Collaborative Research: Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) Facility Research and Operations--Imaging Convection at Small Scales Globally

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $1,438,206 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network, or SuperDARN, is an international collaborative experiment for observations of plasma motions in Earth’s upper atmosphere. By observing ionospheric plasma motions, a multitude of geophysical processes are being studied. These processes range from fundamental plasma instabilities to the global-scale plasma response to changes in the solar-terrestrial environment. Each of these areas of study contributes to developing an understanding of the coupling of energy from the Sun into Earth’s upper atmosphere and its effects on humanity and technological systems. This project will support operations and maintenance of the U.S. SuperDARN radars in the northern hemisphere by the consortium of Penn State University, Virginia Tech, Dartmouth College, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The collaboration operates twelve radars that cover a vast region from Alaska to Iceland at high latitudes, and Oregon to Virginia at middle latitudes. In addition to operation and maintenance activities, the project will support a program of research that exploits new capabilities that have been developed over the last several years. This includes providing improved fidelity in measurements (plasma convection mapping and imaging), extending the area over which measurements are obtained (bistatic observations), and providing new types of measurements (sounding). SuperDARN has a long-standing commitment to including graduate students in all a

Key facts

NSF award ID
2426200
Awardee
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA)
SAM.gov UEI
QDE5UHE5XD16
PI
J Michael M Ruohoniemi
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Estimated total
$1,438,206
Funds obligated
$1,112,084
Transaction type
Continuing Grant
Period
08/15/2025 → 07/31/2028