Monitoring and Modeling of Space Weather Phenomena Using Novel Satellite Observations

电离层和热层构成了地球大气层和近地空间环境之间的界面，也是近地轨道(LEO)航天器的运行环境。电离层等离子体可以折射用于卫星导航的无线电信号，从而产生最显著的定位误差之一。电离层等离子体分布的不规则性可引起跨电离层无线电信号的绕射和闪烁，严重时会导致卫星通信和导航服务中断。通过中性热层运动产生的空气阻力是低轨航天器最大的轨道摄动之一，对卫星运行和任务寿命构成了限制。随着在Beyond 5G(B5G)通信网络中使用卫星星座的兴趣与日俱增，以及全球卫星导航系统(GNSS)在提高精度的定位应用中的普及，了解电离层对卫星通信的影响和热层对LEO运行的影响比以往任何时候都更加重要。在这个联合项目中，我们将通过联合分析卫星和地面观测有关电离层闪烁的发生、前提条件和影响，以及热层对LEO轨道摄动的影响来实现这些目标。来自台湾-美国FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC-1、FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2和欧洲群卫星星座的电离层观测，以及最近从台湾发射的IDEASSat CubeSat，将被用来研究电离层等离子体气泡、等离子体分布、电场、电流和GNSS幅度闪烁指数。IDEASSat星载全球导航卫星系统接收器的航天器星历将用于检查阻力引起的轨道摄动，并审查将越来越常见的星载全球导航卫星系统接收器用作测量热层中性密度观测机会的可行性。该项目利用双方在了解引起电离层不规则性的闪烁以及从上述台湾-美国和欧洲卫星平台获取和处理热层/电离层观测方面的长期专业知识。

The ionosphere and thermosphere form the interface between the Earth’s atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment, as well as the operational environment for spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO). Ionospheric plasma can refract radio signals used for satellite navigation, thus producing one of the most significant positioning errors. Irregularities in ionospheric plasma distribution can cause diffraction and scintillation of trans-ionospheric radio signals, resulting in disruption of satellite communication and navigation service in severe cases. Air drag produced by motion through the neutral thermosphere is one of the largest orbit perturbations for LEO spacecraft, forming a constraint on satellite operations and mission lifetime. With the growing interest in the use of satellite constellations for Beyond 5G (B5G) communications networks, as well as the pervasiveness of Global Satellite Navigation Systems (GNSS) for positioning applications of increasing precision, understanding the effects of the ionosphere on satellite communications and the thermosphere on LEO operations is more important than ever.In this joint project, we will address these goals through joint analysis of satellite and ground observations pertaining to the occurrence, pre-conditions, and effects of ionospheric scintillation, as well as thermospheric effects on LEO orbit perturbations. Ionospheric observations from the Taiwan-US FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC-1, FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 and European Swarm satellite constellations, as well as the recently launched IDEASSat CubeSat from Taiwan will be used to examine ionospheric plasma bubbles, plasma distribution, electric fields, currents, and GNSS amplitude scintillation indices. Spacecraft ephemeris from the IDEASSat onboard GNSS receiver will be used to examine drag induced orbit perturbations, and to examine the feasibility of using increasingly common spaceborne GNSS receivers as a measurement of opportunity for thermospheric neutral density observations. This project leverages the longstanding expertise on both sides in understanding scintillation causing ionospheric irregularities, as well as in acquiring and processing thermosphere/ionosphere observations from the aforementioned Taiwan-US and European satellite platforms.