Call for participation

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(2) International coordinated observations along the 120E/60W Meridian 
Circle
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From Shunrong Zhang (shunrong at haystack.mit.edu).

Dynamics and coupling processes in the geospace system of the 
magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere often exhibit complex temporal and spatial
characteristics. The meridian circle of 120E/60W longitude across America
and Asian longitude sectors is of particular geophysical interest arising
from the fact of distinctive and opposite offsets associated with 
geomagnetic field configuration.  Space weather and climate along the circle have
demonstrated various important aspects as a function of longitude and 
latitude. Further understanding the underlying sciences driving vertical coupling and
horizontal variability requires dedicated and coordinated observations. We
are organizing observational campaigns on a global scale to improve our
capability in space weather and climate monitoring along the circle and
promoting relevant research efforts.

Core ground-based upper atmospheric observational facilities consist of 
Chinese Meridian Project observatories in Asia sectors, a newly operational 
space weather monitoring system, and US-NSF geospace facilities (in particular, 
incoherent scatter radars as well as other optical and radio instruments) in America
sectors. Many other facilities from Japan, China and those neighboring 
Asian countries are also planning to join the campaign. Our focus is the 120E/60W
meridian, however, observations from surrounding areas can put us on an
appropriate context, and therefore are strongly encouraged to participate.
Two observational windows have been selected with an intention to encounter
space weather disturbances:

(1) March 24 (0000 UT) – April 6 (2400UT), 2014

(2) September 16 (0000UT) – October 1 (2400UT), 2014

Data collected from the campaigns will be made available at the 
Madrigal/CEDAR database, the Meridian Project database center, and other local data 
inventories. We are looking forward to interested parties in participating data taking,
modeling, and science analysis.

Coordinators:
Shunrong Zhang (srzhang(at)haystack.mit.edu) and John Foster,
Haystack/Millstone Hill Observatory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Guotao Yang and Zhaohui Huang,
National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences