Real-Time Imaging of the Ionosphere over the United Kingdom - Preliminary Results
Abstract
A novel ionospheric imaging technique has recently been developed at the University of Bath. Known as Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS), this technique is a tomographic algorithm that inverts dual-frequency carrier-phase measurements of Total Electron Content (TEC) to produce maps of ionospheric electron concentration in space and time. Using freely available GPS observation data from a large number of fixed dual-frequency GPS receivers, the MIDAS method has been very successful in mapping the horizontal distribution of vertical Total Electron Content (TEC) over the European region. There is, however, a latency of at least 24 hours in the availability of the GPS observation data. Furthermore, the density of receivers located on the mainland United Kingdom is very small. This makes it difficult to produce maps that show small-scale variations in vertical TEC over the UK. In this paper, we describe a project to produce detailed maps of vertical TEC in near real time over the mainland UK. Through a collaboration with BAE SYSTEMS, the UK Meteorological Office and the Ordnance Survey, a network of fixed GPS receivers will be used to facilitate the mapping of small-scale variations in vertical TEC. The GPS observation data from this network will be streamed directly to the University of Bath, where it will be processed using the MIDAS algorithm. It is intended that spatially detailed images of the ionosphere over the UK will be then available within one hour, using a purpose designed user interface.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA477026
Entities
People
- Cathryn N Mitchell
- Richard M. Dear
- Robert J. Watson
- Robert W. Meggs
Organizations
- University of Bath