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H2020Individual fellowship2022–2024

ORACLE · ORigin determination and improved detectAbility of Celestial-to-Local phEnomena by the VLF technique

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-08-05 → 2024-08-04
EU contribution
€212,934
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

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Results in brief

ORigin determination and improved detectAbility of Celestial-to-Local phEnomena by the VLF technique

The propagation of Very Low Frequency (VLF: 3–30 kHz) radio waves can be used to remotely monitor two different regions of the Earth systems. One of them is the lower ionosphere, an ionized region of the Earth’s upper atmosphere located between 60 and 90 km in altitude. The other is the magnetosphere. ORACLE uses this VLF remote sensing technique to investigate the short- and long-term variation of the lower boundary of the ionospheree which acts as a monitoring screen for phenomena originating in the Earth’s atmosphere (e.g., ozone shadowing) and in space (e.g., gamma-ray bursts from celestial objects). The lower boundary of the ionosphere is also known as the ignorosphere because it is the least studied region of the atmosphere. At the same time, this region is where space and space weather processes couple into the Earth’s atmosphere. Thus, ORACLE’s aim is to provide new knowledge on the physical process and conditions in the lower boundary of the ionosphere. Humankind owes its origin, evolution and present existence to the Earth and its surrounding space, from the atmosphere to the limits of the universe. Yet, this very system poses several threats to society, from galactic gamma ray bursts to solar storms, from ozone layer depletion to extreme weather changes. In fact, all these hazards are able to affect the ionosphere and the magnetosphere. ORACLE's scientific objectives are: 1) determine whether the day-to-day variability of the VLF signal during sunrise can be explained by the stratospheric ozone variability at its upper boundary, 2) improve the detection of celestial gamma-ray bursts, known as the most energetic phenomena in the universe.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The lower ionosphere (70–90 km), a ionized region in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, can be understood as a membrane acting as a sensor to different kinds of phenomena originating at Earth (e.g., lightning) or in space (e.g., space weather). Unexpected strong changes in this region can influence dramatically the performance and reliability of navigation and communication. However, the impact of those phenomena in this region is difficult to quantify accurately. On one hand, this region is too high for balloons and on the other hand it is too low for satellites. In this project, Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio waves will be used because they propagate between the Earth surface and the ionosphere with low attenuation. The researcher will push forward novel scientific understanding of the properties of the lower ionosphere and magnetosphere. She will: (1) determine whether the day-to-day variability of the VLF signal during sunrise can be explained by the ozone variability at its upper boundary, (2) find the yet unknown generation mechanism of VLF banded emissions, and (3) improve the detectability of galactic gamma-ray bursts, known as the most energetic phenomena in the universe. The project is strongly multidisciplinary, involving perspectives and concepts from astrophysics, magnetospheric, ionospheric, atmospheric physics and big data handling. This will be developed by the researcher within the frame of interaction and cooperation with the host and secondments. The results of this proposal have the potential to convey new perspectives in ionospheric and magnetospheric studies and provide some answers to long standing issues within the field of space weather, which has become of central importance in many aspects of human life and industry. As a consequence, by completing this action, Europe will improve its know-how in the topic of this proposal and reinforce its position on a global scale. This project is in line with the EU commission sector on Space and Security.

Original text from CORDIS.

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union