Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Nov 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006ihy..worke..64g&link_type=abstract
2nd UN/NASA Workshop on International Heliophysical Year and Basic Space Science. Proceedings of the conference held 27 Novembe
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
The first communications satellites were launched in the early 1960s to support the needs of a small and specialized user community. Since that time the number of systems has expanded dramatically so that a majority of the world’s population now benefits from the communication and navigation services available. As the use of space-based RF systems has increased, the impacts of ionospheric disturbances have become more significant. The most serious effect of these disturbances is known as scintillation, a phenomenon caused by small-scale variations in electron density (irregularities) along the propagation path that result, principally through diffraction, in rapid amplitude and phase fluctuations of the radio wave. Substantial mid- latitude disturbances are generally associated with infrequent magnetic storm events, but significant irregularities form routinely at both high and low latitudes. At equatorial latitudes, the occurrence of post-sunset Spread F is of special concern because the region affected comprises more than 30% of the earth’s surface and the effects on VHF and UHF radio wave propagation are severe. To better characterize this phenomenon and now cast its occurrence, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has developed a ground-based sensor system to autonomously monitor scintillation using available satellite beacons such as geostationary satellite communication signals and GPS. Known as the Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA), the system performs real- time on-site calculations of scintillation parameters, zonal drift velocity and total electron content (TEC) and retrieves the data from low-latitude stations via the internet at regular intervals. Fourteen sites have been established thus far and the network is expected to double over the next two years with expansion across Africa and Asia. The African sector is of special interest because very limited historical ground-based observations exist while recent satellite data suggest global activity may actually peak over the continent. The goal is to establish new monitoring sites in time to support the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007 and maintain the sensors operation through the next solar maximum in 2011-12.
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