Long Term Observations of the Arctic Upper Atmosphere using the Kodiak SuperDARN Radar

University Of Alaska Fairbanks Campus, Fairbanks AK

Investigators

Abstract

The overall goal of this project is to continue the operations of the Kodiak SuperDARN Radar. The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network, or SuperDARN, is an international collaborative experiment for observations of plasma motions in Earth's upper atmosphere. By observing ionospheric plasma motions, a multitude of geophysical processes can be studied. These processes range from E-region plasma instabilities, to the relationships between auroral luminosity and electric fields, to the global-scale convective response to changes in the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field. Each of these areas of study contributes to the overall goals of space physics: developing an understanding of the coupling of energy from the solar wind into Earth's upper atmosphere and its effects on man or manmade systems. The Kodiak radar is particularly well suited for studies of he general areas to be addressed are convection observations, substorm processes, dayside transients, reconnection features at the cusp, mesospheric winds observed in meteor scatter, gravity waves, and thermosphere-ionosphere interactions, and these will be supported by this award. The SuperDARN network comprises nine radars in the northern hemisphere, and seven radars in the southern hemisphere, each operated independently by the member institutions, and supported by the national agencies in their countries of residence. As is the nature of such networks, data from the SuperDARN network are used in such a wide variety of studies by such a wide range of scientists that it is prohibitive to produce a comprehensive list of the topics.