Continuing Theoretical Studies of Dynamical Processes in the Ionosphere

高层大气及其电离部分（电离层）的变化可能对人类活动有害。它们会影响卫星阻力，进而影响卫星寿命。短期变化可导致风暴增强密度的形成，大气气泡上升，太阳耀斑引起的电离增强，以及传播的大气空洞和等离子体斑块。这些高层大气扰动对GPS导航系统、电网、超视距雷达系统和军方、应急响应人员和航空公司使用的高频（HF）通信有不利影响。这项研究的重点是阐明控制这些过程的物理学，从而改进规范和预报模型，并更好地减轻高层大气不利天气干扰的策略。空间“气候”研究将涉及使用长时间雷达和卫星数据集以及模式研究，以确定高层大气长期变化的原因。本研究的主要目标是研究各种等离子体和中性气体输运过程对电离层-热层系统的影响，并研究与近地空间环境相关的耦合机制。这项研究涉及广泛使用来自美国国家科学基金会资助和其他地面设施和卫星的数据，包括来自非相干散射雷达[阿雷西博、米尔斯顿山、扑克平原（PFISR）、雷索雷特湾（RISR）和EISCAT]、超级雷达、电离层探空仪和卫星（DMSP、ACE和SDO）的数据。这项研究将借助高分辨率、全球尺度、基于物理的电离层、热层和电动力学模型进行。该项目将重点关注电离层的长期变化以及空间-大气相互作用区域的观测和建模。

Changes in the upper atmosphere and in its ionized part (ionosphere) can be detrimental to human activities. They can affect satellite drag, which in turn affects satellite lifetimes. Short term changes can lead the formation of storm-enhanced densities, rising atmospheric bubbles, solar flare-induced ionization enhancements, and propagating atmospheric holes and plasma patches. These upper atmospheric disturbances have adverse effects on GPS navigation systems, power grids, over-the-horizon radar systems, and High Frequency (HF) communications used by the military, emergency responders, and airlines. This research is focused on elucidating the physics that governs these processes, leading to improved specification and forecast models, and better mitigation strategies for adverse upper atmosphere weather disturbances. Space 'climate' studies will involve the use of long-duration radar and satellite datasets and model studies to determine the reasons for long-term upper atmosphere changes. The primary goals of this research are to study the effects that various plasma and neutral gas transport processes have on the ionosphere-thermosphere system, and to study coupling mechanisms that are relevant to the near-Earth space environment. The research involves an extensive use of data from NSF-funded and other ground-based facilities and satellites, including data from Incoherent Scatter Radars [Arecibo, Millstone Hill, Poker Flat (PFISR), Resolute Bay (RISR) and EISCAT], SuperDARN radars, ionosondes, and satellites (DMSP, ACE and SDO). The research will be conducted with the aid of high-resolution, global-scale, physics-based models of the ionosphere, thermosphere, and electrodynamics. The project will focus on long-term ionospheric changes and observation and modeling of the space-atmosphere interaction region.