Investigating the mystery of the African ionospheric irregularity
Abstract
Physical mechanisms for the formation of unique equatorial ionospheric irregularities in the African region are not yet fully understood by the scientific community due to lack of ground-based ionospheric monitoring instruments in the region. For example, the following questions are not yet answered: what causes the strong and frequent occurrence of irregularities that has been often observed in the African sector if the vertical plasma drift is weaker in the region? What causes the longitudinal difference of occurrence of irregularities within Atlantic-West Africa-East Africa longitudinal sectors? What physical mechanism is responsible for the occurrence of strong irregularity in the African ionosphere, especially during June solstice in which bubbles are usually not expected to occur? Investigating answers to these and similar questions will provide significant contribution to the scientific community in the understanding the dynamics of the equatorial ionosphere. This in turn will help to mitigate the impact of the ionosphere on GPS positioning, navigation, missile guidance, surveillance operation, and so on. Therefore, ground-based ionospheric monitoring instruments such as Coherent Backscatter Radar, VIPR Ionosonde, and SCINDA GPS receivers installed recently in the Ethiopia (particularly at Bahir Dar University, BDU) in collaboration between BDU and AFRL are pertinent resources to tackle these potential problems. In addition to facilities, dedicated and motivated researchers are required to solve the above problems. Pos-doc and PhD students at Bahir Dar University will be involved in research activities related to investigating answers to the above and similar research questions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2016
- Source ID
- FA95501610070
Entities
People
- Melessew Nigussie
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Bahir Dar University
- United States Air Force