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ASIM Mission Objectives

ASIM Mission Objectives. ASIM (Atmospheric Space Interaction Monitor) will study exstreame thunderstorms coupling to the upper atmosphere/space and their influence on climate – in particular:

marjorie-lazos
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ASIM Mission Objectives

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  1. ASIM Mission Objectives • ASIM (Atmospheric Space Interaction Monitor) will study exstreame thunderstorms coupling to the upper atmosphere/space and their influence on climate – in particular: • Electrical discharges between clouds and the ionosphere – the largest discharges known on our planet. • Generation of X- and Gamma-Rays and of antimatter. • Aerosols, water vapor transport and cloud formation. • DTU Space has proposed the Mission and has the scientific responsibility. The Mission is realised through ESA. Prime contractor for the project is Terma A/S in close colaboration with DTU Space and a large number of international subcontractors and suppliers. • The Payload consist of optical cameras, photometers and a X and  -ray detectors. • ASIM will be mounted on the external palette of the ESA Columbus module on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS). • Cost is approximately 150 Milion DKK and is financed primarely through ESA’s ELIPS programme and national contributions from Denmark, Norway and Spain. • Launch is planned for 2015 on Space-X, Dragon. Mission lifetime is approx. 2 years. • Elves. . . Rings of emissions at lower edge of the ionosphere • Sprites. . .Flashes in the mesosphere • 10-100 msduration • ~50 MJ energy. Hence the biggest energy bursts we know in the atmosphere (approx. 12 kg dynamite) • Jets. . . Injected from cloud tops into the stratosphere • 100-400 msduration • Primarily blue • X and  -rays. . . Positrons and electrons • 0.3-3 ms duration • 0.2-20 MeV • Why is this interresting ? • The events were initially discovered in 1989 – they are a natural part of the environment and we wish to understand the physics behind them. • Clouds and water vapor has great influence on the Earth climate. The verticale transport is reflected in clouds electrical characteristics - Large transport gives large activity. If we get a better understanding of the generation of clouds and transport of water vapor in the atmosphere we will be able to improve the earth climate & weather models.

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