CEDAR Postdoc: Coordinated Space-Based Observations of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Using TIMED/Global UltraViolet Imager (GUVI) and Defense Meteorological Satellites Program (DMSP)

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

Equatorial F-region plasma depletions that are known to appear as bubbles reaching well into the topside ionosphere are sampled with unprecedented spatial and temporal coverage to reveal the origin, structure, and evolution of the depletions. The three dimensional character of these structures are determined by tomographic inversion of multiple satellite airglow observations at 135.6 nm, along with ground based imagery at 630.0 nm. The TIMED satellite Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) is used to create large scale images of the equatorial ionosphere, and the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager aboard the DMSP-16 and soon to be launched DMSP-17 satellites provide cross-beams to GUVI, and upon inversion very high spatial resolution images of plasma bubbles and their evolution. Ground-based imagery is also included in this inversions where and when available. The project is the focus of postdoctoral student, and promises to improve our ability to predict GPS and radio scintillation interference in the equatorial region.