CEDAR Postdoc: Photo-Chemistry and Neutral-Plasma Coupling at Earth and Mars

研究人员将研究地球和火星的光化学和中性等离子体耦合。该方法是利用数据和理论比较地球和火星的电离层，以便更好地了解两者共同的基本物理过程。目标是：(1)利用标准的地球观测数据和火星全球探测者航天器上无线电科学实验的火星观测数据，测试简单光化学平衡模型对地球和火星电离层峰值电子密度随太阳通量、太阳距离和太阳天顶角变化的预测；(2)研究太阳耀斑和日冕物质抛射对地球和火星电离层同时观测的影响，以了解空间天气如何影响这些不同的环境；(3)研究火星中性大气中的波浪和潮汐对电离层的影响，然后与为地球开发的电离层-中性大气耦合模型的预测结果进行比较。将确定模型中的弱点和可能改进的领域。这项研究将通过同时观测地球和火星的电离层来验证从地球经验中得出的预测，从而提高对电离层过程的理解。地球和火星观测的协调是一个创造性和原创性的概念，它将在行星和地球航空学学科之间建立联系。通过研究太阳变化对不止一颗行星的影响，地球电离层对太阳的反应模型中的任何不足之处都将被识别出来，并强调可能改进的领域。这将有助于分离太阳和人为对地球大气的影响，这是全球变化计划的一个目标。同时研究空间天气对不止一个星球的影响也同样有利于国家空间天气计划。由于控制电离层过程的物理特性在地球和地球以外应该是相同的，基于地面观测的模型在地球电离层以外应该是有效的。通过比较地球和火星上的日地相互作用，这些模型将得到检验，特别是在太阳变化和磁场影响方面。对波浪和潮汐的研究将解决电离层如何与较低海拔地区耦合的问题，并测试波浪和潮汐在火星上不同大气区域的耦合是否与在地球上一样重要。

The investigators will study the photo-chemistry and neutral-plasma coupling ofEarth and Mars. The approach is to compare the ionospheres of Earth and Mars using data and theory in order to better understand the basic physical processes that are common to both. The objectives are to (1) test the predictions of simple photochemical equilibrium models for how peak electron densities in the ionospheres of Earth and Mars vary with solar flux, distance from the Sun, and solar zenith angle using standard terrestrial observations and Martian observations from the radio science experiment on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft; (2) study the effects of solar flares and coronal mass ejections on simultaneous observations of the terrestrial and Martian ionospheres to understand how Space Weather impacts these different environments; (3) examine the effects of waves and tides in the neutral atmosphere of Mars on the ionosphere, and then compare to predictions from models developed for Earth for ionosphere-neutral atmosphere coupling. Areas of weakness and potential improvement in the models will be identified. The research will improve understanding of ionospheric processes by testing predictions derived from terrestrial experience on simultaneous observations of the ionospheres of Earth and Mars. The coordination of terrestrial and Martian observations is a creative and original concept that will build links between the disciplines of planetary and terrestrial aeronomy. By studying the effects of solar changes on more than one planet, any shortfalls in models for how the terrestrial ionosphere responds to the Sun will be identified and areas for potential improvement highlighted. This will facilitate the separation of solar and anthropogenic impacts on the terrestrial atmosphere, a goal of the Global Change Program. Simultaneous studies of the effects of space weather on more than one planet will similarly benefit the National Space Weather Program. Since the physics governing ionospheric processes should be the same on Earth and beyond Earth, models based on terrestrial observations should be valid beyond Earth's ionosphere. These models will be tested, especially in the areas of solar variability and the effects of magnetic fields, by comparing solar-terrestrial interactions on Earth and Mars. Studies of waves and tides will address how ionospheres couple with lower altitudes and test if waves and tides are as important in coupling different atmospheric regions on Mars as they are on Earth.