Form 442 Question 7 Experimentation Description

0207-EX-ML-2015 Text Documents

Board of Trustees, University of Florida

2015-09-21ELS_167359

We propose to operate an ionospheric sounder, or digisonde, at the Ordway Swisher Biological
Station for a period of ten years.

This research effort aims to perform electromagnetic observations of the long distance effects of
lightning. We are investigating the effects of both natural and rocket-triggered lightning on the
ionosphere (60-300 km altitude). Natural lightning occurs often in Florida, so we expect to make
immediate use of the radio sounder. We also conduct rocket-triggered lightning experiments at
the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida.
Rocket-triggered lightning provides a unique opportunity to perform high resolution
measurements of the effects of lightning, primarily because we know when and where we will
launch the rocket (at Camp Blanding).

The digisonde consists of a ~100-foot tower with an antenna at the top. Several small receiving
antennas are placed a short distance away from the tower. The entire system requires ~1 acre of
space. The digisonde broadcasts short bursts of radio waves between 1 and 20 MHz and listens
for the radio echoes as the waves reflect from the ionosphere. The system is used to quantify the
electron density of the ionosphere as a function of altitude between ~100 and 300 km. We expect
that thunderstorms and lightning will produce changes in electron density at these altitudes, and
we aim to prove it using this instrument. The digisonde is remotely operable. It is connected to
power and Internet. The general mode of operation will be for the digisonde to perform on
ionospheric scan per hour. During thunderstorms over Florida, scans will be performed more
frequently.

Document Created: 2015-09-21 15:54:19
Document Modified: 2015-09-21 15:54:19

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