Establishing a Subauroral Geophysical Observatory for Space Physics and Radio Science at Gakona, Alaska

University Of Alaska Fairbanks Campus, Fairbanks AK

Investigators

Abstract

Aurora Borealis, commonly referred to as Northern Lights, is an intriguing phenomenon to scientists and the public. While the Aurora is normally restricted to high-latitude polar regions, it can expand and contract in response to geomagnetic activity. This award will address a gap in knowledge about the Aurora and related science resulting from the lack of comprehensive measurements at lower latitudes through the support for a Subauroral Geophysical Observatory (SAGO). In addition to addressing key scientific questions, the award will support summer schools that facilitate training of the early careers and students, promote skilled workforce development, and empower national security activities through advancing knowledge of ionospheric disturbances that impact radio communications. The centerpiece of the Subauroral Geophysical Observatory is the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), the most capable and powerful High Frequency (HF) transmitter in the world. SAGO will be operated as a community research facility with routine operation of scientific diagnostic instrumentation and with the HAARP transmitters running in campaign mode periodically for a few days at a time. This project will progress our knowledge of several interesting topics that include (a) proton aurora that results from proton precipitation and can be a significant contributor to diffuse aurora, questions remain about what magnetospheric processes are responsible for the variable fluxes that result in these phenomena; (b) Subauroral Polarization Streams (SAPS), which refers to the broad, persistent, poleward-directed electric field that drives sunward plasma convection at subauroral latitudes in the evening local time sector. The exact relationship between SAPS and storm-enhanced densities are still not well understood, (c) generation of extremely low frequencies and very low frequencies radio emissions by modulating the auroral features and plasma instabilities occurring at ionospheric altitudes, (d) the injection of the waves into the magnetosphere to observe their interaction with energetic particles in the radiation-belts, (e) explore nonlinear effects in the plasma. 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.