Collaborative research: research infrastructure: active magnetosphere and planetary electrodynamics response experiment 4 (AMPERE-4)

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Southwest Research Institute $119,864 on August 15, 2026, under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to extend and improve the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment 4 (AMPERE-4), a collaborative research infrastructure project supported through a Project Grant.

AMPERE-4 analyzes magnetic data from commercial satellite magnetometers to create global maps of magnetospheric magnetic currents and their field perturbations, enabling scientific observations related to aurora borealis. The project provides data access and derived products through web visualization, downloads, and public archives. Under this award, Southwest Research Institute will extend data coverage from the existing archive (2009 to present), fill earlier data gaps, increase fit resolution, estimate the full set of electrodynamic state parameters, and perform systematic validation of products. Proposed new deliverables include upper atmospheric heating rates and electric fields. These products support satellite orbit prediction and radio communications monitoring, with applications to national security, disaster response, navigation, and communication infrastructure.

Period of performance runs from the award date through July 31, 2028, with place of performance in San Antonio, Texas. No sub-recipients are planned under this award.

Abstract

The active magnetosphere and planetary electrodynamics response experiment 4 (AMPERE-4) provides scientific observations related to northern lights, or aurora borealis, through analysis of magnetic data from commercial spacecraft. AMPERE purchases data from magnetometers onboard satellites. The data allows the creation of global maps of the magnetic currents and their associated magnetic field perturbations. The AMPERE team provides access to data and derived products through web visualization, downloads, and public archives. The proposed new products could be used in satellite orbit prediction and monitoring quality of radio communications. Improving satellite orbit prediction and monitoring enhances the reliability and quality of radio communications, strengthening national security, disaster response, navigation, and communication infrastructure. The AMPERE product archive includes information from 2009 to the present. The current project will allow AMPERE-4 investigators to extend the data coverage, fill the earlier data gaps, and provide improvements to the products. The targeted improvements consist of adding data from other sources, increasing the fit resolution, estimating the full set of electrodynamic state parameters from the data, and providing systematic validation of the products. The proposed new products include upper atmospheric heating rates and electric fields. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.