CEDAR: High-resolution Multistatic Mapping of Small-Scale Flow Structures in Earth's Auroral Thermosphere

CEDAR：地球极光热层小尺度流动结构的高分辨率多静态测绘

• 批准号: 1452333
• 负责人: Mark Conde
• 金额: $ 31.29万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-08-01 至 2020-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1452333&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CEDAR; resolution; Multistatic; Mapping; Small

This project will measure winds at ~250 km altitude in Earth?s auroral thermosphere. These winds remain poorly understood, especially at spatial scales spanning ~100 km or less. The project is based on the hypothesis that eddies and waves at horizontal length scales of ~100 km or less are important contributors to the dynamics of Earth?s auroral thermosphere and that their cumulative impact is important both for the basic physics of the thermosphere and for operational prediction of space weather. To determine small-scale flow structures, all seven of the Fabry-Perot spectrometers now in Alaska will be configured to focus their attention simultaneously onto one small geographic region roughly coinciding with the field of view of the PFISR radar. These instruments will simultaneously monitor thermospheric temperatures and wind vectors, producing two-dimensional maps of temperatures and 3-component vector winds, with a spatial resolution of around 80 km. The array will operate in this mode for three campaigns each lasting around two-months. To quantify the importance of small-scale eddies and waves in the thermosphere, the project will address three focused science questions: (1) What is the occurrence frequency, intensity, spectral distribution, and overall morphology of the small-scale eddies and waves in Alaska?s auroral thermosphere, for both quiet and active conditions? (2) Is it possible to identify the driver mechanisms and source regions for these small-scale features, based on timing of their occurrence relative to other measurements, the spatial alignment of their phase fronts, and the directions in which they?re propagating? (3) Is it possible to estimate the momentum flux and dissipation rates of these waves, based on the amplitudes, periods, and horizontal & vertical wavelengths of the temperature and 3-component wind perturbations, and on the time evolution of these quantities? This project will include training one graduate student, enhancing the research facility at Toolik Lake in Alaska, supporting rocket missions from Poker Flat, and bringing cutting-edge scientific research to remote Alaskan villages.

该项目将在地球的高度热圈中测量约250 km海拔的风。这些风仍然很少了解，尤其是在跨越约100公里或以下的空间尺度上。该项目基于以下假设：水平长度尺度的涡流和波浪是〜100 km或更小的降低，这是地球动力学动力学的重要贡献者，并且它们的累积影响对于热层的基本物理和空间天气的运行预测都很重要。为了确定小规模的流量结构，现在在阿拉斯加的Fabry-Perot光谱仪中的所有七个将配置为同时将注意力集中在一个与PFISR雷达的视野大致相吻合的小地理区域上。这些仪器将同时监测热圈温度和风向量，从而产生温度和三组分矢量风的二维图，空间分辨率约为80 km。该阵列将在此模式下进行三个活动，每个广告系列持续两个月。为了量化小规模涡流和波浪在热层中的重要性，该项目将解决三个重点的科学问题：（1）在阿拉斯加的Auroral热层中，对于安静和活跃的条件，在阿拉斯加的小型涡流和波浪中的出现频率，强度，光谱分布以及整体形态是什么？ （2）是否可以根据这些小规模特征的驱动机制和源区域，基于其发生的时间相对于其他测量值，其相位前部的空间比对以及它们重新传播的方向？ （3）是否可以根据温度的幅度，周期和水平和垂直波长来估计这些波的动量通量和耗散速率，以及这些数量的时间演变？该项目将包括培训一名研究生，加强阿拉斯加工具湖的研究机构，支持扑克公寓的火箭任务，并将尖端的科学研究带到偏远的阿拉斯加村庄。