RAPID: Rejuvenation of the University of New Hampshire (UNH)'s Neutron Monitor Network

这一为期一年的快速项目旨在支持新汉普郡大学(UNH)网络的持续运营和全面复兴，该网络由三个中子监测站组成：华盛顿山、达勒姆、新汉普郡和科罗拉多州莱德维尔的山顶。这三个空间站很重要，因为它们能够用一个可以追溯到六个太阳周期的数据库进行长期的宇宙线调制研究。NMS是日球层物理的传统主力仪器。由于它们的简单性、坚固性和对错误调整的容忍性，它们记录了半个多世纪以来无数的瞬时现象，即地面水平增强(GLE)和福布什下降(FD)。它们还被用来监测全球银河系宇宙线强度，作为太阳引起的日光层活动的一种衡量标准，还被用来量化日光层内宇宙射线传输的动力学。例如，在几个太阳周期内进行这些测量，揭示了22年来依赖于电荷符号的日球层漂移。当把国家气象局的全球网络作为一个单一的磁谱仪处理时，这些现象的宇宙射线谱可以测量到从高纬度的大气截止硬度到近20 GV的赤道站的地磁截止。UNH拥有并运营着这个网络中的三个电台。第四个(高潮)已奄奄一息，第五个(毛伊岛)已无可挽回地退役。该项目的目的是使三台运行中的UNH中子监测仪恢复到完全运行状态，并支持其运行一年。这一为期一年的快速项目允许进行时间紧迫的硬件修复(控制器和气压计)、数据处理和记录、逾期维护以及与主办组织的合同安排。尤其紧迫的是，莱德维尔站完全返回，以取代以前由顶峰监控器产生的数据流。这些NM数据以及全球网络中其他仪器的NM数据对于解释航天器数据和集体测量GLE至关重要。其他调查员对其中一项或多项文书数据的部分满足请求说明了这些文书对系统的重要性。该项目提供了在2018年年底前使所有三个空间站达到标准的手段。这三个空间站很重要，因为它们能够用一个可以追溯到六个太阳周期的数据库进行长期的宇宙线调制研究。它们对GLE研究也很重要，为Pamela和AMS等测量提供了“地面真相”。该项目团队的Pamela研究表明，为了充分理解和解释基于空间的测量，NM测量是必要的。该项目帮助支持非营利性的华盛顿山天文台，这是整个新英格兰社区的气象和科学资源。对于国际社会来说，它使得在一个事件的脉冲各向异性阶段与NMS进行GLES的频谱分析成为可能。对于南极仪器来说，这是可能的，但极地BARE的屈服函数非常不同。华盛顿山和达勒姆山提供的北半球功能是对南极系统的补充和补充。它为本科生提供了一种教育体验，他们现在正在重新格式化来自所有三台仪器的NM数据，并将这些数据导出到实时中子监测数据库(NMDB)。这个快速项目的研究议程支持AGS部门在发现、学习、多样性和跨学科研究方面的战略目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This one-year RAPID project is aimed at supporting the continued operations and the full rejuvenation of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) network comprised of three neutron monitor (NM) sites: the summit of Mount Washington, Durham, New Hampshire and Leadville, Colorado. The three stations are important because they enable long-term cosmic-ray modulation studies with a data base dating back six Solar Cycles. The NMs are the legacy workhorse instruments for heliospheric physics. Because of their simplicity, ruggedness, and tolerance for mis-adjustment, they have registered numerous transient phenomena, i.e., ground level enhancements (GLE) and Forbush decreases (FD) for more than a half century. They have also been used to monitor the global galactic cosmic-ray intensity that has served as a measure of solar-induced heliospheric activity and has also been used to quantify the dynamics of the transport of cosmic rays within the heliosphere. Conducting these measurements over several Solar Cycles, for example, revealed the 22-year charge-sign dependent heliospheric drift. When treating the global network of NMs as a single magnetic spectrometer, the cosmic-ray spectrum of these phenomena can be measured from the atmospheric cutoff rigidity at high latitudes to almost 20 GV, the geomagnetic cut-off of the most equatorial station. UNH owns and operates three stations in this network. A fourth (Climax) is moribund, and a fifth (Maui), is irreparably decommissioned. The intent of this project is to return the three operating UNH neutron monitors to a complete operational status and support their operation for one year.This one-year RAPID project allows time-critical hardware fixes (controllers and barometers), data processing and recording, overdue maintenance and contractual arrangements with host organizations. Of particular urgency is the full return of the Leadville station to supplant the data stream formerly produced by the Climax monitor. These NM data, along with those of the other instruments in the global network, are critical to interpretation of spacecraft data and the collective measurements of GLEs. Partially filled requests from other investigators for data from one or more of these instruments illustrates their importance to the system. The project provides the means to bring all three stations up to standards by the end of 2018. The three stations are important because they enable long-term cosmic-ray modulation studies with a data base dating back six solar cycles. They are also important for GLE studies, providing "ground truth" for measurements such as PAMELA and AMS. The PAMELA studies by the project team indicate that to fully appreciate and interpret space-based measurements, NM measurements are necessary.This project helps support the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory, which is a meteorological and science resource for the entire New England community. For the international community, it enables the spectrum analysis of GLEs with NMs during impulsive anisotropic phases of an event. This is possible with the South Pole instruments, but the yield function of Polar PolarBARE is very different. A northern hemisphere functionality provided by Mount Washington and Durham complements and augments the South Pole system. It provides an educational experience for an undergraduate student, who is now re-formatting the NM data from all three instruments and exporting those data to the Real-time Neutron Monitor Database (NMDB). The research agenda of this RAPID project supports the Strategic Goals of the AGS Division in discovery, learning, diversity, and interdisciplinary research.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.