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: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=569637
• 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，即太阳风，携带着嵌入的行星际磁场，与地球磁场耦合，形成了一个被称为磁层的空腔。地球的磁层聚集了粒子，其中一些粒子沉淀到上层大气中，导致高纬度地区出现美丽的极光。沉淀粒子和太阳光照在约100-300千米的高度形成导电层，称为电离层。磁场也在磁层内形成；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被绘制/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电场和电流的时空分布对于建立基于物理的近地空间电动力学模型至关重要。这些模型试图预测强粒子降水事件，这些事件对太空中的人类、地面上的电网和管道的运行以及无线通信都是有害的。拟议中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，时间分辨率约为一分钟。通过对超级双极光雷达网、多功能和强大的非相干散射雷达（包括即将在雷索特湾的加拿大雷达）以及即将由加拿大大力参与的国际卫星任务（e-POP、SWARM和ORBITALS）收集的数据进行分析，将解决空间物理学中的关键问题，例如高纬度电离层能量沉积的机制；对中纬度地区的能量穿透以及电场和电流对北极高纬度地区电离层和无线电通信系统运行的影响。