Radar investigations of the auroral and polar cap ionosphere

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

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.