This $135,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Grant award under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) supports collaborative research to study the impact of solar eclipses on the ionosphere, a critical region of Earth's atmosphere that affects radio communications and navigation. The lead awardee, the Regents of the University of Colorado (a U.S. state government entity and institution of higher learning), will coordinate multi-instrument observations of ionospheric parameters during the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. The research aims to quantify eclipse-driven changes in the ionosphere's electron density and understand the relative importance of factors like reduced solar radiation, thermospheric winds, and photoelectron transport in determining the ionospheric response. The project will leverage ground-based facilities like the SuperDARN radar network and Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar, while also engaging the citizen science community. This work is expected to enhance scientific understanding of the ionosphere-thermosphere system, improve space weather predictions, and support STEM education and early-career researcher development.
Generated 1/28/25, 9:06 AM