OWLS: EUV-OP & CSOL

By: Thania Ruiz

Research Advisor: Dr. Ed Thiemann

Occultation Wave Limb Sounder - OWLSu What is an OWLS?

u It is a (1ft x 1ft) instrument that will measure how gravity waves(GW) affect the thermosphere.

u OWLS is under development to fly on the INSPIRESat3 MicroSatellite at Nanyang Technical University, Singapore.

u GW- caused by topography (Mountains) or atmospheric convection.

u It measures “thermospheric parameters via solar occultations” (Thiemann, 2019)

u Why do we want to know the effects of gravity waves on the thermosphere?

Effects on thermosphere?

u In recent decades, scientists realized that gravity waves can transport significant energy to the upper atmosphere.

u However, the overall effect of gravity waves on the upper atmosphere is still unknown, with some models predicting 100s of degrees of change and others predicting very little.

u OWLS will provide the measurements needed to quantify the relationship between the energy carried by gravity waves and the temperature of the thermosphere.

*Slide courtesy of Dr. Ed Thiemann

OWLS Measurements

*Occultation Wave Limb Sounder (OWLS) Science Overview Ed Themann INSPIRESat3 PDR

Extreme Ultra-Violet Occultation Photometers - EUV-OP

u What does the EUV-OP do?

u The EUV-OP measures the density and change in temperature of the thermosphere.

u This instrument is what I mostly worked on. The circuitry of this instrument was failing and part of my research was to find where it is not working and fix it!

Technical Stuff

u Resistor - Implements a resistance to the current flow

u Capacitor - An electrical component that stores energy in an electric field (I = C !"

!#)

u Inductor - An electronic component that stores energy in a magnetic field (V = L!$

!#)

u Diode - An electronic component that only allows current to flow in one direction

Circuit 1 and Circuit 2

U11 – Circuit 1U15 – Circuit 2

This circuit drives 10 µA through a temperature sensor. The corresponding voltage drop is correlated with temperature.

This circuit is a precision 12V regulator with a 15V input.

Circuit 3 and Circuit 4

U1 – Circuit 3 U5 – Circuit 4

This circuit purpose is to convert 5V to 15V.

This circuit purpose is to invert input of 5V to -15V.

CSOL – Compact Solstice

Off-Axis Parabolic MirrorCoating: Bare GoldEffective Focal Length: 4 in (101 mm)Wavelength Range: 800 – 15,000 nm

CSOL Resolution

Frequency: ~20 mm-1

Distance: 0.05 mmImage size: 0.9 mm

References

u Dr. Ed Thiemann, Mr. Richard Kohnert, Dr. Scott England, Dr.Katelynn Greer and Dr. Eric Sutton, “The Occultation Wave Limb Sounder for Measuring ThermosphericTemperature Response to Gravity Wave Forcing.” Project Proposal Paper LASP (2019) 1-16.

u “Main Difference between Capacitor and Inductor.” Electronics, Projects, Focus, ELPROCUS, 2013, Roberts-Artal, Laura. “Clouds- Gravity Waves .” EGU-Blogs, GEOLog, 10 Apr. 2017, blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2017/04/10/imaggeo-on-mondays-atmospheric-gravity-waves/.

u Imagesu Fritts, David. “Gravity Waves.” Deep Wave, UCAR/NCAR,

www.eol.ucar.edu/deepwave/eo

u Roberts-Artal, Laura. “Clouds- Gravity Waves .” EGU-Blogs, GEOLog, 10 Apr. 2017, blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2017/04/10/imaggeo-on-mondays-atmospheric-gravity-waves/.

Special Thanks

Research Mentor: Ed Thiemann

REU directors: Marty Snow, Claire Raftery and Willow Reed