Spatial Trajectory of Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances
Abstract
The STT project aims at the development of a working methodology for the identification of the spatial trajectory of traveling ionospheric disturbances (TID) based on the 3D version of the Topside Sounder Model assisted Digisonde model (TaD model). The results will be validated with data from Digisonde to Digisonde oblique skymaps, Vertical Incidence soundings and Continuous Doppler Soundings. The sensitivity of the TaD model to TID perturbations and its capability to track the electron density perturbations along a MEO satellite orbit has been demonstrated in a previous EOARD award. In this project based on the 3D Electron Density Distributions (EDD) extracted from the TaD model, we will demonstrate a methodology able to specify the propagation direction, the vertical and the horizontal velocity of the TID and most importantly, the height range of the maximum electron density perturbation and its variation with time. The height of the maximum perturbation cannot be extracted by other methods and it is expected to complement the results of ongoing projects for the development of a comprehensive TID detection system, able to support USAF operations. Furthermore, synthetic observations derived from the SAMI3 model will be compared with experimental observations of electron density perturbations, to assess the overall ionospheric dynamics and verify in this way physical mechanisms acting in the magnetosphere – ionosphere – atmosphere system which lead to the formation of the horizontal and vertical gradients, under different triggering conditions (meteorological driven and solar driven perturbations). The conclusions extracted from this comparison will be considered for possible upgrades of the TaD model components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501917019
Entities
People
- Anna Belehaki
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- National Observatory of Athens
- United States Air Force