Troposphere-Ionosphere-Magnetosphere Coupling Study TIMIS EoI 803 (as part of ICESTAR/IHY) Yuri Yampolski (2), Valery Korepanov (1), Gennadi Milinevsky (3) (1) Lviv Center of Institute of Space Research, Ukraine (2) Institute of Radio Astronomy, Kharkiv, (3) National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv Research in the framework of SCAR ICESTAR Program

Vernadsky Boston area Geomagnetic conjugate regions: Vernadsky – USA East Coast Channel for energy transfer from S-hemisphere to N-hemisphere

Magnetic field and pressure at Vernadsky Correlation Pressure-Magnetic Variations Response of magnetic variations to weather front

The main idea for TIMIS is the study powerful weather front “projection” to geospace heights. The West Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most active cyclonic regions of the Earth. The results, based on Vernadsky station data, show that the weather front is accompanied by excitement in troposphere the mid-scale atmospheric gravity waves (AGW). Hugo Island Palmer Vernadsky Rothera Arctowsky Palmer-Vernadsky 53 km Hugo Is.-Vernadsky 70 km Palmer- Hugo Is. 63 km Arctowsky-Vernadsky 440 km Rothera-Vernadsky 300 km Short base: Long base:

The AGW propagate to dynamo-area heights and modifies the transverse ionosphere conductivities and current systems that produce the magnetic field variations above the front passing and in conjugate region. Study this processes in the Antarctic Peninsula region will allow, first, reconstruct spatial structure of the weather front, secondly, restore spatial spectrum agitated AGW and, finally, restore the stimulated magnetic field variations. The project is based on the idea of the energy transport from the Earth surface to the upper ionosphere study using a network of the low power unmanned GPS-synchronized autonomous meteo-magnetic stations (AMMS).

The AMMS with total power consumption W have developed for this experiment in Ukraine. A network of observation sites spaced by km will be established in the West Antarctic Peninsula and near-shore islands. In addition to main goals of TIMIS the space distributed AMMS network will allow to investigate the large-scale long-period planetary wave in troposphere and their impact to upper atmosphere.

The Antarctic Peninsula AMMS network of high precision magnetometers will allow the study geomagnetic micropulsations, especially supported by geomagnetic variation measurements in the conjugate region. Other goal, which will be simultaneously achieved, is magnetovariational sounding with the AMMS network. This will allow the study of deep geoelectric structure of the region which very interesting from geological point of view.

Theoretical modeling of AGW – MHD modulation Cyclone in troposphere E-layer ionosphere

Idea: 1.The severe weather fronts are “projected” on ionosphere ~120 km height 2.The delay of magnetic field response minutes (corresponded vertical velocity m/s) Possible carrier? Atmosphere gravity waves AGW Distribution of sensitive magnetometers with pressure sensors along Antarctic Peninsula will give spatial and temporal coverage weather front movement and response in E-layer of ionosphere (and possible response in conjugate region?)

1. Three components magnetometer Magnetic field measurement range ±55000 nT Noise density at 1Hz less than 15 pT/√Hz Frequency band (DC-0.2) Hz 2. Atmospheric pressure sensor Mpa 3. Temperature sensor Temperature measurement range (- 40…+ 40) o C Temperature measurement error 0,1 o C 6. Flash memory capacity 6 month registration (one year in future) 7. Power consumption W AUTONOMOUS “METEO”MAGNETIC STATION (AMMS)

ANTARCTIC AUTONOMOUS METEOMAGNETIC STATION The four AMMS already constructed and tested for network ( km distance) installation in several points of Antarctic Peninsula PRECISION PRESSURE SENSOR

AMMS testing in 2005 in Antarctic Peninsula Berthelot Is Petermann Is Time for installation 2-5 hours

Hugo Island (US autonomous meteo-station) Vernadsky 70 km 53 km 63 km Possible sites for “small” network Palmer (Port Lockroy ?) Main need – logistic support

Current state-of- art (February 2007) 1.AMMS has been constructed 2.Till October 2007 two AMMS will be supplied by solar panels for 6 month (at least) continuous work 3.We have some financial support from National Antarctic Scientific Center 4.Main problem – logistics support to install AMMS with solar panels at Hugo Island (60 km from Palmer) 5.Planned (desirable) start for measurements - November We have pre-agree with Arctowsky and Rothera Research in the framework of SCAR ICESTAR Program