Transcript The Ionosphere

Polar and South Atlantic Space Weather
studies during IPY/IHY
Ben Opperman, Pierre Cilliers.
Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, South Africa.
IPY Kick-off meeting, Helsinki. 5 – 9 Feb 2007
http://www.hmo.ac.za
Hermanus Magnetic Observatory
(19° 13’E, 34° 25’S)
Established 1932 (2nd Polar Year)
 Intermagnet station
 Space Physics Research (Magnetosphere,
ULF pulsations, Ionosphere, Waves in dusty
plasmas, VLF waves, Neural network
applications in space physics)
 Science Outreach (Schools, Public,
undergrad, graduate students)

Operational HMO Instruments
-20
TSUMEB
-22
MADIMBO
-24
Latitude [Degrees]
-26
HARTEBEESTHOEK
KEETMANSHOOP
-28
LOUISVALE
-30
DURBAN
-32
MAGNETOMETER
-34
VLF
GRAHAMSTOWN
IONOSONDE
HERMANUS
CAPE TOWN
-36
15
20
25
Longitude [Degrees]
30
35
Operational HMO instruments (2)

SHARE HF Radar at Vesleskarvet, Antarctica (2° 50’W, 71° 40’S)

GPS receiver, Marion Island (37°5'E, 46°54’S)
SANAP IPY/IHY ICESTAR Projects

Project 1: Multi-instrument observation and modelling of the high
latitude ionosphere and magnetosphere using GPS Receiver at SANAE
IV, Ionospheric Scintillation Receivers at SANAE IV and Marion Island,
VLF Receivers at SANAE IV and Marion Island, GPS/LEO Occultation
from CHAMP satellite, and dual frequency GPS receiver on board SA
Agulhas research ship.

Project 2: Magnetic Field Observations in the polar regions using
existing pulsation magnetometers at SANAE IV, a new suspended dIdD
absolute magnetometer, and a new dI-flux magnetometer-theodelite.
These measurements will be coupled with simultaneous measurements
at the near-conjugate INTERMAGNET Narsarsuag (61.2˚N, 45.43˚W)
magnetic observatory in Greenland.

Project 3: Ionospheric studies with riometers and aurora imaging
using 64-element narrow angle imaging riometer at 38.2 MHz, broad
beam riometers at 51.4 and 30 MHz, a low-level white-light, digitized allsky auroral camera, and a narrow angle (field of view 25o) colour
camera, two three-component fluxgate magnetometers.

Project 4: Promotion of public interest in Space Science through
presentation of IPY/IHY research activities and outcomes at Schools,
Science Fairs, at NASSP Colloquia, Summer and Winter Schools offered
at the HMO, local conferences and in the public media, using much of
the material prepared for this purpose by the international community.

The participation in IPY/IHY will serve as a focus for the Science
Outreach programmes of the Interactive Science Centre of Hermanus
Magnetic Observatory and will be made known via the South African
Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA).
IP(H)Y - SA
NWU
ISSA
HMO
UP
HartRAO
UKZN
RU
24E
INGV
Area of Interest : South Atlantic
Theoretical South Atlantic
coverage of the coastal and
island-based dual
frequency GPS receivers.
GOUG
10º elevation angle cut-off, and
an ionospheric peak density
height, hmF2=350 km, is
assumed
MARION
BOUVET
KERGEULEN
LPGS
SYOG
VESL
MAW1
DAV1
OHI2
PALM
CAS1
INGV
http://www.hmo.ac.za
Ship-based ionospheric measurements
SA Agulhas
GPS receiver
Cape Town to SANAE IV 1-14 December 2005
x1011/m3
TECU
Ionospheric Pierce Points (IPPs) at hourly
intervals for all satellite ray paths observed along
the route of the SA Agulhas on its first trip to
Antarctica during which measurements were
made of the ionosphere over the South Atlantic
Ocean using a GPS dual frequency receiver. The
colours indicate bias-corrected VTEC at the IPPs.
Electron density distribution (x1011 /m3) along longitude
=0º at 10:00 UT. Derived by ionospheric tomography
using MIDAS from measurements made during the trip
of the SA Agulhas to Antarctica on day 7 of the trip. The
location of the ship at the time is shown by the red dot
on the trajectory. Note the interesting high latitude
structure resolved by the inversion.
http://www.hmo.ac.za
Cape Town to Marion Island 6-12 April 2006
x1011/m3
TECU
IPPs for one hour intervals for all satellite ray paths
observed along the route of the SA Agulhas on its
first trip to Marion Island (6-12 Apr 2006) after
being equipped with a dual frequency GPS
receiver.
Colours show bias-corrected VTEC values.
Electron density distribution (x1011 /m3) along
longitude =30º for 10:00 UT on 09 Apr 2006. Derived
by ionospheric tomography using MIDAS from GPS
data recorded on the SA Agulhas during its trip to
Marion Island when the ship was at about (42ºS, 30º
E).
http://www.hmo.ac.za
Conjugate trajectories of SA Agulhas
Dec 2006, 2007,
2008
03, 04, 05, 08, 10,
2007/8
09-10 2007/8
IPY Instruments Vesleskarvet (1)
EuroPak 3M
Receiver with
dimensions
235 * 154 * 71 mm
Ionospheric Scintillation Monitor (Novatel)
IPY Instruments Vesleskarvet (2)
SUPERDARN HF Radar
Imaging Riometer
IPY Instruments Vesleskarvet (3)
ISM
Magnetometer
Scientists
IPY Instruments not shown

VLF receivers
Challenges





Data communication
Thin VSAT communication link
Aim for < 24-hour magnetometer and ISM data
Radar data will take (little) longer
Marion (Gough?) ISM to be installed May
(September?)
The adventure has begun

Thank you