Collaborative Research: Common Volume Radar Observations of Irregular Sporadic E Layers

合作研究：不规则零星E层的共同体雷达观测

• 批准号: 0541593
• 负责人: Miguel Larsen
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Clemson University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0541593&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Common; Volume; Radar

This is a 4-year project to investigate mid-latitude sporadic E layers, layer irregularities, and so-called quasi-periodic (QP) echoes using the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar, its instrument cluster, and a new coherent scatter imaging radar to be deployed near the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) on St. Croix. A pilot study was carried out during the summer of 2002 which showed that the QP echoes arose from elongated, wavelike structures in sporadic E layers of the kind that has previously been observed at Arecibo and tentatively been associated with convection driven by neutral shear instabilities. Long-term, remote observations by the new autonomous radar in St. Croix will be used together with the Arecibo facility to assess the stability of the neutral mesosphere-lower-thermosphere (MLT) region, identifying the true cause of the layer structuring, and studying the plasma physics involved in producing the QP echoes. Sporadic E layers and irregularities drastically affect HF and VHF radio wave propagation so the project also has space weather relevance. The project will bring educational experiences in upper atmospheric research to the diverse undergraduate student body at UVI, as well as to graduate students at Cornell and Clemson University. Furthermore, the imaging radar on St. Croix will become part of the Arecibo facility and add to the capabilities of the Incoherent Scatter Radar and optical instrumentation. It will add coherent scatter capabilities to the Arecibo Observatory instrument cluster, accessible by the community for studies of sporadic E, mid-latitude spread F, and meteor echoes, among other topics of general interest. This is a multi-institution proposal with co-investigators and students from Cornell, Clemson, and UVI participating.

这是一个为期 4 年的项目，旨在使用阿雷西博非相干散射雷达及其仪表组和即将部署的新型相干散射成像雷达来研究中纬度零星 E 层、层不规则性和所谓的准周期 (QP) 回波。部署在圣克罗伊岛维尔京群岛大学 (UVI) 附近。 2002 年夏天进行的一项试点研究表明，QP 回波源自零星 E 层中的细长波状结构，这种结构以前曾在阿雷西博观察到，并暂时与中性剪切不稳定性驱动的对流有关。圣克罗伊岛的新型自主雷达的长期远程观测将与阿雷西博设施一起使用，以评估中性中间层-下层热层（MLT）区域的稳定性，确定层结构的真正原因，并研究产生 QP 回波所涉及的等离子体物理学。零星的 E 层和不规则性极大地影响了 HF 和 VHF 无线电波的传播，因此该项目还具有空间天气相关性。 该项目将为 UVI 的多元化本科生群体以及康奈尔大学和克莱姆森大学的研究生带来高层大气研究的教育经验。此外，圣克罗伊岛的成像雷达将成为阿雷西博设施的一部分，并增加非相干散射雷达和光学仪器的功能。它将为阿雷西博天文台仪器群增加相干散射功能，社区可以使用该功能来研究零星 E、中纬度扩散 F 和流星回波以及其他普遍感兴趣的主题。这是一项多机构提案，来自康奈尔大学、克莱姆森大学和 UVI 的共同研究者和学生参与。