Electric fields and currents and their effects in the near Earth space

电场和电流及其对近地空间的影响

• 批准号: 183564-2011
• 负责人: Koustov, Alexandre
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 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: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=507426
• 关键词: Electric; fields; currents; their; effects

A continuous stream of charged particles from the Sun, the solar wind, carries an embedded interplanetary magnetic field which couples with the Earth's magnetic field to create a cavity called the magnetosphere. The Earth's magnetosphere accumulates particles, some of which precipitate into the upper atmosphere leading to beautiful auroral displays at high latitudes. Precipitating particles and solar illumination create a conducting layer at heights of ~100-300 km called the ionosphere. Electric fields are also established within the magnetosphere; they strongly control particle motion. Magnetospheric electric fields are mapped/transmitted via currents flowing along magnetic field lines into the high-latitude ionosphere. Electric fields are thus involved in various processes in the near Earth environment. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of the electric fields and currents in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere is fundamentally important for developing physics-based electrodynamical models of the near Earth's space. Such models attempt to predict strong particle precipitation events that are hazardous for humans in space, for the operation of electrical power grids and pipelines on the ground, and for wireless communication. The proposed research program is aimed at studying electric fields and currents in the Earth's ionosphere and their effects. This can be accomplished on a global scale and with a temporal resolution on the order of one minute. Through analysis of data collected by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network, by versatile and powerful incoherent scatter radars (including the forthcoming Canadian radar at Resolute Bay) and by upcoming international satellite missions with strong Canadian participation (e-POP, SWARM and ORBITALS), key questions in space physics will be addressed, such as the mechanisms of energy deposition to the high-latitude ionosphere, energy penetration to middle latitudes and the effects of electric fields and currents on the ionosphere and operation of radio communication systems in the High Arctic.

来自太阳的连续带电粒子流，太阳风，携带着嵌入的行星际磁场，与地球的磁场耦合，形成一个被称为磁层的空腔。地球磁层积聚粒子，其中一些粒子沉淀到高层大气中，在高纬度地区形成美丽的极光显示。沉淀粒子和太阳照明在大约100-300公里的高度形成了一个传导层，称为电离层。电场也建立在磁层内；它们强烈地控制着粒子的运动。磁层电场通过沿磁力线流入高纬度电离层的电流来映射/传输。因此，电场参与了近地环境中的各种过程。了解地球磁层和电离层中的电场和电流的空间和时间分布对于发展以物理为基础的近地空间电动力学模型至关重要。这样的模型试图预测强粒子降水事件，这些事件对太空中的人类、地面电网和管道的运行以及无线通信都是危险的。拟议的研究计划旨在研究地球电离层中的电场和电流及其影响。这可以在全球范围内完成，时间分辨率在一分钟左右。通过分析由超级双极光雷达网、多功能和强大的非相干散射雷达(包括即将在索洛特湾安装的加拿大雷达)和即将进行的由加拿大大力参与的国际卫星飞行任务收集的数据(电子-POP、群和轨道)，将处理空间物理中的关键问题，如能量向高纬度电离层沉积的机制、能量向中纬度的渗透、电场和电流对电离层的影响以及高北极无线电通信系统的运作。