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Aeronomy & Astrophysics
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Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili
Program Manager
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A-306-P
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NSF/OPP Award 02-33955
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Station:
Palmer Station
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RPSC POC:
Rob Edwards
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Research Site(s):
Palmer Station
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Dates in Antarctica:
Maintenance in the austral summer, observing in the winter
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Global thunderstorm activity and its effects on the radiation belts and the lower Ionosphere
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Photo not available.
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Deploying Team Members:
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Ryan Said
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Research Objectives:
The research program addresses scientific questions focused on the quantification of the global phenomenology and effects on the earth's ionosphere and the radiation belts of tropospheric lightning activity, consisting of about 2,000 thunderstorms active at any given time and maintaining a global average lightning flash rate of about 100 per second. The primary tool for studying these effects is the monitoring of the extremely low frequency and very low frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum in Palmer Station's unique electromagnetically quiet environment. Stanford University-built VLF receivers are also located in Upland, Indiana, and in the Negev desert of Israel. Data from Palmer Station will be used in conjunction with data from these other sites to study lightning activity in North and South America and Western Africa.
The experiment requires keeping the VLF antenna and receiver in good working condition. The antenna requires yearly maintenance and calibration and occasional inspections to insure it has not succumbed to the forces of nature. The electronics are maintained and looked after by the science technician in the "Clean Air/VLF" hut at Palmer Station. This year project team members plan to move the VLF antenna further up the glacier about 6,000 feet away from Palmer Station.
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