High Latitude Ionospheric Temperature Characterization Through Simulation-Assisted Calibration of the Mini Plasma Imager ...
The high latitude region of Earth's atmosphere is a large and tremendously complex dynamical environment that acts as an intermediary between the plasma of interplanetary space and the terrestrial environment. The difficulties in measurement, analysis, and characterization of this region (parti...
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Format: | Master Thesis |
Language: | English |
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Science
2022
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Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/40381 https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/115398 |
Summary: | The high latitude region of Earth's atmosphere is a large and tremendously complex dynamical environment that acts as an intermediary between the plasma of interplanetary space and the terrestrial environment. The difficulties in measurement, analysis, and characterization of this region (particularly at altitudes below 800 km) are immense. Technological and geophysical challenges to probe the region have left ion temperature values systematically under-reported despite their fundamental importance to the description of plasma behaviour and atmospheric structure. The Mini Plasma Imager (MPI) is a next generation plasma diagnostic instrument developed to quench this measurement gap. The first iteration of the MPI flew onboard the VISualizing Ions Via Neutral Atom Sensing - 2 (VISIONS-2) sounding rocket mission that launched into the high latitude ionosphere from Svalbard on December 7th, 2018. This thesis investigates the observations recorded by the MPI and presents findings on its ability to accurately ... |
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