Characterization of the Ionosphere over the South Atlantic Ocean by Means of Ionospheric Tomography using Dual Frequency GPS Signals Received On Board a Research Ship

Abstract

This paper reports a novel approach to extend the coverage of terrestrial ionospheric measurements over a poorly characterized region of the South Atlantic Ocean, including the South Atlantic Anomaly, by using dual frequency GPS signals received on board the South African polar research ship SA Agulhas. The routes of the SA Agulhas to the South Atlantic Islands, Gough (40 deg 17 sec S, 9 deg 58 sec W, Mag lat 42 deg S) and Marion (46 deg 52 sec S, 37 deg 5 sec E, Mag lat 51 deg S) and the South African Antarctic base SANAE IV (71 deg 40 sec S, 2 deg 51 sec W, Mag lat 61 deg S) present unique locations for investigating the variability of the upper atmosphere in the high latitudes in the vicinity of the South Atlantic Anomaly and its link with the near-Earth space environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA477027

Entities

People

  • Ben D. Opperman
  • Cathryn N Mitchell
  • Pierre J. Cilliers

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Electron Density
  • Elevation
  • Environment
  • Frequency
  • High Latitudes
  • Ionosphere
  • Latitude
  • Observation
  • Research Ships
  • Satellite Orbits
  • South Atlantic Ocean
  • Space Weather
  • Spacecraft
  • Wave Propagation

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Oceanography.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space