The observations of localize ionospheric scintillation structure by FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 Tri-band Beacon network

• Published in: TAO : Terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic sciences atmospheric, and oceanic sciences, 2022-12, Vol.33 (1), p.1-9, Article 10
• Main Authors: Hsiao, Tung Yuan, Huang, Cheng-yung, Yeh, Wen-Hao, Tseng, Tzu-Pang, Chen, Kun-Lin, Macalalad, Ernest P., Vallar, Edgar A., Galvez, Maria Cecilia D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Antennas; Atmospheric Sciences; Beacon receiver; Beacon satellites; Data analysis; E region; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; F 2 region; F region; Height; Ionosphere; Ionospheric irregularity; Irregularities; Malformations; Oceanography; Original Article; Plasma; Propagation; Radio; Radio communications; Radio signals; Radio transmission; Receivers & amplifiers; Satellites; Scintillation; Signal processing; Software
• ISSN: 1017-0839; 2311-7680
• DOI: 10.1007/s44195-022-00010-6

The preliminary results of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 beacon data are presented in this paper, and the localized scintillation structure where the radio signals are affected by irregularities is recognized. Irregularities in the ionosphere will affect a radio transmission traveling through it. This study looked at a case of beacon satellite scintillation measurement from three stations in Chung-li (25.136N, 121.539E), Tsao-tun (23.981N, 120.697E), and Che-cheng (25.136N, 121.539E) (22.725N, 120.544E). The open-source coherent beacon receiver may receive beacon signals from beacon satellite systems such as the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC Tri-band Beacon Transmitter (150, 400, 1066.7 MHz) or the FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 Tri-band Beacon Transmitter (150, 400, 1066.7 MHz) (400, 965, and 2200 MHz). In Taiwan, the three stations were located around 360 km apart in a north–south direction. We can recognize the localize scintillation position where the radio signals are affected by abnormalities by projecting the course of the satellite’s orbit. Because the maximum potential height in the F2 layer is 350 km, the height was previously believed to be 350 km. We apply a project method to approximate the realistic height and length from the 3 stations by a scintillation case near midnight in order to improve on this assumption. As a result, the height of scintillation would be confirmed using the project approach, whether in the F layer or the E layer. Key Points We improve the new beacon receiver to receive six RF channels successfully. The first beacon observation data for FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 at Taiwan. The project method could be used to estimate the height of scintillation event.