Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
1517 The University of Texas at Arlington (143405)
Principal Investigator: Yue Deng,yuedeng@uta.edu,(817) 272-2460
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 990,568
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): Yes
Start and End Dates: 8/25/22 - 3/31/24
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Department of Physics
Department, Center, School, or Institute: none
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: Study of multi-scale forcing impact on the I-T system: Support from physical models and observations
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
CFDA: 43
Program Title: B.15 Geospace Dynamics Constellation Interdisciplinary Scientists
Note:
(SAM Category 1.1.1.) To contribute to the exciting GDC mission opportunity, we will utilize both physical models and observations to support the following tasks: 1. Mission-specified tasks: A) Refinement of the constellation configuration and mission requirements. We propose significant GITM simulation efforts utilizing different specifications of high-latitude electrodynamic forcing to inform what satellite configuration is needed to address the GDC science objectives. We will identify the critical spatial and temporal scales of forcing and I-T structures using ground-based observations and simulations. Those scales will inform what satellite separation and revisit time are required to resolve those important structures. Virtual satellites will be used to optimize GDC observations, identify limitations, and evaluate capabilities for addressing the GDC objectives. B) Calibration, validation, and verification. Our team has the expertise to help calibrate, validate and verify GDC measurements using com- plementary observations. A) Cal/Val: Incoherent Scatter Radars (ISRs) provide the ”ground truth” of plasma temperature, plasma density and thermal ion velocity at 300-400 km altitudes. B) Verification: ASI, SuperDARN, GNSS TEC, FPI and other ground-based observations will provide measurements of multi-scale I-T variations over a large spatial domain with temporal evolution and will help verify the physical connections be- tween forcing and I-T disturbances. C) Data products and formats. Our team’s modeling and data analysis experience can inform what data products are needed to fulfill the GDC science objectives and maximize the science return. Specifically, ionospheric con- ductance and Joule heating are critical parameters for achieving GDC science goals, but cannot be measured and are not listed as GDC primary and secondary parameters. They can be calculated with reasonable accuracy and precision by combining the measurements across the science pay- loads with realistic model simulations. Additionally, the altitudinal profiles of conductivity, Joule heating, and GDC primary/secondary parameters will be available from GITM simulations, which will provide a global context for the GDC observations. We propose to generate those new data products of community interests and overall GDC science significance. 2. IDS-specific tasks: A) Analysis techniques and tools. The team has developed many relevant techniques, including reconstructing 2-D TEC map using machine learning SNP-GAN model, estimating the neutral wind acceleration from observations and generating particle precipitation and local ion-convection maps from ground-based data. B) Physical models. GITM is the first 3-D non-hydrostatic general circulation model (GCM) for the upper atmosphere. We will fundamentally improve its capabilities for multi-scale simulations through upgrading the grid structures, enhancing forcing specification and including meso-scale related physical pro- cesses. The coupling with ASHLEY, SWMF and ground-based observations will greatly enhance the specification of high-latitude forcing in GITM. Further model development will enable the transition of models for operational uses. 3. Impact: The project aims to provide system-wide observations and modeling to improve the specification of the energy and momentum input into the I-T system, and to determine how the system responds to these input at different scales, which will be critical to support the mission plan- ning and operation, and to maximize the mission science return. We will create a new platform, ”Support from Observations and PHysIcs modEls” (SOPHIE), providing an interface for the data injection, sharing simulations for virtual satellites and global context from the modeling frame- work, and releasing the scientific software and tools to support the GDC mission.
Discussion: No discussion notes