CAREER: Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling through Multi-Sensor Data Fusion

这是一个为期五年的职业奖。该研究项目旨在开发基于物理学的数据融合技术，以分析磁层-电离层耦合的多传感器观测结果。研究的重点是电离层极光过渡区（80-1000公里）。使用新技术将解决三个具体的科学问题：哪个物理过程负责极光中的电子加速？ 磁层对流电场在何处以及如何与电离层解耦？ 电离层离子外流在这方面起什么作用？其基本思想是结合联合收割机现有的模型，为正在考虑的过程和数据，从各种各样的来源，包括原位卫星，非相干散射雷达，地面光学测量，以确定不一致。这些将指向那些要么没有得到很好理解，要么目前的模型没有包括足够的物理学（例如极光加速的时间依赖性）的领域。该提案的一个具体特点是，它旨在利用新的先进模块化非相干散射雷达（AMISR）设施的先进能力。学生，本科生和研究生，将广泛参与研究项目。此外，环境遥感概念，包括拟议的研究项目，将纳入首席研究员教授的本科生和研究生课程。

This is a five-year CAREER award. The research project is for the development of physics-based data fusion techniques for the analysis of multi-sensor observations of Magnetosphere-Ionosphere coupling. The focus of the study is the auroral transition region (80-1000 km) of the ionosphere. Three specific science questions will be addressed using the new technique: Which physical process is responsible for the electron acceleration in aurora? Where and how does the magnetospheric convection electric field decouple from the ionosphere? Which role does ionospheric ion outflow play in this context? The basic idea is to combine existing models for the processes under consideration and data from a large variety of sources, including in-situ satellites, incoherent scatter radars, and ground based optical measurements, to identify inconsistencies. These will point to areas that are either not well understood or where the current models do not include sufficient physics (e.g. time dependence in auroral acceleration). A specific feature of the proposal is that it is designed to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of the new Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) facility. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, will participate extensively in the research project. In addition, environmental remote sensing concepts, including the proposed research project, will be incorporated into undergraduate and graduate courses that the Principal Investigator teaches.