STUDY OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN UPPER ATMOSPHERE IN THE AMAZON REGION USING ALL-SKY OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS AND FABRY-PEROT INTERFEROMETERS

• Grant number: 23/04783-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Alvares Pimenta
• Grantee: Alexandre Alvares Pimenta
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Jonas Rodrigues de Souza

Abstract

The INPE Laboratory in the Amazon for Research in the Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere - LAPAAI, in the Cuieiras biological reserve in Manaus, ZF-2, has as its main objective to study the climate changes that are possibly occurring in the upper atmosphere. In order to expand the field of coverage of temperature measurements/images in the upper atmosphere/ionosphere in the Amazon region, we have recently developed a second all-sky type imager at Inpe's Laser laboratory capable of measuring the temperature at around 87 km of altitude and at the same time covering large horizontal areas (field of view of about 800 km in diameter). This new equipment will be installed in the newly created observation site (a container), located between the cities of Manaus-AM and Belém-PA. This proposal requests the purchase of an air-conditioned container to house this new scientific equipment (and others in the future), a 15 kW photovoltaic generator to power the electrical-electronic/scientific equipment, and capital and costing resources. The Amazon region, as it is a sparsely populated region, provides excellent conditions (few artificial lights generated by cities) for the operation of optical scientific equipment that uses atmospheric luminescence for research in the upper atmosphere and terrestrial ionosphere. Because it is a very sensitive region and because it has a very extensive biodiversity, which strongly influences other regions of Brazil, the study of climate change in the upper atmosphere in the Amazon can guide public policies aimed at preserving this region. Research focused on climate change in the upper atmosphere (in an altitude range between 60 km and 600 km) is relatively rare compared to the lower atmosphere. Therefore, our research will be able to complement studies that are being carried out in the lower atmosphere of our planet, related to climate change. One of the specific objectives of the research is to assess how the temperature in the upper atmosphere in the Amazon region varies over at least one solar cycle (a period of at least 11 years) and what are the possible anthropogenic agents that may be acting for this change. in the temperature of the region. The data (images) obtained with the optical instrumentation installed in the laboratory can also be used for research related to irregularities in the ionospheric plasma that occur in the Amazon. Among these irregularities, we can mention the plasma bubbles that are generated in the equatorial region and strongly affect satellite signals. The data produced by the equipment installed at LAPAAI will be made available on the data platform of Inpe's Space Weather Division (http://www2.inpe.br/climaespacial/SWMonitorUser/?lan=pt), for use by multiple users. (AU)