Ionospheric Science, Models and Ionospheric Science, Models and Databases atDatabases at

Haystack ObservatoryHaystack Observatory

Haystack Observatory/Lincoln Laboratory Haystack Observatory/Lincoln Laboratory Collaboration WorkshopCollaboration Workshop

March 9, 2007March 9, 2007

Madrigal Database/Virtual ObservatoryMadrigal Database/Virtual Observatory

Distributed, open-source, standards-based local databases that share metadata and have VO-features built in

●AMISR

The Madrigal database stores data from a wide variety of upper atmosphere research instruments in the

Cedar database format.Incoherent Scatter Radar TEC via GPS MF Radar

Cedar database format Loading programs can bewritten in Python, C, or Tcl

Other instrument types in Madrigal: Meteor radar, Digisonde, Fabry-Perot, Geophysical indices

What is the local Madrigal database?What is the local Madrigal database?

User

Webinterface

Web services API•Python API•Matlab API•Allows for easy VO access•From anywhere on internet

Database standard – Cedar file formatMetadata standard – Madrigal standardReal-time and historical data

How is Madrigal a Virtual How is Madrigal a Virtual Observatory?Observatory?

Searches from local Madrigal site can Searches from local Madrigal site can link to any other sitelink to any other site

User chooses whetherthe search is local orincludes all Madrigalsites

Implemented via shared,standard metadata

eGY, IPY, IHYeGY, IPY, IHY

All inspired by the success of the 1957 All inspired by the success of the 1957 International Geophysical Year 50 years International Geophysical Year 50 years agoago

eGYeGY – The electronic Geophysical Year – The electronic Geophysical Year IPYIPY – The International Polar Year – The International Polar Year

• Starts March 2007Starts March 2007 IHYIHY – The International Heliophysical Year – The International Heliophysical Year

(2007)(2007) For space physics, all three overlapFor space physics, all three overlap

Arecibo

Millstone

Sondrestrom

America Sector

Lower Midlatitudes

Shigaraki

St Santin

Subauroral

Midlatitude

Tromso

Highlatitude

Svalbard

East Asia

European Sector

Electron density annual variations derived from long-term datasets

for worldwide ISRs

Millstone / Sondrestrom Convection Model

St Santin, June, 350-400 km

Storm-Time Penetration Electric FieldsStorm-Time Penetration Electric Fields

AURORAL OVAL

LOW

SAPS E FIELD

Ring Current / SAPS/ SED PlumeRing Current / SAPS/ SED Plume(Sub Auroral Polarization Stream Electric Field)(Sub Auroral Polarization Stream Electric Field)

Duskside Region-2 FACs Duskside Region-2 FACs close poleward across low-close poleward across low-conductance gapconductance gap

SAPS: Strong poleward SAPS: Strong poleward Electric Fields are set up Electric Fields are set up across the sub-auroral across the sub-auroral ionosphereionosphere

SAPS erodes the cold SAPS erodes the cold plasma of the ionosphere plasma of the ionosphere and the outer and the outer plasmasphereplasmasphere

Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling at theMagnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling at thePlasmasphere Boundary LayerPlasmasphere Boundary Layer

GPS/ISR Study of Flux of Plasmaspheric Material to the Magnetopause

September 2005 wind featuresSeptember 2005 wind features

Sep 2005 Fall climatology

Wind magnitude in September 2005 is higher than average wind during fall equinox for both zonal and meridional components

MIT Haystack Observatory Atmospheric Sciences GroupMIT Haystack Observatory Atmospheric Sciences Group

Haystack Observatory's Atmospheric Sciences Group studies all Haystack Observatory's Atmospheric Sciences Group studies all levels of the atmosphere using incoherent scatter radar (ISR) and levels of the atmosphere using incoherent scatter radar (ISR) and distributed arrays of radiowave instruments such as Global distributed arrays of radiowave instruments such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Positioning System (GPS) receivers.

The group has been operating for more than forty years, collecting The group has been operating for more than forty years, collecting ionospheric measurements spanning a range of latitudes covering ionospheric measurements spanning a range of latitudes covering most of Eastern North America. Most of these measurements are most of Eastern North America. Most of these measurements are available from the Madrigal Database. available from the Madrigal Database.

Recent GPS measurements have extended this to global coverage.Recent GPS measurements have extended this to global coverage.

The unique location of Millstone Hill near the Earth's plasmapause, The unique location of Millstone Hill near the Earth's plasmapause, combined with the wide reach of the Millstone Hill steerable combined with the wide reach of the Millstone Hill steerable antenna, have made it a premier facility for mid-latitude antenna, have made it a premier facility for mid-latitude ionospheric research, magnetospheric studies and thermospheric ionospheric research, magnetospheric studies and thermospheric measurements. measurements.

In addition to improving our fundamental understanding of the In addition to improving our fundamental understanding of the near-Earth environment, this research has immediate relevance to near-Earth environment, this research has immediate relevance to the welfare of people and our technological society since it the welfare of people and our technological society since it contributes to the development of improved space weather alerts contributes to the development of improved space weather alerts and storm predictions. and storm predictions.