2024 Workshop: Ground-based instrumentations
Asti Bhatt, SRI International
Cesar Valladares, University of Texas
Ngwira Chigomezyo, Catholic University of America
Babatunde Rabiu, United Nations African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education, English (UN-ARCSSTE-E), Obafemi Awolowo University Campus, Lle Ife, Nigeria
The equatorial/low-latitude ionosphere is an exciting domain for space science research with many open and unresolved questions. There have been many space explorations and rocket launchings over the last several decades while ground-based instrumentations have lagged behind particularly over the equatorial and low-latitude regions. Attention of Geospace science research efforts is gradually turned to mid and high latitudes, while questions about electrodynamics and unresolved plasma irregularities as well as long-term variability persist over the equatorial and low-latitude regions. Key physical mechanisms related to phenomena over regions are also not fully understood and a large number of critical systems rely on a highly detailed understanding and specification of the equatorial and low-latitude ionospheric physics and state. Our ability to detect, quantify, and forecast such phenomena are currently very limited given the current status of ground-based distribution network over the region. Different ground-based sensor systems often measure different aspects of phenomena. Deploying and utilizing these systems effectively requires coordination between community members and the development of new approaches to experimental investigations. Interestingly, many efforts are underway to enhance existing instrumentation and deploy new systems and these efforts need to be visible to the larger CEDAR community. Example of such effort is the CONGA project. Coordination of efforts to justify and develop future instrumentation rests critically on the ability of the CEDAR community to advocate for such efforts in a focused manner. We will provide a forum for such discussions as part of this session.
The equatorial/low-latitude ionosphere is an exciting domain for space science research with many open and unresolved questions. There have been many space explorations and rocket launchings over the last several decades while ground-based instrumentations have lagged behind particularly over the equatorial and low-latitude regions. Attention of Geospace science research efforts is gradually turned to mid and high latitudes, while questions about electrodynamics and unresolved plasma irregularities as well as long-term variability persist over the equatorial and low-latitude regions. Key physical mechanisms related to phenomena over regions are also not fully understood and a large number of critical systems rely on a highly detailed understanding and specification of the equatorial and low-latitude ionospheric physics and state. Our ability to detect, quantify, and forecast such phenomena are currently very limited given the current status of ground-based distribution network over the region. Different ground-based sensor systems often measure different aspects of phenomena. Deploying and utilizing these systems effectively requires coordination between community members and the development of new approaches to experimental investigations. Interestingly, many efforts are underway to enhance existing instrumentation and deploy new systems and these efforts need to be visible to the larger CEDAR community. Example of such effort is the CONGA project. Coordination of efforts to justify and develop future instrumentation rests critically on the ability of the CEDAR community to advocate for such efforts in a focused manner. We will provide a forum for such discussions as part of this session.