Project Title

Collaborative Research: Investigation of Deep Polar Cap Dynamics Using an Autonomous Instrument Network

Summary

Event Number:
A-108-E
NSF / OPP Award 2032421

Program Director:
Dr. Marion Dierickx

ASC POC/Implementer:
Marissa Goerke; Randy Jones

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Hyomin Kim
Hyomin.kim@njit.edu
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Newark, New Jersey

Location

Supporting Stations: Special Project
Research Locations: Christchurch, NZ; Jang Bogo Station

Description

This project aims to fabricate, deploy, and operate three uncrewed AGO-NextGen instrument platforms on the East Antarctic Plateau. Designed to conduct geospace research by measuring magnetic field, radio signals, and auroral activity, these instruments will become part of a spatially extensive ground-based network of instrumentation focused on observing coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere dynamics in the deep polar cap. The new platforms are more compact, easy-to-transport, easy-to-install, next-generation power/instrument versions of the previous generation of Automatic Geophysical Observatory (AGO) platforms. The systems are to be fabricated at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and deployed by the Korean Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) along the Jang Bogo Station-Dome C K-Route traverse route.

Field Season Overview

The National Science Foundation / Office of Polar Programs (NSF/OPP) will provide cargo shipment support via its Antarctic Support Contractor for the delivery of up to three AGO-NextGen instrument platforms to Christchurch, NZ. No other field support is being provided by NSF/OPP. Onward delivery of the instruments to Antarctica (Jang Bogo Station) and deployment to their final field locations will be performed by KOPRI. One instrument platform was shipped in the 2024-25 season, and up to two more instrument platforms will be shipped in the 2025-26 season.