Ground-based Antarctic measurements to support heliophysics research

Recently, NASA has been holding community workshops with the space physics community to prepare the next solar and space physics decadal survey. Ground based measurement programs have been discussed and there was specific discussion of past, present, and potential future uses of Antarctic measurements. For the past, discussion of the groundbreaking work accomplished during the IGY and IPY and the enabling resources. For present activities, the high resolution gamma-ray imaging of solar flares from long-duration balloons launched from McMurdo as well as balloon-borne coronagraphs to measure low-coronal magnetic fields over 2 week circumpolar flight were discussed as important to research progress. Additionally, the expanded networks of ground magnetometers and HF radars enable new and improved remote sensing capabilities for electrical current systems and hydromagnetic waves in both hemispheres simultaneously. GNSS TEC (total electron content obtained from GPS satellite signal analysis) are very important and are a secondary use of the Polenet gps array measurements. This points to the broader utilization of measurements, in this case by a different research community than the one collecting the measurements.

Regarding future needs, expanding the GNSS-TEC observations, installing auroral imagers, and expanding the ground network of magnetometers are important goals. Expanding the geographical distribution of neutron monitors would enable routine determination of anisotropic effects of radiation storms on the atmosphere. This is important to consider because the National Space Weather Program has become a topic of considerable importance in Congress, and is coordinated within the White House. Measurements and the development of models to predict space weather and the impacts on the technologies upon which we depend (power distribution, communication, navigation etc.) have risen to a national security issue that some would consider to be nearly as important as climate change. Noting the importance of Antarctic observing programs presently supported by the core programs to this enterprise adds importance to improving the infrastructure and logistical capability to maintain the measurement programs that contribute to the National Space Weather Program and to consider expansion of those programs.