Observations of Upper Atmospheric Energetics, Dynamics, and Long-Term Variations over the South Pole Station

该项目将为南极站的光电遥感设施的继续运作和数据分析提供经费。该装置将用于研究1)南极电离层F区增强等离子体密度的来源(S)和传播，2)极光椭圆形夜区中心南极E区O/N_2比率的变化，并将这些比率与极帽地区太阳排列的极光弧中的比率进行比较，3)平流层变暖事件产生的南极中大气扰动，4)太阳变率对中间层上部温度的影响的定量描述，5)南极热层对太阳磁云/日冕物质抛射事件的响应，6)焦耳加热对南极F区热力学的影响。所有这些研究的数据将来自SPS的两套遥感设施：1)太阳同步子午线扫描光子计数多通道光度计的极光发射亮度测量；2)使用高通量、高分辨率的红外迈克尔逊干涉仪和可见光-近红外CCD光谱仪连续记录在SPS的南半球冬季气辉和极光发射光谱。F区极光辐射亮度的经向变化为研究F区斑块的动力学和国际货币基金组织控制以及激发机制(S)提供了必要的数据。可以分析O和N相对于分子物种(O2和N2)极光发射的亮度，以定量评估热层组成的变化。这些数据(来自SPS每个澳大利亚冬季完全黑暗的六个月期间的连续(每天24小时)测量)将用于调查日地扰动对南极热层组成和热力学的影响，包括中层顶对太阳周期变化的反应。不同中间层/低热层(MLT)高度的气辉温度(来自OH和O2波段)的变化，使研究在MLT区域传播的行星波、潮波和重力波的动力效应以及这些波之间的非线性相互作用成为可能。将通过观测到的MLT运动温度和密度的变化来研究SPS上不同大气区域的耦合，这是通过SWE期间重力波活动的增强而导致作为中层冷却的前兆的。该项目将加强恩布里-里德尔航空大学的研究和教育基础设施，使PI/CO-I和来自物理科学系和航空航天工程系的学生汇聚一堂。研究生和本科生将参与现代研究和软件开发。

This project will provide for the continued operation and data analysis of an electro-optical remote sensing facility at South Pole Station. The facility will be used to examine 1) the source(s) and propagation of patches of enhanced plasma density in the F-region of the Antarctic ionosphere, 2) changes in the Antarctic E-region O/N2 ratio in the center of the night-sector of the auroral oval and compare the ratios with those found in the sun-aligned auroral arcs in the Polar Cap region, 3) Antarctic middle atmosphere disturbances generated by Stratospheric Warming Events (SWE), 4) quantitative characterization of the effects of solar variability on the temperature of the upper mesosphere region, 5) Antarctic thermospheric response to Solar Magnetic Cloud/Coronal Mass Ejection (SMC/CME) events, and 6) the effects of Joule heating on the thermodynamics of the Antarctic F-region. Data for all these studies will come from two sets of remote-sensing facilities at SPS: 1) Auroral emissions brightness measurements from the sun-synchronous Meridian Scanning Photon Counting Multichannel photometer; 2) Airglow and Auroral emission spectra recorded continuously during Austral winter at SPS with the high throughput, high resolution Infrared Michelson Interferometer as well as Visible - Near Infrared CCD spectrographs. Meridional variations in the brightness of F-region's auroral emissions provide the necessary data for investigations of the dynamics and IMF control, as well as the excitation mechanism(s), of the F-region patches. The brightness of auroral emissions from O and N relative to those from molecular species (O2 and N2) can be analyzed to assess, quantitatively, changes in the thermospheric composition. These data (from continuous (24 hours a day) measurements during the totally dark six months of each Austral winter at SPS) will be used to investigate the effects of solar-terrestrial disturbances on Antarctic thermospheric composition and thermodynamics, including response of the mesopause to solar cycle variations. Changes in airglow temperature (derived from OH and O2 bands), from different mesosphere/lower-thermosphere (MLT) heights, permit studies of the dynamical effects of Planetary, Tidal and Gravity waves propagating in the MLT regions as well as non-linear interactions among these waves. Coupling of different atmospheric regions over SPS, through enhanced gravity wave activities during SWE that lead to a precursor as Mesospheric cooling, will be investigated through the observed changes in MLT kinetic air temperature and density. The project will enhance the infrastructure for research and education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, bringing together the PI/Co-I and students from Departments of Physical Sciences and Aerospace Engineering. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in modern research and software development.