Optimization of Satellite Coverage in Observing Cause and Effect Changes in the Ionosphere, Magnetosphere, and Solar Wind

Abstract

Disturbances in the ionosphere sometimes cause adverse effects to communications systems, power grids, etc. on the earth. Currently, very little, if any, lead time is given to warn of an impending problem. If a forecast could be made of ionospheric occurrences, some lead time may be given to appropriate agencies and equipment may be saved. Most changes that occur in the ionosphere are a result of interaction of energy, currents, etc. between the magnetosphere and/or solar wind. Before a forecast can be made, however, improvement of ionospheric models currently in use need to be made. The models currently depict features in various regions of the ionosphere but not always where these features are actually observed. So an improvement to the model is needed to create an accurate baseline condition, or in other words an accurate depiction of the current ionosphere. Models could be improved by inputting real-time data from the ionosphere into the model. This data would come from satellites and/or ground-based stations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA267956

Entities

People

  • Martin J. Loveless

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Convection
  • Databases
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Energy Transfer
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • High Latitudes
  • Ionosphere
  • Ionospheric Models
  • Lead Time
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Polar Regions
  • Solar Wind
  • Time Intervals

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space