Space Weather: Point Mosaic Auroral Imaging - Science Qualification Study

调查人员将继续评估使用铱星数据持续监测极光椭圆位置的可能性。卫星上的磁力计在通过与极光降水有关的场向电流时测量扰动。许多卫星的综合数据可用于在全球范围内确定极光椭圆的瞬时位置。极光椭圆反映了磁层-电离层系统的全局状态，场向电流是应力从磁层传递到电离层的主要手段。研究人员将定义可以从铱星磁力计数据中获得的科学产品，并对这些产品进行科学鉴定研究，以确定其准确性、可靠性以及与当前可用的极光边界、电流和磁层动力学监测的关系。该研究包括开发用于自动处理多个航天器数据的算法，对个别案例研究的结果进行比较，以及与摩托罗拉公司就长期访问数据的协议进行谈判。

The investigators will continue assessing the possibility of using data from the IRIDIUM satellites to continuously monitor the location of the auroral oval. The magnetometers on the satellites measure perturbations when passing through field-aligned currents associated with auroral precipitation. The combined data from many satellites can be used to identify the instantaneous location of the auroral oval on a global basis. The auroral oval reflects the global state of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system and the field-aligned currents are the principal means by which stresses are transmitted from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere. The investigators will define the science products that can be derived from the IRIDIUM magnetometer data and perform scientific qualification studies of these products to determine their accuracy, reliability, and relation to currently available monitors of the auroral boundaries, currents, and magnetospheric dynamics. The study includes the development of algorithms for handling the data from multiple spacecraft automatically, comparison of results for individual case studies, and the negotiation of an agreement with Motorola Corp. for long-term access to the data.