Project Title

Collaborative Research: The Simpson Neutron Monitor Network

Summary

Event Number:
A-118-S
NSF / OPP Award 2112437

Program Director:
Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Paul Sullivan / Sheryl Seagraves

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Surujhdeo Seunarine
surujhdeo.seunarine@uwrf.edu
University of Wisconsin River Falls
Department of Physics
River Falls, Wisconsin

Location

Supporting Stations: South Pole Station
Research Locations: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station - B2 Laboratory

Description

This project operates a neutron-monitor suite at South Pole Station. The science thrust of the project is an understanding of solar energetic particles using neutron monitor data, complemented with data from the nearby IceTop air shower detector. Another focus involves understanding the nature of multiple coincident particles observed in the neutron monitors, which extend the reach of the South Pole neutron monitor as a single station capable of doing cosmic ray spectral studies. Also central to the research is understanding the response of these detectors to the radiation environment of the South Pole, particularly in determining the cause of the decline in cosmic ray intensity at the South Pole over the last 50 years. Understanding this decline is important because cosmic rays produce radionuclides such as Beryllium-10 that become trapped in the ice and are used to determine ice-core ages and precipitation levels over Earth's polar regions. An understanding of the production rate is vital to interpreting these data.

Field Season Overview

The instrumentation for this project is located on an elevated platform outside the South Pole Station and in the B2 Laboratory, near the V8 vault. It runs continuously year-round, essentially autonomously, with only limited intervention required by personnel onsite and by the science team via the internet. The onsite research associates will provide monitoring, troubleshooting, and the collection and forwarding of data as needed. The project can continue data collection and data transmission without science deployers and without deploying additional staffing.