| NSF Org: |
OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | March 5, 2014 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | March 5, 2014 |
| Award Number: | 1432933 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Vladimir Papitashvili
vpapita@nsf.gov (703)292-7425 OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP) GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | March 1, 2014 |
| End Date: | February 28, 2015 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $9,841.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $9,841.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
11828 CANON BLVD STE D NEWPORT NEWS VA US 23606-2554 (757)873-5920 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
3360 Mitchell Lane, Suite C Boulder CO US 80301-2775 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | ANT Astrophys & Geospace Sci |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.078 |
ABSTRACT
An advanced meteor radar, the Drake Antarctic Agile Meteor Radar (DrAAMeR), was installed by our team at the Brazilian Antarctic Base Cmd. Ferraz at 62.1oS on King George Island in March 2010 under NSF Grant OPP-0839084. Initial measurements contributed to several multi-radar studies addressing large-scale and small-scale dynamics, and several other papers partially prepared under previous NSF funding. Unfortunately, these measurements were terminated in late January 2012 when a fire destroyed Ferraz Base. However, our Brazilian colleagues at INPE have now rebuilt Ferraz, and power was restored in January 2014. Given the success of the Ferraz repairs, our Brazilian colleagues are now eager to also restore the various measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) that were previously being made at Ferraz,including those with DrAAMeR.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
A team of two US scientists traveled with the Brazilian Air Force to Frei on King George Island in the Drake Passage, and then with the Brazilian Navy from Frei to the Brazilian Antarctic base of Cmd. Ferraz, in mid March 2014. The purpose of the trip was to assess the condition of, and return to operation, a meteor radar that was installed at Ferraz in March 2010 by an American and Canadian team, with assistance from Brazilian scientists/colleagues. A tragic fire destroyed the base in February 2012, and the Brazilians had only rebuilt the base and restored power in early 2014. Due to equipment malfunction and logistical issues, our team was not able to reach the radar site until 18 March, at which time they determined that the radar antennas were in reasonable condition, requiring only minor repairs. The electronics also appeard to function normally, apart from a power conditioning unit that failed and for which there was not a replacement at Ferraz. All base personnel were required to return to the Navy ship the following day because of inclement weather, and subsequent efforts to bring the radar back online were prevented by an inability to return to Fezzaz, despite very good weather, due to concerns about the potential for adverse weather to impact logistics and return of the ship and base personnel to Frei at the end of the season.
Thus, our goal to return the radar to operations was not achieved, but we now know just what is needed to complete this task when we next have an opportunity to return to Ferraz. We hope this will lead to restoration of radar operations in early 2016.
Last Modified: 05/20/2015
Modified by: David C Fritts
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