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Study of the aurora phenomenon in the northern and southern polar regions
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Positioned directly beneath the auroral zone,
Syowa Station is ideally located for observing
auroras. The "Syowa South" and "Syowa East"
HF radars at Syowa Station are important
elements in the SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral
Radar Network). These radars are used for
observing the ionosphere over the South Pole and
Chinese Zhongshan Station, respectively. We have
installed aurora observation instruments at these
stations in order to compare with the radar
observation. We have been studying the symmetry
and asymmetry of auroras in the northern and
southern polar regions using the data from Syowa
Station and its geomagnetic conjugate-pair
stations in Iceland. Our advanced studies of
auroras include micro-structure observation,
monochromatic imaging at multiple emission
lines, and 3D reconstruction of auroral forms from
multiple observation points using tomography.
When combined with these observational results,
computer simulation becomes a powerful tool for
investigating the physical processes of auroras.
*clicke to large image
Automated Magnetometer Network
Observation
In order to measure the current system in the
polar ionosphere, unmanned magnetometer
networks are being extended into the interior of
the Antarctic continent through international
collaborations. We are developing automated
magnetometers that work with less than 1 watt of
power, operate in temperatures below -40¡ëC, and
transfer the data to Japan via polar orbiting
satellites.
*click to large image
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