INVESTIGATION OF THE LONGITUDINAL DEPENDECE OF IONOSPHERIC DENSITY DISTRIBUTION AND ITS DRIVING MECHANISMS
Abstract
This proposal seeks funding to renew the successful AFOSR funded AMBER project and to investigate the physical processes that control the day-to-day and longitudinal dependence of equatorial ionospheric irregularities. We propose to establish two new AMBER sites at Kwajalein and Christmas Island to understand the longitudinal and day-to-day variability of the global dayside drift by filling the gaps of the missing temporal observation of vertical drift in the pacific sector. The AMBER project has demonstrated successful achievements both in terms of scientific and societal impacts. Although much has been learned about the dynamics and structure of equatorial ionospheric irregularities, several important questions still remain. The main objective of this proposal is to address the following fundamental science questions that include: (1) what causes the longitudinal differences of the vertical drift? (2) What controls the formation of the dayto- day and longitudinal variability of density irregularities? (3) What causes the strong and discrete post-midnight bubbles? This study will combine multi-instrument (both ground- and space-based) observations of different parameters (density irregularities, vertical drifts, neutral winds, and forcing from below like gravity waves) at different longitudes to address these fundamental questions. Addressing these fundamental problems will allow us to understand the physical processes for the development of bottomside density structures that are crucial for over the horizon (OTH) HF communication, which is one of the prime objectives of AFOSR, and to better understand the dominant parameters for the formation of strong longitudinal dependence of density irregularities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010119
Entities
People
- K. M. Groves
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Boston College
- United States Air Force