Thermospheric Estimation and CHaracterization with Nitric Oxide (TECHNO)

使用一氧化氮进行热层估计和表征 (TECHNO)

• 批准号: 2343844
• 负责人: Daniel Brandt
• 金额: $ 22.7万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-02-15 至 2027-01-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2343844&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Thermospheric; Estimation; CHaracterization; Nitric; Oxide

Auroras appear in the form of spectacular light displays usually at high latitudes and can occur either as discreet, continuous, or diffuse varieties. The different kinds of auroras have different generation mechanisms with the discreet appearing as “curtains” or well defined “ribbons or lines” in the sky, while the latter are visible as “fuzzy” structures from the ground. TECHNO (Thermospheric Estimation and Characterization with Nitric Oxide) aims at improving the modeling of aurora and probing in detail how the circulation in the upper atmosphere responds during magnetic storms. The methodology involves incorporating the physics and chemistry associated with discrete aurora in the Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (GITM) model, as it currently is limited to diffuse aurora. TECHNO will investigate how the circulation of the upper atmosphere changes during magnetic storms by looking at how key chemical components of the atmosphere, Nitric Oxide (NO) varies seasonally and how it is related to changes in the aurora and the polar vortex. Investigating these issues is crucial to improving forecasts of the aurora that directly impact HF radio communication and GPS/GNSS satellite navigation, as well as changes in the density of the upper atmosphere that affect the orbits of satellites and space debris in Low Earth Orbit. This inter-disciplinary work advances scientific knowledge and will support training of an early-career scientist.NO plays a significant role in the overall heat budget of the thermosphere due to its role in radiative cooling via infrared emissions. Thus, it is one of the processes that govern the distribution of energy and momentum in the ionosphere-thermosphere system. The other factors include intensification of (a) discreet aurora during increased particle precipitation and (b) meridional winds due to increased pressure gradients. The main objective of the work is to investigate the changes in NO concentrations caused by the polar vortex variability and discreet aurora. The second goal is to quantify the model uncertainties in temperature and densities as it relates to NO. The methodology comprises use of various ionospheric models (GITM, MAGNIT), simulations of storms using GITM, validation with the satellite data sets. The project will conclude with a study of how the uncertainties in auroral energy and increased downward flux affect variations in the resulting neutral density and temperature. Relevance of this research to both GEM and CEDAR programs will enhance collaborations between these two scientific communities.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.

极光通常以壮观的光显示形式出现在高纬度地区，可以以离散、连续或扩散的形式出现。不同类型的极光具有不同的生成机制，离散的极光表现为“窗帘”或明确的“丝带或线条”。 ” 在天空中，而后者在地面上是可见的“模糊”结构。 TECHNO（一氧化氮热层估计和表征）旨在改进极光的建模并详细探究如何进行。该方法涉及将与离散极光相关的物理和化学纳入全球电离层-热层模型（GITM）模型中，因为目前该模型仅限于弥散极光研究。通过观察大气中的关键化学成分一氧化氮（NO）如何随季节变化以及它与极光和极地涡旋的变化之间的关系，了解磁暴期间高层大气的变化。对于改善直接影响高频无线电通信和 GPS/GNSS 卫星导航的极光预报以及影响近地轨道卫星和空间碎片轨道的高层大气密度变化至关重要。这项工作增进了科学知识，并将支持对早期职业科学家的培训。由于一氧化氮在通过红外发射进行辐射冷却中发挥着重要作用，因此它在热层的总体热预算中发挥着重要作用。因此，它是控制热层的过程之一。能量分布其他因素包括 (a) 粒子降水增加期间的离散极光和 (b) 由于压力梯度增加而导致的经向风的增强。由极涡变化和离散极光引起的第二个目标是量化与 NO 相关的温度和密度模型不确定性。 MAGNIT），使用 GITM 进行风暴模拟，并使用卫星数据集进行验证，该项目将研究极光能量的不确定性和增加的向下通量如何影响由此产生的中性密度和温度的变化。 GEM 和 CEDAR 计划将加强这两个科学界之间的合作。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。