(DURIP) RADIO INTERFEROMETER FOR THUNDERSTORM STUDIES
Abstract
This project will construct a radio interferometer for thunderstorm studies (RIFTS) that will make a transformational impact on how we observe and study lightning. It will support the AFOSR Space Science Program’s objective to understand the physics and impact of the disruptive events in the Earth’s geospace environment and DoD’s science interest in lightning physics and effects for personnel safety, equipment protection, and operational reliability. A typical lightning radio frequency (RF) interferometer consists of three antennas sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in the 10-90 MHz frequency range. Through interferometry analysis of snippets of the time series recorded by the antennas, a sequence of radio images of lightning development can be obtained. These images are useful to study the in-cloud lightning activity because clouds are opaque to other signals such as optical light. Data collected by radio interferometers have allowed lightning researchers to make important discoveries recently. These include the identification of the physical mechanism of the lightning events that are the most powerful natural source of high frequency electromagnetic
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110366
Entities
People
- Ningyu Liu
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University System of New Hampshire