An Arctic Winter Balloon Campaign to Study Mechanisms of Relativistic Electron Precipitation

Investigator(s):

Robyn Millan (PI) ; Michael McCarthy (Co-PI)

Sponsor:

Dartmouth College, NH 03755 6036463007

Start Date/Expiration Date

2004-05-01 to 2006-04-30 (amended 2005-04-06)

Awarded Amount to Date:

$252,673

Abstract: Attaining a quantitative understanding of relativistic electron variability in the radiation belts is a major focus of current radiation belt research. Quantifying and understanding electron losses in now recognized as an integral part of understanding this variability. A major question is how to quantify the relative importance of acceleration processes versus the loss processes. Balloon-based experiments directly measure precipitation and thus provide a method for quantifying and studying losses. This project will use two small balloons, each carrying an X-ray spectrometer for measuring relativistic electron precipitation (REP) and a photometer tuned to detect proton precipitation. The balloons will be launched from Ft. Churchill, Manitoba during winter 2004/2005. The proposed campaign will support and take advantage of an already existing balloon campaign funded by the NSF Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics Program entitled, "Balloon Observations of MeV Electron Precipitation", lead by U. C. Berkeley, in which four small balloon payloads carrying X-ray instrumentation will be launched from the South African Antarctic station, SANAE. This project will obtain the first conjugate balloon observations of REP sensitive to MeV energies. Since the northern hemisphere observations being made by this project will take place during the northern winter, it allows the use of sensitive optical measurements of proton precipitation, which cannot be done in the sunlit Antarctic. The project will involve several undergraduates in the research and thus promotes educational goals as well as directly contributing to our knowledge of the radiation belts.

NSF Org:

ATM - Division of Atmospheric Sciences

Award Number:

0408356

Award Instrument:

Continuing grant

Program Manager:

Kile B. Baker
ATM Division of Atmospheric Sciences
GEO Directorate for Geosciences

NSF Program(s):

ARCTIC NATURAL SCIENCES, ARCTIC RESRCH SUPPRT & LOGISTI, MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS

Field Application(s):

Space

Program Reference Code(s):

EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES, 9150
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROPOSALS, 4444
UNASSIGNED, 0000

Program Element Code(s):

5280
ARCTIC RESRCH SUPPRT & LOGISTI, 5205
MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS, 5750