Characterization of the dynamics of the ionosphere in the sector of South America to Antarctica under the impacts of geospace and the internal atmosphere

• Grant number: 23/06293-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Emilia Correia
• Grantee: Emilia Correia
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alessandro José de Abreu ; Claudio Machado Paulo ; Cosme Alexandre Oliveira Barros Figueiredo ; Cristiano Max Wrasse ; Jean Pierre Raulin ; José Valentin Bageston ; Marcio Tadeu de Assis Honorato Muella

Abstract

The characterization of the conditions of the ionosphere is of great scientific interest, but it is also of interest to society, since its alterations affect the propagation of radio waves and, therefore, most of the current technological devices based on radio communication. Despite not being known to the general public, these problems are already recognized as a new natural risk, which affect applications based on satellite navigation, for example, and which can lead to serious accidents. The conditions of the ionosphere are highly variable, and some are predictable, in geomagnetically calm situations, when it changes depending on magnetic latitude and longitude, time of day and season of the year; but during geomagnetically active periods, they show additional variations on timescales from a few seconds to several days and even months associated with space weather conditions, and on tens of years associated with the solar cycle. These ionosphere changes are critical for users, civil and military, who use satellite navigation systems (GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite System), high frequency communications (HF - High Frequency) and for satellite control systems; and that in extreme cases can result in economic loss and damage to the environment. In this context, one of the main objectives of this project is the characterization of the dynamics of the ionosphere in the South American sector from the equatorial region to Antarctica in the face of different phenomena of space weather, as well as internal phenomena of our atmosphere. The results of this project will increase the knowledge of the causes, occurrences and location of ionospheric irregularities, which will allow subsidizing/defining a climatology of ionospheric irregularities in the American sector, which is of great interest to the current technological society, both civil and military. (AU)