Multi-Scale Dynamics Studies Using the Drake Antarctic Agile Meteor Radar

地球的分层大气层从地表延伸到约100公里的高度，由最低层-对流层组成，然后向上延伸通过中间层和低热层，其中包括一层强烈电离的空气，称为电离层（MLTI）。由于大气扰动引起的海洋，陆地和山脉的地球景观，重力（或内部）波（GW）产生的准周期振荡最熟悉的波状云图案。该项目旨在通过实验研究大气重力波向上传播并通过中间层远距离传播到热层并以某种方式影响电离层时的作用。在南美洲上空存在一个著名的重力波活动的主要“热点”？南安第斯山脉、南极半岛和位于这些大陆之间并连接太平洋和大西洋的德雷克海峡。这个热点是由该地区的主要GW源提供的，包括高山，强烈的急流和强有力的锋面天气系统。该奖项将恢复德雷克南极敏捷METEOR雷达（DrAAMER），该雷达于2010年部署在巴西南极站Comandante Ferraz。该雷达恢复后，将与另一个流星雷达SAAMER一起沿着用于各种观测，SAAMER部署在阿根廷南部。这些观测将用于研究德雷克海峡上空较低高度产生的大气波的耦合和动力学，然后传播到中间层、低热层和电离层区域。该研究解决了不同科学界高度关注和相关的主题，特别是为天气预报和气候建模定义更准确的MLTI动力学参数。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

The Earth's layered atmosphere extends from the surface to the altitudes of about 100 km, consisting of the most lower layer - troposphere, and then extending up through the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, which includes a layer of strongly ionizes air called ionosphere (MLTI). Due to atmospheric perturbations caused by the underlying Earth's landscape of ocean, land, and mountains, the gravity (or internal) waves (GW) are generated with quasi-periodic oscillations most familiar as the wave-like cloud patterns. This project seeks to experimentally investigate the role of atmospheric gravity waves while they propagate up and at distance through the mesosphere to thermosphere, and affect in some way the ionosphere. A well-known major 'hotspot' of gravity waves activity exists over the South America?s Andes, Antarctic Peninsula, and Drake Passage located between these landmasses and connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This hotspot is fed by major GW sources in this region that include high mountains, strong jet streams, and the passage of vigorous frontal weather systems. The award will reinstate the Drake Antarctic Agile MEteor Radar (DrAAMER) that was deployed at the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz in 2010. Upon reinstatement, the radar will be employed in diverse observations along with another meteor radar, SAAMER, deployed in Southern Argentina. These observations will be used for studies of the coupling and dynamics of atmospheric waves generated at lower altitudes over the Drake Passage and then propagating into the mesosphere, lower thermosphere, and ionosphere regions. This research addresses topics that are of high interest and relevance to diverse scientific communities, especially for defining more accurate parameterizations of the MLTI dynamics for the weather prediction and climate modeling.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.