Collaborative Research: CEDAR: Modeling and Observation of Secondary Gravity Waves in the Thermosphere and Ionosphere Generated from Deep Convection

合作研究：CEDAR：深对流产生的热层和电离层次级重力波的建模和观测

• 批准号: 1552315
• 负责人: Sharon Vadas
• 金额: $ 35.54万
• 依托单位: NorthWest Research Associates, Incorporated
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-06-15 至 2021-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1552315&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; CEDAR; Modeling; Observation

This grant will support an effort to enhance the understanding of the formation processes for ionospheric plasma wave structures seen in regional distributions of Total Electron Content (TEC) events that exhibit circular patterns. These events are believed to be generated by deep convective processes within thunderstorm systems that launch gravity wave structures into the upper atmosphere region of 60 to 100 km where strong viscous dissipation of these wave packets occurs. Part of the wave energy of these primary waves is transformed into the production of secondary waves that are able to propagate higher into the region of atmospheric heights above 200 km. Here, the interaction of these waves with the ionospheric plasma (pushing or pulling plasma along magnetic field lines) would then generate structures called Traveling Ionosphere Disturbances (TIDs) that are so often seen in TEC data. The primary objective of the research is to compare the observed concentric TEC perturbations with those calculated from realistic modeling of the primary and secondary GWs from deep convection in order to strengthen and validate the models for the calculation of these TID structures. A secondary objective would be to utilize the amplitudes and scales of the observed secondary GWs to probe the dynamics of the 'dark' (but highly variable) region near 125-225 km where most of the primary GWs dissipate. A satisfactory explanation of these TID events in terms of gravity wave processes by reference to the successful modeling of the formation of these structures has never been achieved. Thus, the funded research has a significant potential for providing an enhanced understanding of the properties of these circular TID events that relate to the heating and cooling processes associated with the dissipation and transformation of the primary wave structure into the secondary wave output. Significant societal impact and transformative research outcomes for this award are expected to be achieved as a result of the success in modeling these circular TID events. Because GWs cause scintillation and plasma bubbles that can disrupt satellite communication and GPS signals, this study may lead to better predictions for the occurrence of these phenomena, which is nationally relevant. In order to enhance scientific understanding for the general public, the researcher will disseminate broadly the results via a web site, conference talks, and journal publications. Finally, this project would support the research of a woman scientist (PI).

该赠款将支持一项努力，以增强对显示圆形模式的总电子含量（TEC）事件的区域分布中的电离层等离子体波结构的理解。人们认为，这些事件是由雷暴系统中的深对流程过程产生的，这些过程将重力波结构发射到60至100 km的上层大气区域，在这些波浪中发生了强烈的粘性耗散。这些主要波的一部分波能被转化为二级波的产生，这些波能够传播到200 km以上的大气高度区域。在这里，这些波与电离层等离子体的相互作用（沿磁场线推动或拉动等离子体）会产生称为行进电离层干扰（TIDS）的结构，这些结构在TEC数据中经常出现。 该研究的主要目的是将观察到的同心TEC扰动与从深对流的主要和次级GW的现实建模计算出的同心TEC扰动，以加强和验证模型以计算这些TID结构。 次要目标是利用观察到的次级GW的振幅和尺度来探测“黑暗”（但高度可变）区域的动力学，附近大多数主要GWS消散。 从未实现这些结构形成的成功建模，从重力波过程中对这些TID事件的令人满意的解释从未实现。因此，资助的研究具有重要的潜力，可以增强对这些圆形TID事件的性质的理解，这些事件与与主要波浪结构向二次波输出相关的加热和冷却过程有关。由于成功建模这些循环的潮汐事件，预计将实现该奖项的重大社会影响和变革性研究成果。由于GWS引起闪烁和血浆气泡会破坏卫星通信和GPS信号，因此这项研究可能会更好地预测这些现象的发生，这在全国范围内相关。为了增强对公众的科学理解，研究人员将通过网站，会议谈判和期刊出版物在广泛传播结果。最后，该项目将支持女科学家（PI）的研究。