitude about 100 km) and F- regions (altitude of 200 to 1000 km) of the Earth's ionosphere. The ionosphere is the portion of the atmosphere where there are relatively few, although physically sufficient, free electrons and ions (ionised or charged particles) present within the already very low neutral atmosphere concentration at these E- and F-region altitudes. These charged particles significantly influence the behaviour in these regions and form the transition region, or near-Earth space environment, between our neutral Earth environment and the outer space environment. The E-region has a low concentration of ionised particles which can be setup into oscillating structures due to flowing currents. These structures are know as plasma waves and can be detected with radars looking into this region. Similar plasma structures occur in the F-region where the ionisation concentration is larger, but still relatively small overall. My research uses radars to probe and characterise the plasma environment of the E- and F-regions. One type of radar scatters radio waves from plasma waves to give details such as plasma wave strength and motions. Another type of radar reflects radio waves from the ionised particles to give information about particle density and motions. Working with these radars, and other instruments which measure different important ionospheric parameters, allows researchers to better understand the ionosphere and the processes within it. This, in turn, will enhance our understanding and ability to predict `space weather.' Space weather affects our modern daily lives in a number of ways, such as: 1) our dependence on the now large number of Earth satellites used for communication, television, banking, etc. and the direct exposure of these satellites to the potentially damaging space environment; 2) the very recent exponential increase in commercial airline flight paths over the pole and their critical dependence on reliable communications at these high latitudes. As Canada is a high northern latitude country with extensive northern landmass, we are in the ideal situation to study and support fundamental space weather research and predictions for the benefit of all humankind.

我的研究兴趣涉及地球电离层的电离层高纬度E区（高度约100公里）和F区（高度200至1000公里）。 电离层是大气层的一部分，在这些 E 区和 F 区高度，中性大气浓度已经很低，但物理上足够的自由电子和离子（电离或带电粒子）相对较少。 这些带电粒子显着影响这些区域的行为，并形成中性地球环境和外层空间环境之间的过渡区域或近地空间环境。 E 区的电离粒子浓度较低，可因流动的电流而形成振荡结构。 这些结构被称为等离子波，可以通过观察该区域的雷达来检测到。 类似的等离子体结构出现在 F 区，其中电离浓度较大，但总体而言仍然相对较小。 我的研究使用雷达来探测和表征 E 区和 F 区的等离子体环境。 一种雷达散射等离子体波中的无线电波，以提供等离子体波强度和运动等细节。 另一种类型的雷达反射来自电离粒子的无线电波，以提供有关粒子密度和运动的信息。 通过使用这些雷达和其他测量不同重要电离层参数的仪器，研究人员可以更好地了解电离层及其内部的过程。 反过来，这将增强我们对“太空天气”的理解和预测能力。 太空天气以多种方式影响我们现代的日常生活，例如：1）我们对现在用于通信、电视、银行等的大量地球卫星的依赖，以及这些卫星直接暴露于潜在破坏性的太空环境； 2) 最近，商业航空公司飞越极地的航线呈指数级增长，而且它们对这些高纬度地区可靠通信的严重依赖。 由于加拿大是一个高纬度国家，拥有广阔的北部陆地，我们处于研究和支持基础空间天气研究和预测以造福全人类的理想条件。