Sensor and Analysis Developments for Near-Earth Plasma Density Investigations

With the progressive increase in solar activity, effects in the near-earth space environment (space weather) are becoming more intense and variable. They are manifested as increased plasma content of the ionosphere and protonosphere and as greater variability in these regions, with impacts on Global...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andreasen, A M, Fremouw, E J, Mazzella, A J , Jr
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Astrophysics
Atmospheric Physics
COMMUNICATION AND RADIO SYSTEMS
DENSITY
DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT
EARTH(PLANET)
ELECTRONS
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
GPS(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
GROUND BASED
HAARP(HIGH-FREQUENCY ACTIVE AURORAL RESEAERCH PROGRAM)
IONOSPHERE
LIMITATIONS
NAVIGATION
PE62601F
PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
RADIO WAVES
REAL TIME
SCINTILLATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SPACE ENVIRONMENTS
WUAFRLDMSPGHAB
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Summary:With the progressive increase in solar activity, effects in the near-earth space environment (space weather) are becoming more intense and variable. They are manifested as increased plasma content of the ionosphere and protonosphere and as greater variability in these regions, with impacts on Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, radio-wave communications, and other applications. This report summarizes research performed in the second year of a contract intended to: (a) investigate natural variations in total electron content (TEC) and scintillation associated with solar activity, and (b) observe artificially induced changes in the ionosphere by means of ground-based radio-wave emissions. The efforts for this second year included collection and processing of TEC data from the USAF Ionospheric Measuring Systems deployed at various sites, development of techniques for monitoring the electron content of the protonosphere. augmenting capabilities for providing near-real-time data for space-weather monitoring for the Space Environment Network Display, and coordinating and implementing development of diagnostic instruments for the High-frequency Active Aurora Research Program. Technical developments also were pursued to avoid the effects of artificial limitations imposed by the Year 2000' problem and the similar 'GPS Week Poll-over'.