Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #45:Probing the Space and Upper Atmospheric Polar Environments  (Probing the Space and Upper Atmospheric Polar Environments)

Outline
The polar regions contain Earth’s magnetic dipole poles, about which the interaction of the solar wind with Earth is centered. Large amounts of particle and magnetic energy are transferred from the solar wind and stored in Earth’s magnetosphere. This energy can be released in “magnetic storms” which can cause power blackouts and pipeline explosions, disrupt airline schedules, enhance radiation dosage to pilots and passengers, and interrupt radio communications to the north. Dangerous “space weather” conditions can destroy delicate satellite electronics, stopping satellite telecommunications and forcing astronauts to take special precautions. The polar region contains the “polar cap”, where the Earth’s magnetic field lines are connected directly to the magnetic field lines in the solar wind as a result of “magnetic reconnection”. Reconnection, a key astrophysical process in stars and magnetized planets such as Earth, is not well understood, but polar cap measurements provide important clues because reconnection occurs at the equatorward edge of the polar cap and produces distinct radar, magnetic and optical signatures. The polar regions also are the “cold zones” in Earth’s climate system. In the global climate balance, energy is transported from the equator to the poles by planetary waves and tides, winds and gravity waves. The polar cap is thus critical for both “space” and “normal” weather. In northern Canada, a network of ionosondes, magnetometers, optical imagers, photometers and riometers exists from the former CSA CANOPUS program, as well as many magnetometers from the NRCan Geomagnetics Laboratory. A modernized instrument expansion is being installed by the Canadian GeoSpace Monitoring (CGSM) team, which is closely allied with teams operating instrument networks in northern Europe and Antarctica. Widespread polar coverage (3.5 millions square kilometers) will result from the CGSM PolarDARN radars being installed at Rankin Inlet and Inuvik by the Canadian SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network) team, a part of the international SuperDARN community that operates 16 radars in both hemispheres (four of which are in the Antarctic, with four more under construction there). The PolarDARN radars will be ideal complements to the new US NSF Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR) project at Resolute Bay (2006), and they double as meteor radars so they also provide critical data about atmospheric processes. A coordinated effort to store and model the CGSM data revolves around FDAM (Facility for Data Assimilation and Modelling) at the U of A. The Canadian community also is embarking upon 3 satellite missions (all with international partners), namely e-POP, SWARM and THEMIS, that will make direct measurements from space of polar processes. In summary, from the ground and from space, the Canadian space science community will probe the northern polar region with an unprecedented resolution in a concerted attempt to understand the solar wind energy input to Earth and the subsequent effects on the environment and human activity.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The expected advances are a better understanding of: (a) the solar wind interaction with Earth through reconnection; (b) the transfer of solar wind energy into the space environment above the polar regions; (c) the effects of this energy input on space weather; (d) the effects of space weather on satellites, telecommunications and astronauts; (e) a greater understanding of magnetic storms and their ground effects such as damage to pipelines and power grids; (f) the effects of solar wind energy on weather and climate.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The CGSM PolarDARN project is a part of the international SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network) program, and is also closely related to the US AMISR (Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar) program at Resolute Bay. The CGSM magnetometer program is closely allied with the US MACCS program (sites in northern Quebec, Nunavut, and NWT) and the north European IMAGE program; the optical program of CGSM is closely allied to the north European MIRACLE program. The science team at the Facility for Data Assimilation and Modelling (FDAM) at the U of A work closely in their modeling of polar processes with the U of Michigan “BATS-R-US” team.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The CGSM PolarDARN radars at Rankin Inlet and Inuvik will have 16 beams each, covering 3.5 million square kilometers of the polar ionosphere above the Arctic Islands. CGSM and NRCan instruments (magnetometers, ionosondes, optical imagers) will operate throughout the north, at Alert, Eureka, Resolute Bay, Cambridge Bay, Sachs Harbour, Taloyoak, Inuvik, Rankin Inlet, Contwoyto Lake, Fort Simpson, Baker Lake, Eskimo Point, and Yellowknife. Two AMISR radar “faces” will be at Resolute Bay. The e-POP, THEMIS and SWARM satellites will fly above the polar regions.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: mm/05-mm/09            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Research buildings (20-foot ship containers) and electrical power have been installed (summer, 2004) at the Inuvik and Rankin Inlet sites, with the radars and other instruments to be installed during 2005-07. We will work closely with the Aurora College (Andrew Applejohn) at Inuvik and the Arctic College (Mike Shouldice) at Rankin Inlet.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes, we have had power lines and the buildings installed at Rankin and Inuvik, and when we leave, these 20-foot ship containers that house the instruments could be left for other Arctic research projects, if needed.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

