Ionospheric Turbulence, Scintillations and Space Weather Forecast

该项目的目的是调查全球定位系统(全球定位系统)接收器观测到的相位和幅度闪烁的空间和时间演变，并与扩大的加拿大北极高电离层网络设施的加拿大高级数字电离层探空仪接收器的观测结果相补充。对GPS闪烁观测的定量分析将与电磁波通过模型湍流电离层的前向传播的数值模拟进行比较。这些计算将用于深入了解极光和极地电离层区域内发生并导致闪烁现象的潜在机制。数据分析和与模拟的比较将有助于揭示以下基本问题的一些答案： 对GPS地面接收器二维阵列观测到的闪烁进行透彻的分析，能否揭示控制极光和极地电离层E和F区域等离子体不规则性演变的一些物理机制？ 应该开发什么样的分析工具，以便尝试和协调关于电离层不规则性和地面闪烁测量的现有知识？ 我们能从试图模拟电磁波(EMW)通过湍流电离层的线性传播的计算中获得任何见解吗？电磁波的非线性传播是怎样的呢？ 我们能否开发出将电离层活动与地面闪烁观测联系起来的定量措施，如现播和预报指数？人们应该使用什么样的基准来评估这些指数的可靠性？ 地面闪烁测量是否带有关于磁层-电离层耦合(MIC)和太阳风-磁层(SWM)耦合的信号？ 拟议的研究将产生几个影响：最重要的一个是研究极冠和极光区域的电离层过程，这将打开一个直接研究MIC的窗口，这反过来又将揭示影响电磁波在这些高度感兴趣的区域传播和传输的一些物理机制。建立可靠的闪烁数据库以及开发分析工具和预测指数，将对任何涉及通过电离层介质发射和接收电磁波的预报工作产生重大影响。闪烁数据分析的结果将提供对电离层结构发展和演变的空间和时间洞察。任何有关EMW在极地和极光地区传播的预测性洞察都将对航空航天、通信和军事工业产生重大影响。在这个过程中，将培养高素质的个人，包括研究生。

The objective of the project is to investigate the spatial and temporal evolution of phase and amplitude scintillations observed by the Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, and complement the study with observations by the Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI) receivers of the Expanded Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (ECHAIN) facility. The quantitative analysis of the GPS scintillation observations will be compared to numerical simulations of forward propagation of electromagnetic waves through a model turbulent ionospheric layer. The computations will be used to gain insight about potential mechanisms occurring within the auroral and polar ionospheric regions and causing the scintillation phenomena. The data analysis and the comparison to simulations will help unveil some of the answers to the following fundamental questions: Can a thorough analysis of scintillations observed by a two-dimensional array of GPS ground receivers unveil some of the physical mechanisms governing the evolution of plasma irregularities in the auroral and polar ionospheric E and F regions? What kind of analysis tools should be developed in order to try and reconcile existing knowledge about ionospheric irregularities and scintillation measurements on the ground? Can we gain any insight from computations that attempt to simulate the linear propagation of electromagnetic waves (EMW) through a turbulent ionospheric layer? How about the nonlinear propagation of EMW? Can we develop quantitative measures, such as nowcast and forecast indices, that link ionospheric activity with ground based scintillation observations? And what kind of benchmark should one use to assess the reliability of these indices? Do the ground scintillation measurements carry signatures about the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling (MIC) in particular, and the solar wind-magnetosphere (SWM) coupling in general? The research proposed will have several impacts: the most important one being the study of ionospheric processes in the polar cap and auroral regions, which opens up a direct research window into MIC, which in turn will unveil some of the physical mechanisms affecting the propagation and transmission of EMW in these regions of high interest. The establishment of a reliable scintillation database, and the development of analysis tools as well as predictive indices, will have a significant impact on any forecasting exercise involving the transmission and reception of EMW through the ionospheric medium. The results of the scintillation data analysis will provide spatial and temporal insight into the development and evolution of ionospheric structures. Any predictive insight about the propagation of EMW in the polar and auroral regions will have strong impact in the aerospace, communications and military industries. In the process High Qualified Personal will be trained, including graduate students.