Diego Janches

Research Interest: During the past decade, Diego Janches have been conducting research in radar meteor science, and have contributed in the development of a meteor observing program at two of the major NSF national facilities (Arecibo and Jicamarca Observatories). More recently, he has started using observations from the Sondrestrom radar in Greenland and is currently developing research programs utilizing lidars and meteor radars. The interdisciplinary nature of meteor science, continues to offer Diego the opportunity to be involved in a number of scientific areas. He investigates topics related to radio science, aeronomy, solar system studies, astronomy and the application of engineering solutions, which include the latest technologies to design more efficient data taking and analysis systems. Specifically, these topics include the study of the relationship between meteoric activity and the origins and chemistry of metallic layers in the upper atmosphere, the different mechanisms by which these particles lose their mass upon entry to the Earth’s atmosphere and the nature of the plasma responsible for the radar echo return. One program involves modeling the micrometeor input function using High Power and Large Aperture (HPLA) radar measurements while the second program, which is in collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Friedman at AO, requires the modification of the AO potassium (K) lidar system to perform direct meteor trails detections. In both research activities, Diego is currently supporting and supervising two graduate students who are doing their Aerospace Engineering PhD thesis work at the University of Colorado (CU). More recently, Diego's experience using ISR radars has given him the opportunity to carry out the first measurements of gravity wave momentum fluxes in the Mesospher/Lower Thermosphere (MLT) using the Dual-Beam capabilities of the 430 MHz AO radar. The astronomical aspects of the meteor work are the determination of orbits to study the origin and distribution of meteoroid populations and the dynamical properties of the interplanetary and interstellar dust. Diego is also involved in the development of radar digital receiving technologies at the AO in collaboration with Prof. Julio Urbina from the University of Arkansas (UALR). Diego's knowledge of meteor radars has given me the chance to participate in research programs that investigate the atmospheric dynamics in the MLT. This is due to the fact that a widely used technique to measure upper atmospheric winds involves the radar detection of meteor trails.

The results obtained have offered Diego the opportunity to publish refereed journal articles belonging to various fields of research. He has published in atmospheric sciences related journals such as Geophysical Research Letters (GRL), Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR), Journal of Atmospheric and Solar Terrestrial Physics (JASTP), Radio Science (RS) and Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP); Solar-System research related journals such as Icarus and Earth, Moon and Planets; and purely astronomical journals such as Astrophysical Journal (ApJ). He has been a guest editor in two special issues in ACP. and JASTP as well as convener for numerous sessions at different conferences. He has presented these results in many conferences representing different communities including the Coupling, Energetic and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions workshops (CEDAR), the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), Committee for Space Research (COSPAR), Asteroids, Comets and Meteors (ACM), Meteoroids and American and European Geophysical Union (AGU and EGU) meetings.

Professional Background, Publications, Presentations