We need to hire operators for the radars and other CGSM instruments in both Rankin and Inuvik. Andrew Applejohn (Aurora College, Inuvik) has offered to do this as an Aurora College activity, and we have identified several possible candidates at Rankin, where we already have hired a technical assistant. High-speed microwave modem links to local internet providers will be used to monitor the radars and transmit radar data. Satellite data links may be used for other instruments.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes. This project is funded by three different Canadian agencies – NSERC, the Canadian Space Agency and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. There is also a C$75,000 grant from the US NSF for the Inuvik PolarDARN radar. The CGSM program has many international partners, particularly groups running major programs in Europe, the Antarctic and the US. The CGSM PolarDARN radars are a part of the large international SuperDARN program, which has 16 operating radars, 9 in the northern and 7 in the southern hemisphere. Another 15 radars are planned, 9 of which are totally or partially funded (including PolarDARN and four new Antarctic radars). Nationally, the CGSM project is allied with the Canadian Space Agency, the NRCan Geomagnetics Division and the NRC DRAO (Dominion Radio Astrophysical Lab) at Penticton. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: SUB-THEME: Polar Regions as Observatories of the Universe

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
YES
Under the banner of the Canadian GeoSpace Monitoring (CGSM) program (which includes elements of the CSA, NRCan Geomagnetic and the DRAO Penticton solar 10.7 flux programs), this IPY proposal integrates components of many international programs, namely the SuperDARN program, the US AMISR program, the IMAGE and MIRACLE programs in Europe and the U of Michigan modeling program (“BATS-R-US”).

How will the project be organised and managed?
The CGSM is managed by a Supervisory Group (SVG) whose chair (and leader of the optical imager and riometer programs) is Dr. Eric Donovan of the U of Calgary. The other SVG members include Dr. Sofko (leader of the Canadian SuperDARN team), who will coordinate this IPY effort, Dr. Ian Mann (CGSM magnetometer program leader), Dr. Robert Rankin (CGSM leader of FDAM and the Space Data Portal), Dr. John MacDougall (CGSM CADI ionosonde leader), and well as government members Dr. W Liu (CSA), Dr. David Boteler (NRCan) and Dr. Ken Tapping (DRAO). The CGSM meets regularly, either at national meetings of the Canadian space community, and through phone or e-mail meetings. The SuperDARN community holds Annual International Workshops, the latest in Canada in Saskatoon, May 24-28, 2004. The AMISR project is led by Dr. John Kelly of SRI in Menlo Park, California; there are two Canadian AMISR Co-Investigators, Dr. J.-P. St.Maurice (U of Sask) and Dr. Donovan; the PolarDARN pr! ogram will be coordinated closely with AMISR (the NSF has given $75,000 towards the Inuvik PolarDARN radar construction).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Initially, we have established contact with the Aurora College science leader Andrew Applejohn in Inuvik and Arctic College leader Mike Shouldice in Rankin Inlet. We will work with them to contribute talks, radio/TV interviews, and educational materials, and to hire local personnel to help run the instruments.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The CGSM data from all instruments, including SuperDARN, ultimately will be assembled for the Canadian team at The Space Science Data Portal, run in conjunction with FDAM, the Facility for Data Assimilation and Modelling, and WestGrid at the U of Alberta (Dr. Robert Rankin). SuperDARN data from all 16 international radars initially are sent to either Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (northern hemisphere) or British Antarctic Survey (southern hemisphere), after which all the data are transmitted to the U of Sask for copying and distribution to all international participants.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Rankin Inlet radar is funded by a $350,000 CFI grant to CRC Dr. Jean-Pierre St. Maurice. The Inuvik radar is partially funded by a $75,000 US NSF grant and $35,000 from the Koustov/Sofko Team Discovery NSERC grant; the remaining $240,000 is being sought. CRCs Eric Donovan (U of C) and Ian Mann (U of A) have CFI grants of $750,000 and $1.3 M, respectively, for new magnetometer and optical CGSM instruments. A $54 k NSERC Equipment Grant to Drs. Hussey and MacDougall will fund a new Inuvik ionosonde. CGSM operations are funded (~$1.2 M per year) by CSA contracts, supplemented by NSERC MFA funds (~$144 k/y) to the Canadian SuperDARN team.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
It is very likely that an international SuperDARN IPY application also will be made, led by Dr. Mervyn Freeman of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The SuperDARN radars are widespread at high latitudes and the polar regions in both hemispheres. It is important to note that there are already 4 operating radars in Antarctica, namely Halley Bay (BAS), Sanae (South Africa), and two at Syowa (Japanese Inst. of Polar Research). Four more are funded, namely South Pole (US – UA Fairbanks), Concordia Base (two radars – ESA funding to France, Italy), and Zhongshan (Chinese Inst. for Polar Research in Shanghai).

PROPOSER DETAILS

George Sofko
Institute for Space and Atmospheric Studies,
Dept. of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan
116 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5E2
Canada

Tel: (306) 966-6444
Mobile:
Fax: (306) 966-6400
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