[P-EM12] Coupling Processes in the Atmosphere-Ionosphere System

[PEM12-28] RIDE campaign: Elucidation of the sporadic E layers with the S-310-46 sounding rocket, ground-based radio measurements, and numerical simulations

*Akinori Saito¹, Takumi Abe², Ayako Matsuoka³, Keigo Ishisaka⁴, Yoshifumi Saito², MASAHITO TAGAWA⁵, Atsushi Kumamoto⁶, Hirotsugu Kojima⁷, Satoshi Kurita⁷, KUMIKO YOKOTA⁵, Michi Nishioka⁸, Satoshi Andoh⁸, Susumu Saito⁹, Toru Takahashi⁹, Keisuke Hosokawa¹⁰, Hiroyuki Nakata¹¹, Tatsuhiro Yokoyama⁷, Huixin Liu¹², Takanori Nishiyama¹³, Mitsumu K. Ejiri¹³, Takatoshi Sakazaki¹ (1.Department of Geophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 2.Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3.Data Analysis Center for Geomagnetism and Space Magnetism, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 4.Toyama Prefectural University, 5.Kobe University, 6.Department of Geophysics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 7.Research institute for sustainable humanosphere, Kyoto University, 8.National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 9.Electronic Navigation Research Institute, National Institute of Maritime, Port, and Aviation Technology, 10.Department of Communication Engineering and Informatics, University of Electro-Communications, 11.Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 12.Earth and Planetary Science Division, Kyushu University, 13.National Institute of Polar Research)

Keywords:Ionosphere, Thermosphere, Sporadic E-layer, Sounding rocket, Radar

Rocket Investigation of Daytime E-region (RIDE) Campaign is prepared to elucidate sporadic E layers' generation and evolution processes with the S-310-46 sounding rocket, ground-based radio measurements, and numerical simulations in the summer of 2024. The objectives of this campaign are as follows:
(1) Elucidate phenomena in which the interaction between neutral atmosphere and plasma is important by combining in-situ observations by the sounding rocket with a numerical model and ground-based observations.
(2) Develop instrumental packages to measure the neutral atmosphere, plasma, and electromagnetic fields for sounding rockets and satellites.
(3) Foster human resources for future missions.
In-situ measurement of the neutral atmosphere, plasma atmosphere, wind, electric field, and magnetic field in and around the sporadic E-layers at an altitude of 90-130 km will be performed by the S-310-46 sounding rocket. The sounding rocket will be launched from the Uchinoura Space Center of JAXA during the daytime in the summer of 2024. Ground-based radio instruments, such as an ionosonde receiver network, and a VHF receiver network, have been deployed to compare the in-situ measurement by the rocket to clarify the large-scale Es structures and their temporal evolutions. Combined with advanced numerical models and observations, the contribution of the electric field, time evolution of three-dimensional structures, and neutral/plasma-atmosphere interactions due to collisions can be clarified and applied to predict radio propagation anomalies that can affect social systems. The instruments developed in this project will enable simultaneous in-situ neutral and plasma atmospheric measurements. These instruments are proposed to be installed on ultra-low altitude satellites, reusable sounding rockets, and small lunar and planetary probes to directly measure various phenomena in which the interaction between neutral particles and plasma is important.