Mid-Continent Magnetoseismic Chain (McMaC)

该项目将资助在美国和墨西哥安装9个新的磁力计。来自这些新站点的数据将与加拿大CANOPUS磁力计和美国IGPP-LANL磁力计的数据相结合，形成一个由22个磁力计组成的中大陆磁力计链。该项目将开发数据分析工具，以某种类似于地震学的方式使用磁力计，因此被称为“磁地震学”。磁力计探测到的超低频波将被用来确定等离子体顶的位置，并确定磁层内的等离子体密度。本文将研究两种分析方法。首先是本征模态分析，确定磁场线上的质量载荷为磁场线上波的本征频率。第二种方法将利用脉冲信号到达的时间来确定磁层内的密度结构。这两种技术将提供一种廉价的磁层等离子体密度遥感方法。该技术将通过使用各种卫星的现场测量来验证。该项目将提供可用于空间天气临近预报和预报的数据。该项目将包括高中生和大学本科生的参与。该项目得出的密度数据将成为两名加州大学洛杉矶分校博士生进行相关研究的重要资源。

This project will fund the installation of 9 new magnetometers in the U.S. and Mexico. Data from these new stations will be combined with data from the CANOPUS magnetometers in Canada and the IGPP-LANL magnetometers in the U.S. to form a mid-continent magnetometer chain of 22 magnetometers. The project will develop the data analysis tools for using the magnetometer in a manner that is somewhat analogous to seismology and is therefore being called "magnetoseismology." Ultra-Low-Frequency waves detected by the magnetometers will be used to determine the location of the plasmapause and to determine the plasma density within the magnetosphere. Two methods of analysis will be investigated. The first is an eigenmode analysis which determines the mass loading on a magnetic field line be the eigenfrequency of the waves on the field line. The second method will utilize the time of arrive of impulsive signals to determine the density structure within the magnetosphere. The two techniques will provide an inexpensive method of remote sensing of the plasma density of the magnetosphere. The technique will be validated by using in situ measurements from a variety of satellites. The project will provide data that can be used in space weather nowcasting and forecasting. The project will include participation by high school students and university undergraduates. The density data resulting from the project will be an essential resource for two UCLA Ph.D students doing related research.