Space Weather Research and OperationsUsing Incoherent Scatter Radar

Terrance G OnsagerInternational Affairs CoordinatorNOAA Space Weather Prediction CenterTerry.Onsager@noaa.gov

• Tony van Eyken, SRI International

• Esa Turunen, EISCAT

• Bob Robinson, NSF

• Rich Behnke, NSF

• Joshua Semeter, Boston University

• Mihail Codrescu, NOAA

Acknowledgements

• Space has become an integral component of our economic and security infrastructures

• Understanding and predicting the dynamics of the coupled Earth-Space system is critical to the viability of our economic and security infrastructures

• Incoherent Scatter Radar provide key data for scientific understanding and

to develop and drive data-assimilation models of the Earth-Space system

• Modern ISR also allow continuous, real-time data acquisition that can drive operational models to protect our economic and security infrastructures

• Recommendation is to broaden the ISR user community to foster interdisciplinary science across the full Earth-Space environment and explore contribution to operational space weather applications

Main Points

VV

Coupled Earth-Space System

• GNSS• Degradation of accuracy or availability• Strong growth in applications – surveying, drilling,

precision agriculture, navigation, aviation

• Aviation• Disruption of communication and radiation risk• The Next Generation and Single European Sky Air

Transportation Systems will depend on GNSS

•Space Systems• Degradation or loss of satellite capabilities• Satellite tracking and orbital debris

• Electric Utilities• Potential for significant disruption of service with $Trillion

consequences

Economic and Security InfrastructuresImpact Areas

Solar Cycle 24 Has Begun

Anomaly assessment report available

Responding to Transatlantic Impacts of Geomagnetic Storms

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

• EU Monitoring and Information Centre

• EU Institute for the Protection and Security

of the Citizen

• Swedish National Power Grid

• National Electric Safety Board of Sweden

EU-U.S. Cooperation in Space Weather Emergency Management

• Space Weather is one of three pillars of the European SSA System• Observations, modeling, research, and services

• Opportunities for EU-US partnerships in the SSA Program• Each partner can specialize in areas of expertise and then coordinate• Complementary ground-based and space-based sensors• Complementary prediction models and ensemble forecasts• Shared knowledge of societal impacts and mitigation methods

• 7th Framework Program• EU-U.S. cooperative activities are occurring

Space Situational Awareness

AO1962

JRO1963

MH1962

SRF1982

The NSF Incoherent Scatter Radar Chain-2006

Sondrestrom (SRF)

Millstone Hill (MH)

Arecibo (AO)

Jicamarca (JRO)

AO1962

JRO1963

MH1962

SRF1982

The NSF Incoherent Scatter Radar Chain-2007

Sondrestrom (SRF)

Millstone Hill (MH)

Arecibo (AO)

Jicamarca (JRO)

AMISR-Poker Flat

PFR 2007

AO1962

JRO1963

MH1962

SRF1982

NSF-supported ISRs--2010

Sondrestrom (SRF)

Millstone Hill (MH)

Arecibo (AO)Jicamarca (JRO)

AMISR-Poker Flat (PFISR)

PFISR 2007

RISR-N 2009

AMISR- Resolute Bay (RISR-N)

ISR Measurements – Fundamental to Understanding Earth-Space Environment

• Fundamental plasma properties• Precipitating particle properties• Electric fields, plasma convection, currents• Neutral winds, gravity waves• Ion and neutral composition

OR:• The existing chain of radars will continue to

grow with the blossoming of AMISR systems at other locations.

AO1962

JRO1963

MH1962

SRF1982

Sondrestrom (SRF)

Millstone Hill (MH)

Arecibo (AO)

Jicamarca (JRO)

AO1962

JRO1963

MH1962

SRF1982

The NSF Incoherent Scatter Radar Chain-2007

Sondrestrom (SRF)

Millstone Hill (MH)

Arecibo (AO)

Jicamarca (JRO)

AMISR-Poker Flat

PFR 2007

AO1962

JRO1963

MH1962

SRF1982

PFR 2007

RISR-N,S 2011

• RISR-S: A Canadian owned AMISR system at Resolute Bay

• Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) to put a small AMISR system near Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Proposal under consideration to construct two AMISR radar systems in the Antarctic

• Possible replacement of existing incoherent scatter radars with AMISR systems

Future AMISR Deployments

Increase in Incoherent Scatter Radar Data Value through International Polar Year Efforts

Low Duty Cycle

Full Power

• EISCAT led an effort to operate ISR on a near-continuous basis (2007 - )

• Created the most extensive polar atmosphere data set

• Proved invaluable for modeling efforts and basic research

• Challenged modelers to address long-term, global coupling under diverse conditions

• Revealed feasibility and value of continuous data and need for significant model improvements

• Joint planning of ISR World Day observations

• Joint participation on related panels, committees, and science workshops

• Joint participation in EISCAT and AMISR summer schools

• Plans for continuation of U. S. – EISCAT Post-Doc Program

• U. S. participation in EISCAT-3D development program considered

• EISCAT contributing to U.S. ISR strategic planning

Current EU-U.S. ISR Cooperative Activities

Opportunities

• Multi-disciplinary use of ISR-facility data can be significantly enhanced to accelerate scientific progress and to provide accurate predictions to support the growing need for space weather applications

• Existing European programs, such as 7th Framework and Space Situational Awareness, are good vehicles for cooperation

• Increase to next Solar Maximum (2013) is an opportunity to test and improve our understanding of extreme conditions and utilize extensive space and ground based assets

• Existing international coordination of ISR research is a good foundation for expansion to multi-disciplinary community

• Combination of campaign mode and continuous operation enhances scientific value and enables the development of data-assimilation techniques

• Collaborative EU-U.S. programs are impeded by differences in funding mechanisms, review processes, and timelines

• U.S. participation in 7th Framework Program is limited by legal restrictions

• ISR data are not effectively utilized by the broad, interdisciplinary research community

– Data formats are specific to ISR and not familiar to scientists outside ISR community

– Measurements are complex and interpretation can be difficult for non-experts

– There is a lack of awareness of the availability of the new continuous ISR operations

Obstacles

• Expand the worldwide and multi-disciplinary community of users to foster interdisciplinary research and applications (develop a user base similar to that of astronomical observatories)

• Foster the development of Earth-Space system models that exploit these data and advance our science and applications for societal benefit (arrange cost sharing with agencies responsible for space weather applications)

• Establish processes for the coordination and review of proposals to support large international programs

• Maintain strong information exchange, global coordination, and strategic planning to optimize scientific studies and technology development

Recommendations