Studies of the Plasmasphere Boundary Layer with Distributed Arrays of Radio Instruments

利用多种地面和天基诊断方法从中纬度探测等离子体层边界。主要诊断包括电离层科学拦截信号（ISIS）相干软件无线电系统，以及现有的全球定位系统（GPS）阵列，这些都是在本研究中免费构建和运行的。除了GPS总电子含量（TEC）地图和ISIS的被动多静态雷达成像外，Millstone Hill非相干散射雷达（ISR）还用作电离层条件的交叉校准，TOPEX和JASON卫星也用于增强收集的TEC数据库。ISIS阵列由华盛顿州的马纳塔什岭雷达和德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校放置在米尔斯顿山雷达周围区域的相干成像多普勒接收机组成。德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校也为电离层数据同化3D （IDA3D）模型提供专业知识。使用的GPS阵列是加拿大电离层模拟GPS网络（CANGIM），在卡尔加里大学的支持下，在这项研究的早期阶段，它正在从四个扩展到九个接收器。这些广泛分布的ISIS和GPS阵列是“小型仪器分布式阵列”（DASI）概念的一个新生例子。该DASI的目的是在大尺度（中纬度到极光北半球纬度）背景下和高空间分辨率下研究电离层结构的演变。详细的统计特性等离子体输运，风暴时电场，和不稳定的开始计划。

Multiple ground and space-based diagnostics are used to probe the plasmasphere boundary from mid-latitudes. The primary diagnostics include the Intercepted Signals for Ionospheric Science (ISIS) coherent software radio system, and an extant Global Positioning System (GPS) array, which are constructed and operated at no cost to this research. In addition to the GPS total-electron-content (TEC) maps and passive multi-static radar imaging by ISIS, the Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) serves as a cross-calibration of ionospheric conditions, and TOPEX and JASON satellite are also used to augment the collected TEC database. The ISIS array is here composed of an expanded Manatash Ridge Radar in Washington State, and a collection of coherent imaging Doppler receivers placed by the University of Texas at Austin in an area around the Millstone Hill radar. University of Texas at Austin also contributes expertise with the Ionospheric Data Assimilation 3D (IDA3D) model. The GPS array used is the Canadian GPS Network for Ionospheric Modeling (CANGIM), which is expanding from four to nine receivers during the early period of this research effort under the auspices of the University of Calgary. These widely distributed ISIS and GPS arrays are a nascent example of the "distributed array of small instruments" or DASI, concept. The purpose of this DASI is to examine the evolution of ionospheric structures with a large-scale (mid-latitude to auroral northern hemisphere latitudes) context and high spatial resolution. Detailed statistical characterization of plasma transport, storm-time electric fields, and instability onset are planned.