Collaborative Research: DASI Track 2: Deployment and Operations of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Personal Space Weather Station Network

New Jersey Institute Of Technology, Newark NJ

Investigators

Abstract

The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) network is a community-powered observatory that studies how space weather affects Earth’s upper atmosphere and the technologies society relies on, including communication and navigation systems. Operating as a Distributed Array of Small Instruments (DASI), it uses Personal Space Weather Stations (PSWS) to collect data across a growing network of stations in the U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Europe, strengthening understanding of space weather impacts. Built through close collaboration between professional scientists and the amateur radio community, the PSWS network currently includes more than 35 operational stations, many hosted by licensed radio operators who contribute instrumentation, data collection, and technical expertise. Each station measures key features of the geospace environment, including high-frequency radio signal variations, very low frequency transmissions, natural radio emissions, and changes in Earth’s magnetic field. This project will expand and standardize the network by deploying thirty additional stations and ten GPS-disciplined transmitters that provide stable beacon signals across large regions, enabling detailed studies of solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and traveling ionospheric disturbances. Together, this community-driven infrastructure supports hands-on education, workforce development, and improved resilience of critical communication and navigation systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.