TIMED Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics TIMEDGUVI

TIMED Thermosphere • Ionosphere • Mesosphere • Energetics and Dynamics TIMED-GUVI for Nowcasting by R. A. Goldberg and J. B. Sigwarth NASA/GSFC and L. J. Paxton JHU/APL R 2 O Workshop. NASA/GSFC 15 -18 October 2007

Approach § Provide an introduction to the TIMED-GUVI instrument. § Define the region of the atmosphere measured by GUVI. § Define some of the complexities of the atmosphere which complicate studies using GUVI data. § Demonstrate where GUVI becomes a useful and important instrument for measurement and prediction. § Show GUVI could be applied to nowcasting.

The TIMED Satellite TIMED: Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics & Dynamics • Mission launched on December 7, 2001. • Circular Orbit, 625 km, 74. 1° Inclination. • Data available since January 25, 2002. • 4 instruments: GUVI, SEE, TIDI, SABER latitudinal coverage Example of an orbit

GUVI is Designed to Produce Space Environment Products for Nowcasting of the Mesospheric- Thermospheric. Ionospheric (MTI) Environment §GUVI was launched from Vandenberg AF Base on December 7, 2001. It has been operating continuously since launch. §GUVI measures the far ultraviolet emissions from the Earth’s upper atmosphere. §GUVI software can convert the radiance observations into sensor data records for context and imaging and into environmental data records for use by operators interested in nowcasting of space weather. §The key products are §Electron Density Profiles (day and night) §Neutral Density Profiles (day) §Auroral Energy Deposition Rate (day and night) §Auroral Oval Location (day and night) TIMED Delta II Launch, 12/07/01

GUVI is a Hyperspectral Imager

GUVI Focuses on the Space Weather in the Earth’s Upper Atmosphere GUVI Regime This is the region where radio signals are affected by the ionosphere and satellite’s experience atmospheric drag.

How Predictable is the State of the Upper Atmosphere?

Add the Earth’s Magnetic Field

Put the System in Geospace: Add the Solar Wind and Interplanetary Magnetic Field

Add Geomagnetic Storms Which Occur Throughout the 11 year Solar Cycle.

For RF Users Scintillation is a Significant Concern

Ionospheric Disturbances are Created in the Auroral Region and Propagate Toward the Equator

The Challenge is to Capture the Physics in a Way that Addresses Related Needs GUVI data are recorded on S/C and downlinked Data reformatted for processing Calibration applied to convert from counts to radiance Each pixel is located on the Earth Radiance data are regridded into superpixels - Sensor Data Records (SDR or LC 1) Pixels are separated by region: Day, Night, and Aurora Each regions data are processed to produce the Environmental Data Records (EDR or L 2) GUVI data are ingested by models to produce higher level forecast and nowcast products (L 3)

GUVI EDRs § GUVI can provide intensity maps and environmental parameters to a user. § The SDRs are calibrated and geolocated and will be ingested by GAIM. § EDRs have been processed to produce “space weather” products that can provide space situational awareness. Cross-hatched area indicates GUVI coverage on one orbit - over 10, 000 ionospheric observations per orbit.

The Position and Extent of the Auroral Oval Is Important Current ovation model GUVI swath Auroral oval location § GUVI provides a day/night all-weather, all conditions capability to image the oval. § The auroral maps the location of ionospheric disturbances – these disturbances will create “blind spots” for over-the-horizon radars. § Current scenarios put aircraft and missile tracks through the auroral region where ionospheric disturbances exist, the IR background clutter is enhanced and ionospheric disturbances are created that propagate down to lower latitudes. § Current operational models forecasting the position of the oval are “data starved”. GUVI would decrease the revisit time for imaging the oval – especially important during disturbed conditions.

Geomagnetic Disturbances Cause Scintillation Events Down to Mid- and Low Latitudes Disturbance seen in Magnetic Field - SYM-H (or Bz) S 4 Amplitude Scint - L BAND S 4 Amplitude Scint - UHF Drift Velocity m/s of electrons Source: Basu, 2002 Geomagnetic storms, solar flares, and ionospheric disturbances routinely create widespread intense scintillation for periods of hours, or days. These can reach mid- and low latitudes. These events have a high degree of short term predictability.

Basic Research Projects Told Us that Our Ionospheric Images Should Map Scintillation Correlation between nightglow image, TEC and scintillation. Data collected from a collocated imaging system and GPS SCINTMON on the Haleakala Volcano on Maui, HI. Scintillations are seen (as an increase in the S 4 index in the top-right panel) when the look direction from the receiver to the satellite (the green square on each image) passes through the dark region of the image (from airglow. csl. uiuc. edu/Facilities/RENOIR/)

One of the Current Challenges is to Predict Ionospheric Scintillations on a Global Basis Illustration of existing and proposed SCINDA sites from http: //www. kirtland. af. mil/shared/media/document/AFD 070404 -101. pdf § Observations from ground-based sites of the amount of scintillation in the signal received from an orbiting beacon provides a local measure - but you have to have a ground station there. § Note the lack of current coverage in areas of concern as well as lack of mid-latitude coverage.

GUVI Observations Show the Location and Extent of Ionospheric Irregularities § In this image individual orbits of data are shown mapped onto the globe. § The bright bands are the equatorial ionization crests from the Appleton anomaly. § Smaller scale dark bands are equatorial bubbles – holes in the ionosphere that affect HF propagation. § These ionospheric bubbles are one of the most important phenomena to be investigated by the upcoming C/NOFS mission. § GUVI and C/NOFS will be working together to develop a global forecasting capability. § The existence of scintillation has an impact on the ability of aircraft to communicate, navigate or maintain surveillance. The images are shown in an intensity scale that reflects Total Electron Content (TEC)

Far Ultraviolet Observations Actually Map Where Scintillation Occurs Observed scintillations WBMOD and GUVI images of the equatorial ionosphere. The GUVI images show the location of ionospheric irregularities not adequately predicted by WBMOD.

What GUVI Can Provide for Space Weather Operators § It can provide the global context at fixed local solar times (neutral atmosphere and ionospheric parameters). § It can provide the location and extent of bubbles. § It can map composition changes. § It can determine the locations of the ionization crests, their magnitude, and the altitude profile of the midand low-latitude ionosphere. § It can provide 3 D images of the bubbles. § It can provide high latitude inputs and maps of auroral activity. § Near realtime data is now being provided to the Air Force. Image of the aurora over the USA, during the October 2003 superstorm. This is a daylight image, obtained in the far ultraviolet.

One Can Bridge the Gap Between Basic Research and Applications (R 2 O) § The GUVI program has benefited from the interplay and exchange between programs that seek to develop a deeper understanding of the upper atmosphere (NASA and NSF funding) and the needs of our sponsors. § Its ability to go from basic research to production of operational satellites and/or instruments to applications products has been demonstrated. § New products have been demonstrated that could be incorporated in the operational environment: § Better prediction of the auroral oval location. § Images of the actual location and extent of ionospheric bubbles. § New ways of viewing these bubbles that could be incorporated into ionospheric propagation codes. § Real-time measurements of the neutral atmosphere.