Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Interplanetary medium and geomagnetosphere diagnostics using polar cosmic ray stations  (POLACOR)

Outline
Earth is continuously bombarded by cosmic rays which are energetic particles of extra-terrestrial origin with energy above 100 MeV/nucleon. Because of the absence of the geomagnetic shielding effect, polar regions are mostly irradiated by cosmic rays which may affect ground- and satellite-based communication systems, long lines, polar routed commercial aircrafts, etc. On the other hand, it is the best possible place to study lower energy range of cosmic rays (below 1 GeV/nucleon) by means of ground based instruments. These lower energy cosmic rays are scattered by the local interstellar plasma turbulence and, therefore, allow for a remote study of the interstellar medium and its magnetic inhomogeneities. The existing network of polar cosmic ray stations has a long history of such studies. During the IPY we plan to coordinate the efforts of the following cosmic ray stations in the measuring short-term cosmic ray fluctuations (time resolution better than 10 sec) in relation to the interplanetary turbulence: Oulu, Finland (65.05 N, 25.5 E); Apatity (65.57 N, 33.4 E) and Barentsburg (78.05 N, 14.2 E), Russia; Tixie Bay (71.58 N, 128.92 E) and Yakutsk (62.03 N, 129.73 E), Russia. The data collected during this campaign should be analyzed to study the details of the interplanetary plasma turbulence features and magnetospheric structure. This will allow for a case study and, possibly, predictions of sporadic destructive events caused by interplanetary magnetic transients and solar energetic particles.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Polar regions are mostly affected by energtic cosmic particles which causes problems for many kinds of technological and human aspects. In order to be able to study the effects of outer space influence, one needs to study the reasons. This will potentialy lead to a possibility to produce a reliable system of radiation hazard warnings, which is very important for polar regions.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Measurements will be performed at: * University of Oulu, Finland; * Polar Geophysical Institute, Apatity, Russia; * Tixie Bay (71.58 N, 128.92 E) and Yakutsk (62.03 N, 129.73 E) Shafer Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Aeronomy, Yakutsk, Russia; In the data analysis will be involved also: * Institute for Experimental Physics, Slovakian Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovakia; * Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism and Aeronomy (IZMIRAN), Moscow, Russia; * The University of Bern, Switzerland.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Oulu (65.05 N, 25.5 E), Finland; Apatity, Russia (65.57 N, 33.4 E); Barentsburg, Svalbard (78.05 N, 14.2 E); Tixie Bay, Russia (71.58 N, 128.92 E); Yakutsk, Russia (62.03 N, 129.73 E)

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Permanent            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No special facilities are required. All observatories already exist.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
As a result of the project, a distributed database of high-resolution cosmic ray data is expected to be formed. This database will be continued after the end of the project and will be open to other related researches.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Own support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

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?
Expansion

The work on coordination of polar cosmic ray stations is already in progress, as it is imoprtant to integrate all data from individual stations into a unified database with the same data formats and specifications. The IPY project will allow to concentrate efforts in this field.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be self-managed. The project will start from a workshop where the precize formats, specifications and goals of the measurements will be performed. The database will be formed by the participants. The final workshop is foreseen in the end of the project.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project aims to involve graduate and undergraduate students in the measurement sites.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
See p. 3.2.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Through the national funding agencies (the Academy of Finland and the Russian Foundation of Basic Research)

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Ilya Usoskin
Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory (Oulu unit)
POB 3000
University of Oulu
90014
Finland

Tel: +358-8-5531377
Mobile: no
Fax: +358-8-5531303
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation