Variability of neutral temperature in the high-latitude upper atmosphere
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The upper atmosphere at high latitudes is a region which is bombarded by electrons and protons, which are the source of the aurora, often seen as spectacular coloured and dynamic lights in the dark sky. The aurora over Svalbard (lat 78.2 N, lon 16.0 E) where our instruments are located, has special properties which make this an ideal place to study the upper atmosphere. The location is particularly important because it is dark during the daytime in the winter months, a special property of this most northerly site. The colour of the aurora, or wavelength of the light emitted, depends on both the energy of the incoming particles and how that energy is lost during the passage of the particles, and on the composition of the atmosphere that the particles travel through. As a result, optical measurements of specific wavelengths can provide detailed information about the atmosphere, and about the energy of the precipitating populations.
This project will use an advanced design spectrograph which makes measurements over a range of different wavelengths simultaneously. One emission is from excited oxygen ions O+, which is a signature of low energy electron precipitation (typically electrons with energies of about 100 eV) and has a peak brightness at around 300 km in height. We have discovered recently (Whiter et al Ap.J 2014) that the processes that produce the O+ ion in aurora have some special properties, and as a result the emission can be used to obtain the temperature of the O atoms in the region where they emit. This temperature is known as the neutral temperature, which in the auroral region has not been easy to measure so far; this project provides an exciting new method to quantify the changes that occur during auroral energy input, and to compare these changes to modelling studies and also to existing empirical models, which are known to have large uncertainties. The neutral temperature is an important parameter for studying changes on more global scales, and although our studies are from one specific location, the data we are using has been continuous during the dark hours since 2003.
Another emission that we measure is from hydroxyl molecules which are excited by ultra violet radiation. The emission is known as airglow, and is from a region around 85-90 km in height, known as the mesopause. Precise measurements of these emissions can be used to obtain the temperature of the atmosphere at these heights. Consequently, we can add these observations to those described above (from around 300 km) to determine if there are any correlations, and then try to understand what the mechanisms may be.
Moving a little higher up in the atmosphere, one of the strongest emissions is from molecular nitrogen, which has a peak emission height of between 100-150 km. We have developed a "synthetic spectrum" of the emission, which is a theoretical solution of the shape of the emission spectrum. This shape is dependent on the temperature of the molecules, and so we can make a best fit of the measured spectrum to the theoretical, in order to estimate the neutral temperature at the height of the emission. In combination we therefore have the possibility of measuring the neutral temperature at three distinct heights, depending on the auroral conditions.
Finally we will make use of very high resolution auroral cameras which we operate in the arctic close to the spectrograph. The ASK (Auroral Structure and Kinetics) cameras provide high time and spatial resolution (1/32 s and 10 m) images of the aurora in a frame approximately 5x5 km (at 100 km altitude). ASK consists of three cameras which provide the same image at different wavelengths which, in combination with modelling, are used to find the energy input within the auroral structure. The spatial and temporal variability of precipitating charged particles is at the heart of the physics of the behaviour of the polar upper atmosphere.
This project will use an advanced design spectrograph which makes measurements over a range of different wavelengths simultaneously. One emission is from excited oxygen ions O+, which is a signature of low energy electron precipitation (typically electrons with energies of about 100 eV) and has a peak brightness at around 300 km in height. We have discovered recently (Whiter et al Ap.J 2014) that the processes that produce the O+ ion in aurora have some special properties, and as a result the emission can be used to obtain the temperature of the O atoms in the region where they emit. This temperature is known as the neutral temperature, which in the auroral region has not been easy to measure so far; this project provides an exciting new method to quantify the changes that occur during auroral energy input, and to compare these changes to modelling studies and also to existing empirical models, which are known to have large uncertainties. The neutral temperature is an important parameter for studying changes on more global scales, and although our studies are from one specific location, the data we are using has been continuous during the dark hours since 2003.
Another emission that we measure is from hydroxyl molecules which are excited by ultra violet radiation. The emission is known as airglow, and is from a region around 85-90 km in height, known as the mesopause. Precise measurements of these emissions can be used to obtain the temperature of the atmosphere at these heights. Consequently, we can add these observations to those described above (from around 300 km) to determine if there are any correlations, and then try to understand what the mechanisms may be.
Moving a little higher up in the atmosphere, one of the strongest emissions is from molecular nitrogen, which has a peak emission height of between 100-150 km. We have developed a "synthetic spectrum" of the emission, which is a theoretical solution of the shape of the emission spectrum. This shape is dependent on the temperature of the molecules, and so we can make a best fit of the measured spectrum to the theoretical, in order to estimate the neutral temperature at the height of the emission. In combination we therefore have the possibility of measuring the neutral temperature at three distinct heights, depending on the auroral conditions.
Finally we will make use of very high resolution auroral cameras which we operate in the arctic close to the spectrograph. The ASK (Auroral Structure and Kinetics) cameras provide high time and spatial resolution (1/32 s and 10 m) images of the aurora in a frame approximately 5x5 km (at 100 km altitude). ASK consists of three cameras which provide the same image at different wavelengths which, in combination with modelling, are used to find the energy input within the auroral structure. The spatial and temporal variability of precipitating charged particles is at the heart of the physics of the behaviour of the polar upper atmosphere.
Planned Impact
The research proposed here will have societal impact in three main areas: outreach, space weather applications, and contribution to skills required by the economy. Here we provide a summary of the impact expected; the avenues by which we will achieve this impact are outlined in the Pathways to Impact document.
Outreach
~~~~~~
The aurora has great appeal as an outreach topic, and the award of funding (contingent on support for ASK) of an Aurora Zoo will provide an excellent vehicle to engage interested members of the public, allowing them to view our data and take part in our science. The aurora is one of the most exciting natural phenomena, and the images obtained from our cameras are a great draw at talks to the general public and at schools.
Real-time monitoring of the upper atmosphere
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The PI has developed a fast and automatic method for extracting emission components from measured HiTIES spectra. The additional software components for deriving neutral temperatures from the measurements which will be developed during this project are also expected to be fast and automatic, and therefore will be excellent for producing temperature estimates in real-time. We will develop a prototype, publicly accessible service for distributing neutral temperature measurements over Svalbard in real-time. These are expected to have a range of applications, such as in space weather monitoring and public outreach. The successful demonstration of the prototype service would then be used as the basis of a proposal for the capital and ongoing expenditure which would be required to provide this service on a routine basis (upgrade of IT and internet connectivity; annual maintenance and calibration visits).
Contribution to skills required by the economy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An equally strong claim of benefit to the wider community is through the training of the scientists of the future, and other workers with scientific skills. If funded, this proposal will employ a PDRA. The training and career development of that researcher will be an integral part of the project, such that whatever the PDRA's long term employment (be that in academia, the private sector or elsewhere), the scientific skills developed through this research programme will make an important contribution to that organisation and the wider economy. This is highlighted by the range of employment destinations of past members of the Space Environment Physics group at Southampton (including BAE Systems, the Met Office, a partner in a European firm of patent attorneys, a consultant in climate change at Environmental Resources Management, researchers in universities and research establishments [e.g. at Diamond], and an IT service delivery manager). The Aurora Zoo seed funding provided under the Pathways to Impact of Prof Lanchester's previous NERC grant allowed us to hire two summer students to develop the citizen science project. In doing so, they had direct advice from the Zooniverse team and became equipped with specific and desirable skills, which led to one taking up a position in a software development company. The breadth of these destinations shows that we can succeed in providing expertise across many boundaries.
Outreach
~~~~~~
The aurora has great appeal as an outreach topic, and the award of funding (contingent on support for ASK) of an Aurora Zoo will provide an excellent vehicle to engage interested members of the public, allowing them to view our data and take part in our science. The aurora is one of the most exciting natural phenomena, and the images obtained from our cameras are a great draw at talks to the general public and at schools.
Real-time monitoring of the upper atmosphere
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The PI has developed a fast and automatic method for extracting emission components from measured HiTIES spectra. The additional software components for deriving neutral temperatures from the measurements which will be developed during this project are also expected to be fast and automatic, and therefore will be excellent for producing temperature estimates in real-time. We will develop a prototype, publicly accessible service for distributing neutral temperature measurements over Svalbard in real-time. These are expected to have a range of applications, such as in space weather monitoring and public outreach. The successful demonstration of the prototype service would then be used as the basis of a proposal for the capital and ongoing expenditure which would be required to provide this service on a routine basis (upgrade of IT and internet connectivity; annual maintenance and calibration visits).
Contribution to skills required by the economy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An equally strong claim of benefit to the wider community is through the training of the scientists of the future, and other workers with scientific skills. If funded, this proposal will employ a PDRA. The training and career development of that researcher will be an integral part of the project, such that whatever the PDRA's long term employment (be that in academia, the private sector or elsewhere), the scientific skills developed through this research programme will make an important contribution to that organisation and the wider economy. This is highlighted by the range of employment destinations of past members of the Space Environment Physics group at Southampton (including BAE Systems, the Met Office, a partner in a European firm of patent attorneys, a consultant in climate change at Environmental Resources Management, researchers in universities and research establishments [e.g. at Diamond], and an IT service delivery manager). The Aurora Zoo seed funding provided under the Pathways to Impact of Prof Lanchester's previous NERC grant allowed us to hire two summer students to develop the citizen science project. In doing so, they had direct advice from the Zooniverse team and became equipped with specific and desirable skills, which led to one taking up a position in a software development company. The breadth of these destinations shows that we can succeed in providing expertise across many boundaries.
Organisations
Publications
Aruliah A
(2019)
Comparing high-latitude thermospheric winds from Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) and challenging mini-satellite payload (CHAMP) accelerometer measurements
in Annales Geophysicae
Aruliah A. L.
(2017)
Comparing High-Latitude Thermospheric Winds From FPI and CHAMP Accelerometer Measurements
in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
Carlson H. C.
(2016)
Time Continuous Measurements of Cusp Upwelling Event Confirmed by Satellite Pass Through Drag Doubling
in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
Castro A
(2019)
OPTICAM: A TRIPLE-CAMERA OPTICAL SYSTEM DESIGNED TO EXPLORE THE FASTEST TIMESCALES IN ASTRONOMY
in Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica
Chadney J
(2017)
Effect of stellar flares on the upper atmospheres of HD 189733b and HD 209458b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Chadney J
(2017)
Effect of water vapour absorption on hydroxyl temperatures measured from Svalbard
in Annales Geophysicae
Chadney J
(2018)
Neutral temperature and atmospheric water vapour retrieval from spectral fitting of auroral and airglow emissions
in Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
Coxon J
(2019)
Timescales of Birkeland Currents Driven by the IMF
in Geophysical Research Letters
Dahlgren H
(2016)
Electrodynamics and energy characteristics of aurora at high resolution by optical methods
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Description | During the first half of the grant we worked to develop our techniques for analysing spectrographic observations of aurora (northern lights) and airglow to determine the temperature of the upper atmosphere. This turned out to be more complicated than we initially estimated, but we also found we could get a lot more information out of our observations. One unexpected finding is that we can measure the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere between the ground and the mesopause at about 85 km altitude, which may have benefits for meteorology. It also means we can measure the temperature in the upper atmosphere from the ground even when it's cloudy, which has made our temperature data set much bigger than we expected. Once our analysis techniques were fully developed and tested, we focussed on determining how much the aurora changes the temperature at the mesopause - the boundary between the middle atmosphere and upper atmosphere and the coldest place on Earth. We found that the temperature appears to increase or decrease, sometimes by several 10s of degrees C, but that this apparent change is most likely due to the destruction of OH molecules near the mesopause rather than because the temperature actually changes by so much. This is an important result for assessing trends in temperature in the upper atmosphere, and also for our understanding of the chemistry of the upper atmosphere. It's not yet clear exactly how the aurora destroys the OH molecules. We also examined the accuracy of atmospheric temperature measurements made by instruments onboard spacecraft, and found that measurements made in certain conditions (mainly when the spacecraft is flying towards the pole) can be significantly over estimated. Many other researchers use these measurements for studying atmospheric physics and chemistry, so it is important to know how much we can trust the measurements. A new optical filter installed on our spectrograph as part of the grant has enabled development of a new technique for measuring the height profile of the temperature of the neutral atmosphere inside aurora. This work has been taken forward by a PhD student, and is now enabling detailed investigations into localised heating of the upper atmosphere by auroral processes. During the grant we developed a new "citizen science" project called "Aurora Zoo". In Aurora Zoo the public can play a direct part in our research, by classifying and analysing images from our auroral camera system. This work allows us to do large statistical studies of the aurora to learn more about how different types of structure in the aurora are formed, and what they might do to the atmosphere. |
Exploitation Route | Our new way of measuring water vapour in the atmosphere could have advantages over existing methods, and we are looking to work with a company to build a prototype instrument to investigate the use of our new technique. If successful, this would have benefits for weather forecasting, environmental science, managing water resources, and other fields and sectors. Our findings related to temperatures measured from OH emissions at about 85-90 km are important for interpreting trends in temperature at the mesopause. There are several instruments around the world using OH to determine mesopause temperature. We showed that there can be significant errors in certain atmospheric temperature measurements made by spacecraft, so it's important that this is known when these measurements are used to study atmospheric physics and chemistry or to constrain atmospheric models. The Aurora Zoo is an excellent tool for engaging the public with research, and we will run Aurora Zoo workshops in schools, youth centres, and other similar locations. This work will enable large statistical studies of the aurora, and the output from the Aurora Zoo will be used to train a "machine learning" algorithm to automatically process aurora data as it is produced. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Education Energy Environment |
URL | https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/dwhiter/aurora-zoo |
Description | Public engagement activities related to the Aurora Zoo citizen science project (developed as part of the award) have led to positive changes in attitudes in the general public and local schools, particularly among groups which are under represented in physics and other STEM subjects. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | E. A. Milne Travelling Fellowship |
Amount | £781 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 11/2016 |
Description | EISCAT_3D: Fine-scale structuring, scintillation, and electrodynamics (FINESSE) |
Amount | £396,012 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/W003007/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 10/2026 |
Description | Fine-scale auroral structure: Causes and effects |
Amount | £482,189 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/V012541/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 11/2025 |
Description | How does the aurora heat the upper atmosphere? |
Amount | £529,819 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/S015167/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | NPIF Studentship |
Amount | £22,610 (GBP) |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | RAS Grant |
Amount | £1,200 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | RAS Grant |
Amount | £1,200 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2019 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | RAS Grant |
Amount | £655 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 01/2018 |
Description | RAS Grant |
Amount | £1,200 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2017 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | RAS Grant |
Amount | £827 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 04/2019 |
Title | Aurora Zoo |
Description | "Citizen Science" project, in which the public will classify and analyse auroral image data to enable large statistical studies. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Several listed under the "Engagement Activities" category which relate to the Aurora Zoo. Also, citizen scientists identified a type of event which has been termed "Fragmented Aurora-Like Emissions" (FAEs), a detailed analysis of which has been published in Annales Geophysicae (http://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-975-2021). |
URL | http://www.aurorazoo.org |
Title | Optical measurement of the thermospheric neutral temperature altitude profile |
Description | A technique has been developed to combine spectrographic observations of N2 aurora, incoherent scatter radar measurements of ionospheric electron density, and ionospheric modelling to estimate the neutral temperature altitude profile from approximately 90 km to 200 km altitude at high temporal resolution. A preliminary version of the technique and its use has been published in Price et al., J. Geophys. Res., 2019 (doi:10.1029/2019JA027345). An updated version of the technique was later published as part of David Price's PhD thesis, University of Southampton, 2021 (http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/455066). |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The technique has been used to investigate thermospheric temperature changes caused by auroral processes, in particular Joule heating associated with strong electric fields adjacent to the aurora, and heating caused by dynamic auroral features (in particular auroral curls). It was found that the temperature change is much larger than previously expected (100s of K), at least on small spatial scales and short time scales. Further work is ongoing to understand the cause and impacts of the heating. |
Title | Retrieval of Precipitable Water Vapour |
Description | A new method to retrieval precipitable water vapour in the column of atmosphere above a spectrograph observing OH hydroxyl airglow emission. The method is published in Chadney et al., Ann. Geophys., 2017 (doi:10.5194/angeo-35-481-2017) and Chadney et al., Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 2018 (doi:10.5194/gi-7-317-2018). |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The technique has been utilised to improve astronomical observations by correcting for water vapour absorption in the atmosphere (see Xu et al., A&A, 2020, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201834621). |
URL | http://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-481-2017 |
Title | Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) data 2015-16 |
Description | Multi-wavelength images of the aurora in the magnetic zenith obtained from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, during the winter season 2015-2016. Images are obtained at either 20 frames per second or 32 frames per second. Approximately 15TB of data in total for 2015-2016. "Quicklook" summary plots are publicly available online. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Data from December 2015 and January 2016 have been included in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project, with associated public engagement impacts. An event from December 2015 showing a newly-identified type of feature called "Fragmented Aurora-like Emissions" (FAEs) has been analysed and published in Dreyer et al., Ann. Geophys., 2021 (doi:10.5194/angeo-39-277-2021). The FAEs are thought to be an optical signature of a plasma instability in the ionosphere. The FAEs from December 2015 were identified by citizen scientists as part of the Aurora Zoo project. ASK and SIF observations of polar cap aurora seen in two events in December 2015 and February 2016 have been analysed and published in Reidy et al., J. Geophys. Res., 2020 (doi:10.1029/2019JA027611). The work found that polar cap aurora formed in different ways on "open" and "closed" magnetic field lines has different behaviour on fine scales. |
URL | http://ask1.esr.eiscat.no/keos.html?yr=15&mo=12 |
Title | Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) data 2016-17 |
Description | Multi-wavelength images of the aurora in the magnetic zenith obtained from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, during the winter season 2016-2017. Images are obtained at either 20 frames per second or 32 frames per second. Approximately 24TB of data in total for 2016-2017. "Quicklook" summary plots are publicly available online. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Detailed analysis of an event has been published in Price, et al., J. Geophys Res. 2020, showing a new method for measuring the temperature profile of the neutral atmosphere between approximately 80 km and 160 km altitude in and around auroral features, together with neutral heating by auroral electric currents at very high resolution. The neutral temperature on one side of the auroral arc was increased by several hundred degrees. Analysis of a second event from February 2017 has revealed heating of the neutral atmosphere by intense magnetic field aligned currents embedded within curls seen in the aurora. This work has been published in David Price's PhD thesis (University of Southampton, 2021), and a corresponding journal article is in preparation. Data from January, February and March 2017 have been included in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project, with associated public engagement impacts. |
URL | http://ask1.esr.eiscat.no/keos.html?yr=16&mo=10 |
Title | Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) data 2017-18 |
Description | Multi-wavelength images of the aurora in the magnetic zenith obtained from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, during the winter season 2017-2018. Images are obtained at either 20 frames per second or 32 frames per second. Approximately 12TB of data in total for 2017-2018. "Quicklook" summary plots are publicly available online. Data from January 2018 have been included in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project, with associated public engagement impacts. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Specific events from the data set are currently being analysed. |
URL | http://ask1.esr.eiscat.no/keos.html?yr=17&mo=10 |
Title | Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) data 2018-19 |
Description | Multi-wavelength images of the aurora in the magnetic zenith obtained from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, during the winter season 2018-2019. Images are obtained at either 20 frames per second or 32 frames per second. Approximately 12TB of data in total for 2018-2019. "Quicklook" summary plots are publicly available online. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Specific events from the data set are currently being analysed. |
URL | http://ask1.esr.eiscat.no/keos.html?yr=18&mo=10 |
Title | Spectrographic Imaging Facility (SIF) data 2016-17 |
Description | The main component of SIF is the High Throughput Imaging Echelle Spectrograph (HiTIES), providing spectrographic measurements of the aurora in several specific wavelength ranges at 0.5s cadence. SIF is located at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory on Svalbard, Norway. "Quicklook" summary plots are available online. Approximately 4TB worth of data produced during the 2016-17 winter season. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Detailed analysis of an event has been published in Price, et al., J. Geophys Res. 2020, showing a new method for measuring the temperature profile of the neutral atmosphere between approximately 80 km and 160 km altitude in and around auroral features, together with neutral heating by auroral electric currents at very high resolution. The neutral temperature on one side of the auroral arc was increased by several hundred degrees. Analysis of a second event from February 2017 has revealed heating of the neutral atmosphere by intense magnetic field aligned currents embedded within curls seen in the aurora. This work has been published in David Price's PhD thesis (University of Southampton, 2021), and a corresponding journal article is in preparation. |
URL | http://sif.unis.no/hities_keos.php?yr=16&mo=10 |
Title | Spectrographic Imaging Facility (SIF) data 2017-18 |
Description | The main component of SIF is the High Throughput Imaging Echelle Spectrograph (HiTIES), providing spectrographic measurements of the aurora in several specific wavelength ranges at 0.5s cadence. SIF is located at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory on Svalbard, Norway. "Quicklook" summary plots are available online. Approximately 5TB worth of data produced during the 2017-18 winter season. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Several events in the data set are currently being analysed. |
URL | http://sif.unis.no/hities_keos.php?yr=17&mo=10 |
Title | Spectrographic Imaging Facility (SIF) data 2018-19 |
Description | The main component of SIF is the High Throughput Imaging Echelle Spectrograph (HiTIES), providing spectrographic measurements of the aurora in several specific wavelength ranges at 0.5s cadence. SIF is located at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory on Svalbard, Norway. "Quicklook" summary plots are available online. Approximately 5TB worth of data produced during the 2018-19 winter season. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Several events in the data set are currently being analysed. |
URL | http://sif.unis.no/hities_keos.php?yr=18&mo=10 |
Description | Aurora Zoo - School visits |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Aurora Zoo workshops for school children, both at schools and during visits to the University. Schools targeted for widening participation to physics and STEM subjects. In 2020 we worked with 4 specific schools on multiple visits, to promote deeper engagement. We also arranged skype chats with school children while on fieldwork on Svalbard in the high Arctic to discuss what we were doing and to answer questions. A range of evaluation methods have been used, but predominantly involve a quiz before an activity and a repeat after the activity, to assess changes in attitudes and knowledge. Children from backgrounds which are under represented in physics (girls, low income families, etc.) have reported an increased interest in pursuing a career in physics. Engagement with schools continued online during the second half of 2020 and the start of 2021, through pre-recorded videos and online presentations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 |
Description | BBC Radio Solent interview Jan 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Short interview on BBC Radio Solent, to discuss fieldwork on Svalbard and the aims of our research. Interview took place during the "drivetime" peak. Estimated 150,000-200,000 listeners. PhD student Jade Reidy was interviewed. Aim was to increase awareness and interest in the subject. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Light Up Poole 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A "photon shop" run by physicists, chemists and engineers from the University of Southampton for 3 nights during the Light Up Poole festival, February 2019. I ran an Aurora Zoo activity as part of the event. Members of the public classified auroral structures in order to help me and my team to perform large statistical studies. We discussed the science behind the aurora with the visitors, sparking many questions. Main purpose was to promote the Aurora Zoo and test the public's understanding of the tasks and interface used in this citizen science project, while the Aurora Zoo is in its testing phase. I made some changes to the interface as a result of my observations of the public taking part in the project. Numbers: 1077 members of the public (many families with children) visited the shop. 537 Aurora classifications made on the Aurora Zoo citizen science project. 343 bookmarks and leaflets distributed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://lightuppoole.co.uk/22-photon-shop/ |
Description | Light Up Poole 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A "photon shop" run by physicists and engineers from the University of Southampton for 3 nights during the Light Up Poole festival, February 2020. I ran an Aurora Zoo activity as part of the event. Members of the public classified auroral structures in order to help me and my team to perform large statistical studies. We discussed the science behind the aurora with the visitors, sparking many questions. Main purpose was to promote the Aurora Zoo and engage the public in active research. Numbers: Approx 2000 members of the public (many families with children) visited the shop. 589 Aurora classifications made on the Aurora Zoo citizen science project (www.aurorazoo.org). Several hundred bookmarks, pencils and fridge magnets distributed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://lightuppoole.co.uk/g2-what-do-you-have-faith-in-2/ |
Description | Science Museum "Summer of Space" - Aurora Zoo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | During May half-term we operated an "Aurora Zoo" stand at the Science Museum, where members of the public could learn about Aurora and contribute to research by classifying aurora as part of the Aurora Zoo citizen science project. 56 feedback forms were completed - 88% indicated something they had learnt, and all indicated a positive change in attitudes. The workshop influenced changes made to the Aurora Zoo interface and classification scheme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Southampton Aurora Quest campaign blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Blog describing work done during fieldwork campaigns on Svalbard. The original aim was to simply to test the team's ability to write a public blog (or similar) during intense fieldwork. The blog reached approximately 250 visitors during the first fieldwork period, and led to an interview on BBC Radio Solent. Following this initial success, the blog has been continued during subsequent fieldwork campaigns. Blog posts describe the aims of the research as well as participants experiences on Svalbard, and provide useful material for other public engagement activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020,2021 |
URL | https://southamptonauroraquest.wordpress.com/ |
Description | Southampton Science & Engineering Day 2019 - Aurora Zoo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approximately 110 members of the public took part in 4 "Aurora Zoo" workshops, in which I gave an interactive presentation on the aurora and the science behind it, followed by the audience participating in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project (www.aurorazoo.org). The workshop influenced changes I made to the interface and classification scheme in Aurora Zoo. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.sotsef.co.uk |
Description | Southampton Science & Engineering Day 2022 - Aurora Zoo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Several hundred children and adults of all ages took part in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project and engaged with the research team during the Southampton Science & Engineering Festival. Several people discussed career choices for young adults, and how to pursue a career in science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | http://www.sotsef.co.uk |
Description | Southampton Science & Engineering Day 2023 - Aurora Zoo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Several hundred children and adults of all ages took part in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project and engaged with the research team during the Southampton Science & Engineering Festival. The audience included scout/guide groups. Several people discussed career choices for young adults, and how to pursue a career in science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | http://www.sotsef.co.uk |