Study of the temporal and spatial dependence between plasma irregularities and total electron content as a basis to the development of a ionospheric scintillation model: simultaneous investigation of ionospheric radiotomography

• Grant number: 08/04892-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2008
• End date: August 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Eurico Rodrigues de Paula
• Grantee: Marcio Tadeu de Assis Honorato Muella
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The relation between two important ionospheric geophysical properties measured from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite signals, amplitude scintillation and Total Electron Content (TEC), will be studied. These properties reveal information about ionospheric irregularities behavior and dynamics. A multi-instrumental data assimilation algorithm employing inverse problem concepts will be used to generate bidimensional maps that relate simultaneous measurements of the two properties. Applying ionospheric radiotomography techniques, ionospheric electron density will be reconstructed by processing TEC data in MIDAS algorithm. Additionally, coupling in the algorithm informations about the ionospheric irregularity zonal drift velocities inferred from spaced GPS receivers, the relation between the temporal and spatial dependence and dynamics of scintillation and TEC will be investigated. Simultaneous measurements made by other instruments, by ionospheric and neutral atmospheric model results and ionospheric irregularities model will be used in the interpretation of the results. Following, using data from C/NOFS satellite (launched in April 2008), tridimensional maps of electron density will be used in the validation of the tomographic reconstructions. Further investigations about any specific relationship between the ionospheric physical parameters detected from signals transmitted by GPS satellites are needed in the scientific community. The results obtained in this study will be used as a basis to the development and validation of one L band GPS scintillation model for the Brazilian sector, and also to evaluate space weather effects over GPS system integrity. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MUELLA, M. T. A. H.; KHERANI, E. A.; DE PAULA, E. R.; CERRUTI, A. P.; KINTNER, P. M.; KANTOR, I. J.; MITCHELL, C. N.; BATISTA, I. S.; ABDU, M. A.. Scintillation-producing Fresnel-scale irregularities associated with the regions of steepest TEC gradients adjacent to the equatorial ionization anomaly. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, v. 115, MAR 4 2010. (08/04892-5)

MUELLA, M. T. A. H.; DE PAULA, E. R.; FAGUNDES, P. R.; BITTENCOURT, J. A.; SAHAI, Y.. Thermospheric Meridional Wind Control on Equatorial Scintillations and the Role of the Evening F-Region Height Rise, E x B Drift Velocities and F2-Peak Density Gradients. SURVEYS IN GEOPHYSICS, v. 31, n. 5, p. 509-530, SEP 2010. (08/05482-5, 08/04892-5)

MUELLA, M. T. A. H.; KHERANI, E. A.; DE PAULA, E. R.; CERRUTI, A. P.; KINTNER, P. M.; KANTOR, I. J.; MITCHELL, C. N.; BATISTA, I. S.; ABDU, M. A.. Scintillation-producing Fresnel-scale irregularities associated with the regions of steepest TEC gradients adjacent to the equatorial ionization anomaly. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 115, p. 19-pg., 2010-03-04. (08/04892-5)

DE PAULA, E. R.; MUELLA, M. T. A. H.; SOBRAL, J. H. A.; ABDU, M. A.; BATISTA, I. S.; BEACH, T. L.; GROVES, K. M.. Magnetic conjugate point observations of kilometer and hundred-meter scale irregularities and zonal drifts. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 115, p. 15-pg., 2010-08-10. (08/04892-5)

DE PAULA, E. R.; MUELLA, M. T. A. H.; SOBRAL, J. H. A.; ABDU, M. A.; BATISTA, I. S.; BEACH, T. L.; GROVES, K. M.. Magnetic conjugate point observations of kilometer and hundred-meter scale irregularities and zonal drifts. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, v. 115, AUG 10 2010. (08/04892-5)

MUELLA, MARCIO T. A. H.; DE PAULA, EURICO R.; MONTEIRO, ALAN A.. Ionospheric Scintillation and Dynamics of Fresnel-Scale Irregularities in the Inner Region of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly. SURVEYS IN GEOPHYSICS, v. 34, n. 2, p. 233-251, MAR 2013. (10/03545-0, 08/04892-5)

MUELLA, MARCIO T. A. H.; DE PAULA, EURICO R.; JONAH, OLUSEGUN F.. GPS L1-Frequency Observations of Equatorial Scintillations and Irregularity Zonal Velocities. SURVEYS IN GEOPHYSICS, v. 35, n. 2, p. 335-357, MAR 2014. (12/06598-2, 08/04892-5)