Development of the First Distributed Observatory Dedicated to Studies of the Low Latitude Ionosphere and Atmosphere

Boston College, Chestnut Hill MA

Investigators

Abstract

49 new Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, 5 advanced (including low frequency) ionosondes, and five fluxgate magnetometers are distributed throughout South America in response to a conspicuous community need to understand the day-to-day variability of the low latitude and southern magnetic latitude ionosphere. The data stream produces a real "now-casting" and forecasting capability of ionospheric irregularities known as equatorial spread-F. The primary research target is prediction of radio frequency communication and navigation scintillations that are caused by these ionospheric irregularities. Distributed along a chain near 70 degrees west (70o W) longitude, from 32 degrees south (32o S) to 8 degrees north (8o N) latitude, the ionosonde chain and magnetometers provide unprecedented information concerning traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), and gravity wave morphology, in addition to the GPS information on total electron content (TEC).