FIREBIRD Mission Background and Science Overview



Home

Andrew Seel and I worked together to understand the science behind the FIREBIRD Mission and develop software for use after the two FIREBIRD Satellites are launched in December 2013.

The FIREBIRD Mission consists of two satellites working together to answer the following:

  • What is the spatial scale size of an individual microburst?
  • What is the energy dependence of an individual microburst?
  • How much total electron loss from the radiation belts do microbursts produce globally?

  • My goal for the summer was to understand the science behind Electron Microbursts and Chorus Waves. Provided below is a very brief description of these two phenomena.
    For more information see the final presentation and Science Overview document.

    Whistler Mode Chorus: Bursts of Very-Low-Frequency (VLF) electromagnetic energy produced through various means.
    These chorus bursts propogate within plasma in the radiation belts which follow earth's magnetic field lines.

    Electron Microbursts: Bursty energetic particle precipitation down onto the ionosphere.
    Commonly observed as a sign of rapid radiation belt electron scattering.