Studies of Atmospheric Processes Using Imaging Science Techniques

地球上层大气的不同区域承载着不同的过程和现象。在磁赤道附近，电离气体或等离子体经常发展成高度结构化的羽流形式，而在更靠近两极的地方，要么是稳定的，要么是行进的大规模等离子体结构。许多这些高层大气现象具有无线电和光学特征，无线电通信信道受到等离子体结构的不利影响。通过对高层大气现象的光学特征的观测，特别是在由同一地磁力线连接的相反半球的多个地点（磁共轭位置），可以了解到很多关于其起源和影响的信息。这项工作将利用由波士顿大学先前部署和目前运行的11台光学成像仪组成的全球网络，并将重点放在提高对以下三种现象的理解上：(1)低磁纬度地区的结构等离子体羽流，(2)中纬度地区的中等尺度旅行扰动，以及(3)亚极光纬度地区稳定的极光红弧和相关光学现象。该研究将检查地磁场结构在不同纬度和经度的高层大气过程中产生半球间不对称的作用。它将进一步调查导致从赤道和亚极光地区侵入美国大多数人口居住的中纬度地区的条件，以及所产生的结构的相关影响。此外，本研究将研究亚极光光学结构的特性和磁共轭性。这项工作将通过利用南非、墨西哥和欧洲的成像光学观测和科学合作者以及加拿大、美国、欧洲和新西兰的公民科学家，促进国际合作。调查人员将为奥布莱恩数学与科学学院（O 'Bryant School for Mathematics and Science）提供客座讲座，并担任评委，这所7至12年级的波士顿公立学校拥有大量少数族裔人口，从而为未被充分代表的少数族裔提供更多STEM教育机会。最后，该项目将通过支持和参与现场观测和光学图像处理的学生和早期职业博士后研究人员来发展STEM劳动力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

Different regions of the Earth’s upper atmosphere host different processes and phenomena. Near the magnetic equator, ionized gas or plasma often develops into highly structured plume forms, while closer to the poles either stable or traveling large-scale plasma structures occur. Many of these upper atmospheric phenomena have both radio and optical signatures, with radio communication channels being adversely affected by the plasma structures. Much can be learned about origins and impacts of upper atmospheric phenomena from observations of their optical signatures, particularly at multiple locations in the opposite hemispheres connected by the same geomagnetic field line (magnetically conjugate locations). The work will utilize the global network of 11 optical imagers previously deployed and currently operated by Boston University and focus on improved understanding of three phenomena: (1) structured plasma plumes at low magnetic latitudes, (2) medium-scale traveling disturbances at middle latitudes, and (3) stable auroral red arcs and related optical phenomena at subauroral latitudes. The research will examine the role of the geomagnetic field configuration in producing inter-hemispheric asymmetries in upper atmospheric processes at different latitudes and longitudes. It will further investigate conditions leading to intrusions from equatorial and subauroral regions into middle latitudes, where most of the U.S. population resides, and the associated effects of the generated structures. Furthermore, this research will examine characteristics and magnetic conjugacy of subauroral optical structures. The work will foster international cooperation by leveraging imaging optical observations and science collaborators in South Africa, Mexico, and Europe as well as citizen scientists in Canada, US, Europe, and New Zealand. STEM educational opportunities for underrepresented minorities will be enhanced by investigators giving guest lectures and serving as judges for the O’Bryant School for Mathematics and Science, a grades 7-12 Boston Public School with a very large minority population. Finally, this project will develop STEM workforce by supporting and involving students and early-career postdoctoral researcher in field observations and optical image processing.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.