The Distribution and Source of Plasma Blobs in Low-middle Latitudes

这是一项在低纬度和中纬度地区确定等离子体斑点（等离子体密度局部增加）来源的研究。具体来说，研究人员将解决以下科学问题：(1)形成斑点的潜在地球物理条件是什么？(2)等离子体气泡是产生等离子体斑点的先决条件吗？(3)等离子体斑点与旅行电离层扰动（TIDs）有关吗？(4)斑点与中纬度电子密度不规则有何关系？传统观点认为，斑点是气泡的副产品，但最近在赤道地区没有气泡的情况下观察到斑点，这一假设受到了挑战。该项目寻找气泡的替代来源，并澄清气泡和气泡之间的因果关系。通过分析各种观测数据，我们的重点调查将提供对尚未充分探索的斑点的特征，分布和来源的全面了解。最近通信/导航中断预报系统（C/NOFS）卫星观测提供了一个前所未有的机会，利用多年来大量的斑点事件来研究斑点现象。此外，雷达、全天成像仪和其他卫星观测可以与C/NOFS观测同时进行。这项研究的结果将促进对卫星通信和导航系统中存在问题的电子密度不规则性来源的理解。案例研究将利用波多黎各的阿雷西博、印度尼西亚的科托塔邦和韩国的博炫的全天图像数据来验证斑点与TIDs的关联。将通过分析韩国的雷达资料，确定斑点与中纬度异常的关系。电子密度不规则会给现代技术带来问题，并且是一个重要的空间天气特征，需要全球观测来了解其特征并预测其发生。该项目将从两个方面促进国际合作：(1)韩国和马来西亚的研究生参与项目；(2)利用国际观测数据。空间科学在这些国家是一个不断发展的领域，但这些国家缺乏这方面的专家。通过这个项目进行的培训和指导将支持他们的成长。

This is a study to identify the source of plasma blobs (local increases in plasma density) at low and middle latitudes. Specifically, the researchers will address the following science questions: (1) What are the underlying geophysical conditions for the creation of blobs? (2) Are plasma bubbles a prerequisite for the creation of plasma blobs? (3) Are plasma blobs associated with traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs)? (4) What is the relationship between blobs and middlelatitude electron density irregularities? Conventional wisdom is that blobs are byproducts of bubbles, but this hypothesis is challenged by the recent observation of blobs in the absence of bubbles in the equatorial region. This project searches for alternative sources of blobs as well as clarifying the causal relationship between bubbles and blobs. Our focused investigation by analyzing various observation data will provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics, distribution, and source of blobs that have not yet been fully explored. Recent Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite observations have provided an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the blob phenomenon with use of ample blob events for several years. In addition, radar, all-sky imager, and other satellite observations are available simultaneously with the C/NOFS observations. The results of this study will advance understanding of the source of the electron density irregularities that are problematic in satellite communication and navigation systems. Case studies will be carried out by using all-sky image data at Arecibo in Puerto Rico, Kototabang in Indonesia, and Bohyun in South Korea to verify the association of blobs with TIDs. The relationship between blobs and middle-latitude irregularities will be determined by examining Korea radar data. Electron density irregularities cause problems in modern technology and are a significant space weather feature that requires global observations to understand their characteristics and predict their occurrence. This project will promote the international collaboration in two aspects: (1) participation of the graduate students in South Korea and Malaysia to the project and (2) utilization of international observation data. Space science is a growing field in those countries, but those countries lack experts in that field. The training and mentoring through this project will support their growth.