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DROPPS
The Distribution and Role
Of Particles
in the Polar Summer Mesosphere using Coordinated Rocket,
Radar, and Lidar Techniques.
| PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR: |
Dr. Richard A. Goldberg
Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 690
NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| CO-INVESTIGATORS: |
Drs. R. F. Pfaff, F. J. Schmidlin / NASA-GSFC
Dr. H. D. Voss / Taylor University
Dr. A. J. Tuzzolino / University of Chicago
Dr. R. H. Holzworth / University of Washington
Drs. J. D. Mitchell, C. L. Croskey / Pennsylvania State
Univ.
Drs. E. Thrane and U. -P. Hoppe / Norwegian Defense Research Estab.
Dr. F. -J. Lübken / University of Bonn, Germany
Drs. U. von Zahn and W. Singer/Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Kühlungsborn,
Germany
Drs. D. P. Murtagh, G. Witt / Stockholm University, Sweden
Dr. M. Friedrich / Technical University of Graz, Austria |
| INSTITUTIONAL AUTHORIZATION: |
Stephen S. Holt
Director of Space Science, Code 600
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| PROGRAM ELEMENT: MITM Suborbital |
| TITLE OF INVESTIGATION: DROPPS: The Distribution
and Role of Particles in the Polar Summer
Mesosphere using Coordinated Rocket, Radar, and Lidar Techniques |
| PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Richard A. Goldberg.
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center |
| SUMMARY OF PROPOSED INVESTIGATION; We propose
here as a new task and a first, a comprehensive yet focused international
rocket, radar and lidar program to study the mass distribution of dust
and aerosol particles in the high latitude summer mesosphere, the electrodynamic
environment there, and their complex relationship to the origin of polar
mesospheric summer echoes (PMSEs) and the characteristics of noctilucent
clouds (NLCs). The origin of PMSE echoes, their proposed relationship to
dust and aerosol particles and the NLCs are among the most important questions
governing the physics of the polar summer mesosphere. We plan to probe
the PMSE/NLC layers for for macroscopic and submarcroscopic particles in
conjunction with measurements of the 3-D eclectic field (a critical first)
and with other electrodynamic and dynamic parameters, all in association
with the ALOMAR lidar/radar observatory at Andøya Rocket
Range,
Norway and the EISCAT radar in Tromsø. We expect to verify or nullify
current ideas about the roll of particles as a source for PMSEs and to
gain knowledge about the structure of PMSEs and NLCs including their relationship
to electrodynamic and dynamic effects. Understanding the role of such particles
and their relation to coupling within the middle atmosphere and designated
objective of the new NASA Sun-Earth Connection Theme and of several recent
and new NASA Programs including TIMED and follow-on projects. It is also
a listed objective in several of the international Solar-Terrestrial Energy
Program (STEP) projects. |
| DROPPS will consist of two salvos, each involving
1 DROPPS, 1 MIDAS, and 3-6 MET payloads. One salvo will be launched during
a PMSE event; the other during a NLC event. In addition to 3-D electric
field measurements, the DROPPS Taurus-Orion rocket payloads will contain
impact detectors capable of measuring mesospheric charged and uncharged
particles of visible dow to sub-visible size. These are newly developed
rocket-borne instruments incorporating techniques previously used on a
Halley Comet Mission. Additional in situ measurements will be made
of the local electrodynamic properties of the atmosphere, of local turbulence,
of any anomalous ionizing radiation, and photometric characteristics of
NLCs. MET falling-sphere payloads will measure meteorological parameters
to evaluate neutral atmospheric effects. DROPPS will make extensive use
of ground based observation from the lidar/radar observatories to study
the polar mesospheric region during the period encompassing the proposed
rocket launches. The MIDAS Nike-Orion payloads will measure turbulence
and wave structure in the mesosphere during PMSE and NLC events, and will
also measure the charged dust particle distribution, which complements
and enhances the objectives of DROPPS program. |
| DROPPS is proposed for July, 1999 from Andøya
to coordinate with the European MIDAS program from the same site, and to
take advantage of the ALOMAR and EISCAT observatories. By collaborating
in a joint effort, it should be possible to gain significant scientific
leveraging at reduced costs. The latter will occur through sharing of the
local range facilities such as telemetry and radar, and through European
(Swedish, Austrian) participation on the DROPPS payloads. All of these
factors will significantly reduce NASA's expense relating to logistic for
range support. |
| This proposal thereby offers NASA an attractive
program to study polar mesospheric phenomena using surplus rockets. It
is logistically feasible to use the Andøya rocket site in Norway
to gain use of the world-class ALOMAR and EISCAT observatories, and to
permit coordination with MIDAS, which will provide strong scientific leveraging. |
| Links to Relevant Sites |
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