Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Coordinated radar studies of the Arctic and Antarctic middle and upper atmosphere during IPY-4 period (CRSAAMU)  (Radar studies of the Arctic and Antarctic middle and upper atmosphere)

Outline
The polar middle and upper atmosphere is a key region to study global change in that it is closely coupled to magnetosphere from above which is subject to solar wind and short-wave radiation and to lower atmosphere dynamically where various climatic changes are taking place excited by major insolation and meteorological processes. In addition, signals from lower atmosphere tend to be amplified in a rarefied higher altitude region. Hence coordinated Arctic and Antarctic radar studies are crucial in understanding inherent scenarios which spread out in altitude and global in nature.The Upper Atmosphere Group of NIPR has intensively been working on EISCAT radar, SuperDARN HF, MF and meteor radars at higher latitudes on an international collaborative basis. Also an Antarctic area MST-IS radar is now under feasibility study toward IPY2007-2008 for future bi-polar studies with EISCAT and other MST radars in the Arctic. Scientific issues to be pursued by NIPR and collaborators by these radar studies involve aurora substorm, aurora conjugacy in the higher upper atmosphere, plasma-neutral coupling, tide and gravty waves in the upper down to middle atmosphere, and ozone and PSC in the lower atmosphere in view of dynamical coupling between atmospheric layers and asymmetry between Arctic and Antarctic regions.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The polar middle and upper atmosphere is a region where plasma and neutral phenomena with various time and spatial scales are taking place interacting with each other. The current project is aiming at a comprehensive study under international collaborations using radar data with high time and spatial resolutions covering the whole polar region to fully understand the polar atmosphere. Interaction mechanisms between small and large scale atmospheric phenomena such as gravity waves, atmospheric tides, and background circulation is one of the major scientific targets of this project.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International scientific collaboration is highly crucial in this project. The EISCAT and SuperDARN radars have been maintained based on an international agreement involving several western and Asian countries. The meteor radars have been operated under the collaboration between NIPR and the university of Tromso.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
In the Arctic several radars in Scandinavian countries play a key role in this project. In the Antarctic region MF radars operated at several stations on the coast of the Antarctica are involved.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
All the radars other than the Antarctic MST/IS radar project under feasibility studies have been already constructed and been operated at existing field stations under the maintenance effort by corresponding project members and collaborators.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The existing radar facilities will not leave further infrastructure.The Antarctic MST/IS radar system, still under feasibility studies, will be newly constructed at Syowa station when it is funded.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project is one of the major projects authorized in NIPR.

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

For this project some of the radars involved were newly constructed in the last couple of years. IPY 2007-2008 is a suitable period for a comprehensive study of the polar atmosphere using the accumulated several years of data as a climatological reference.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project is organized as one of principal projects at National Institute of Polar Research. The research funds so far are mainly from NIPR and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of Japan Society of Promotion of Science. Core group members including staff of NIPR and of national universities lead the project.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
For EISCAT and SuperDARN radars data management and distribution to new contributors have been already well organized. As for the meteor and MF radars, NIPR is ready to collaborate with new contributors as one the national centers for cooperative studies.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
To apply national funding agencies of Japanese government.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Takehiko Aso
Kaga 1-9-10
Itabashi
Tokyo
173-8515
Japan

Tel: +81-3-3962-4756
Mobile: no
Fax: +81-3-3962-4756
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation