Russian Auroral and Polar Ionospheric Disturbance Magnetometers (RapidMag)

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

The auroral electrojet (AE) indices are valuable parameters in studying the dynamics of the magnetosphere and in monitoring currents flowing in the polar ionosphere. The objective of the proposed investigation is production of near-real-time AE indices through rapid transfer of data from magnetometers located in the Russian sector of the auroral zone. The RapidMag project will be executed by relying upon the existing framework of international collaboration, PUREAS, with participants from Russia, Japan, and US. RapidMag will provide support for the operation of the 6 existing magnetometers and transmission of the data from the stations. The magnetometer systems will be upgraded to improve their reliability in the natural environment unique to northern Russia. The AE indices will become available with little time delay and will be of higher quality than the currently available indices due to reduced longitudinal spacing between magnetometer sites. This improvement will benefit the studies of magnetospheric substorms and related phenomena. In addition to basic research on the dynamics of the magnetosphere, the near-real-time AE indices will be useful parameters in now-casting space weather conditions. The indices will be used as input to various empirical and theoretical models to specify space weather.