Vacancy: Postdoc Position in Radio Science

KAIRA site in Kilpisjärvi. Photo Craig Heinselman, EISCAT.

"Remote sensing of energetic particle precipitation into atmosphere"

The postdoc position in Radio Science is part of the profiling actions of University of Oulu, where selected spearheads of research are supported in the research strategy of the university. At the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory (SGO), the position is mainly meant to boost development of phased-array radio techniques, measurement methods and related science applications in preparation to the use of the forthcoming next-generation incoherent scatter radar facility, EISCAT_3D.

There is growing evidence that the energetic particle precipitation (EPP) originating from the Sun can significantly modulate the middle-atmospheric dynamics, and possibly alter the global atmospheric circulation via ionic production of minor species (such as odd hydrogen and odd nitrogen), thus causing subsequent ozone loss in the stratosphere. The Postdoc project investigates both the EPP and the photoionisation taking place in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) altitudes (mainly 60-100 km). For the EPP, the altitude of the maximum ionisation is a direct measure of precipitation energy. This energy-height dependence makes it possible to invert the EPP flux density spectrum from any height-dependent electron density measurement.　

The project exploits a comprehensive set of ground-based (and sounding rocket) electron density data obtained by various radio methods, of which the most important ones are the incoherent scatter radars (EISCAT) and the Kilpisjärvi Imaging Receiver Array, KAIRA. An important tool available at SGO is the in-house developed detailed Sodankylä Ion-neutral Chemistry (SIC).

Deadline: 28th September 2018, 24:00 (Finnish local time).

To apply, please see the full job description and use the electronic application form.

For more information, please contact Ass. Prof. Antti Kero, e-mail: antti.kero(at)sgo.fi, tel.: +358442894669.

Photo: Craig Heinselman, EISCAT Scientific Association.

Riometer installed at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia!

This box has been on its way to Bahir Dar University for quite some time, mostly stuck in the local custom station, but now it's finally here, installed on the roof of the physics lab. The riometer consists of one LOFAR LBA antenna element (in the picture), amplifier, USRP sampler and a computer calculating the cosmic radio noise spectra.

This will be the first riometer installed into the magnetic equator, i.e., under the most magnetically shielded volume in the ionosphere. Therefore we expect to detect mostly variations in the solar photoionisation (such as solar X-flares). Moreover, it will be interesting to see, if the most energetic solar protons are detectable in the data during solar proton events. Plus, there is always a chance to find out something new & unexpected from the places nobody has been searched before.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Finally!

KAIRA Tech Paper

We report that KAIRA tech paper is now online as an early access version at IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing website. The publication details are:

KAIRA: The Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array—System Overview and First Results

McKay-Bukowski, D.;  Vierinen, J. ; Virtanen, I.I. ; Fallows, R. ; Postila, M. ; Ulich, T. ; Wucknitz, O. ; Brentjens, M. ;Ebbendorf, N. ; Enell, C-F. ; Gerbers, M. ; Grit, T. ; Gruppen, P. ; Kero, A. ; Iinatti, T. ; Lehtinen, M. ;Meulman, H. ; Norden, M. ; Orispaa, M. ; Raita, T. ; de Reijer, J.P. ; Roininen, L. ; Schoenmakers, A. ;Stuurwold, K. ; Turunen, E.

The Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array (KAIRA) is a dual array of omnidirectional VHF radio antennas located near Kilpisjärvi, Finland. It is operated by the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. It makes extensive use of the proven LOFAR antenna and digital signal-processing hardware, and can act as a stand-alone passive receiver, as a receiver for the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) very high frequency (VHF) incoherent scatter radar in Tromsø, or for use in conjunction with other Fenno-Scandinavian VHF experiments. In addition to being a powerful observing instrument in its own right, KAIRA will act as a pathfinder for technologies to be used in the planned EISCAT_3-D phased-array incoherent scatter radar system and participate in very long baseline interferometry experiments. This paper gives an overview of KAIRA, its principal hardware and software components, and its main science objectives. We demonstrate the applicability of the radio astronomy technology to our geoscience application. Furthermore, we present a selection of results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

Published in:

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on  (Volume:PP ,  Issue: 99 )

Page(s):

1 - 13

ISSN :

0196-2892

DOI:

10.1109/TGRS.2014.2342252

Date of Publication :

04 September 2014

Sponsored by :

IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society

Publisher:

IEEE