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Immel TJ, England SL, Harding BJ, Wu YJ, Maute A, Cullens C, Englert CR, Mende SB, Heelis RA, Frey HU, Korpela EJ, Stephan AW, Frey S, Stevens MH, Makela JJ, Kamalabadi F, Triplett CC, Forbes JM, McGinness E, Gasque LC, Harlander JM, Gérard JC, Hubert B, Huba JD, Meier RR, Roberts B. The Ionospheric Connection Explorer - Prime Mission Review. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 2023; 219:41. [PMID: 37469439 PMCID: PMC10352447 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-023-00975-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The two-year prime mission of the NASA Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) is complete. The baseline operational and scientific objectives have been met and exceeded, as detailed in this report. In October of 2019, ICON was launched into an orbit that provides its instruments the capability to deliver near-continuous measurements of the densest plasma in Earth's space environment. Through collection of a key set of in-situ and remote sensing measurements that are, by virtue of a detailed mission design, uniquely synergistic, ICON enables completely new investigations of the mechanisms that control the behavior of the ionosphere-thermosphere system under both geomagnetically quiet and active conditions. In a two-year period that included a deep solar minimum, ICON has elucidated a number of remarkable effects in the ionosphere attributable to energetic inputs from the lower and middle atmosphere, and shown how these are transmitted from the edge of space to the peak of plasma density above. The observatory operated in a period of low activity for 2 years and then for a year with increasing solar activity, observing the changing balance of the impacts of lower and upper atmospheric drivers on the ionosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Immel
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Scott L. England
- Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Brian J. Harding
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Yen-Jung Wu
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Astrid Maute
- CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
| | - Chihoko Cullens
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, TX 80309 USA
| | - Christoph R. Englert
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave S.W., Washington, DC 20375 USA
| | - Stephen B. Mende
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Roderick A. Heelis
- William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, University of Texas, Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Harald U. Frey
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Eric J. Korpela
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Andrew W. Stephan
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave S.W., Washington, DC 20375 USA
| | - Sabine Frey
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Michael H. Stevens
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave S.W., Washington, DC 20375 USA
| | - Jonathan J. Makela
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Farzad Kamalabadi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Colin C. Triplett
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Forbes
- Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303 USA
| | - Emma McGinness
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | - L. Claire Gasque
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bryce Roberts
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, 94720-7450 CA USA
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Forootan E, Kosary M, Farzaneh S, Kodikara T, Vielberg K, Fernandez-Gomez I, Borries C, Schumacher M. Forecasting global and multi-level thermospheric neutral density and ionospheric electron content by tuning models against satellite-based accelerometer measurements. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2095. [PMID: 35136103 PMCID: PMC8825828 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05952-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Global estimation of thermospheric neutral density (TND) on various altitudes is important for geodetic and space weather applications. This is typically provided by models, however, the quality of these models is limited due to their imperfect structure and the sensitivity of their parameters to the calibration period. Here, we present an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF)-based calibration and data assimilation (C/DA) technique that updates the model’s states and simultaneously calibrates its key parameters. Its application is demonstrated using the TND estimates from on-board accelerometer measurements, e.g., those of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission (at \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\sim 410$$\end{document}∼410 km altitude), as observation, and the frequently used empirical model NRLMSISE-00. The C/DA is applied here to re-calibrate the model parameters including those controlling the influence of solar radiation and geomagnetic activity as well as those related to the calculation of exospheric temperature. The resulting model, called here ‘C/DA-NRLMSISE-00’, is then used to now-cast TNDs and individual neutral mass compositions for 3 h, where the model with calibrated parameters is run again during the assimilation period. C/DA-NRLMSISE-00 is also used to forecast the next 21 h, where no new observations are introduced. These forecasts are unique because they are available globally and on various altitudes (300–600 km). To introduce the impact of the thermosphere on estimating ionospheric parameters, the coupled physics-based model TIE-GCM is run by replacing the O2, O1, He and neutral temperature estimates of the C/DA-NRLMSISE-00. Then, the non-assimilated outputs of electron density (Ne) and total electron content (TEC) are validated against independent measurements. Assessing the forecasts of TNDs with those along the Swarm-A (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\sim 467$$\end{document}∼467 km), -B (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\sim 521$$\end{document}∼521 km), and -C (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\sim 467$$\end{document}∼467 km) orbits shows that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) is considerably reduced by 51, 57 and 54%, respectively. We find improvement of 30.92% for forecasting Ne and 26.48% for TEC compared to the radio occulation and global ionosphere maps (GIM), respectively. The presented C/DA approach is recommended for the short-term global multi-level thermosphere and enhanced ionosphere forecasting applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Forootan
- Geodesy Group, Department of Planning, Aalborg University, Rendburggade 14, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Mona Kosary
- School of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 113654563, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Farzaneh
- School of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 113654563, Tehran, Iran
| | - Timothy Kodikara
- Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Kalkhorstweg 53, 17235, Neustrelitz, Germany
| | - Kristin Vielberg
- Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation, University of Bonn, Nussallee 17, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Isabel Fernandez-Gomez
- Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Kalkhorstweg 53, 17235, Neustrelitz, Germany
| | - Claudia Borries
- Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Kalkhorstweg 53, 17235, Neustrelitz, Germany
| | - Maike Schumacher
- Geodesy Group, Department of Planning, Aalborg University, Rendburggade 14, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark
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Datta-Barua S, Pedatella N, Greer K, Wang N, Nutter L, Harvey VL. Lower Thermospheric Material Transport via Lagrangian Coherent Structures. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. SPACE PHYSICS 2021. [PMID: 35865830 DOI: 10.1029/2020ja029028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
We show that inter-model variation due to under-constraint by observations impacts the ability to predict material transport in the lower thermosphere. Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs), indicating regions of maximal separation (or convergence) in a time-varying flow, are derived in the lower thermosphere from models for several space shuttle water vapor plume events. We find that inter-model differences in thermospheric transport manifest in LCSs in a way that is more stringent than mean wind analyses. LCSs defined using horizontal flow fields from the Specified Dynamics version of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere-ionosphere eXtension (SD-WACCMX) at 109 km altitude are compared to Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) observations of the space shuttle main engine plume. In one case, SD-WACCMX predicts an LCS ridge to produce spreading not found in the observations. LCSs and tracer transport from SD-WACCMX and from data assimilative WACCMX (WACCMX + DART) are compared to each other and to GUVI observations. Differences in the modeled LCSs and tracer positions appear between SD-WACCMX and WACCMX + DART despite the similarity of mean winds. WACCMX + DART produces better tracer transport results for a July 2006 event, but it is unclear which model performs better in terms of LCS ridges. For a February 2010 event, when mean winds differ by up to 50 m/s between the models, differences in LCSs and tracer trajectories are even more severe. Low-pass filtering the winds up to zonal wavenumber 6 reduces but does not eliminate inter-model LCS differences. Inter-model alignment of LCSs improves at a lower 60 km altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seebany Datta-Barua
- Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago IL USA
| | - Nicholas Pedatella
- High Altitude Observatory National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USA
| | - Katelynn Greer
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder CO USA
| | - Ningchao Wang
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences Hampton University Hampton VA USA
| | - Leanne Nutter
- Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago IL USA
| | - V Lynn Harvey
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder CO USA
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CO USA
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England SL, Meier RR, Frey HU, Mende SB, Stephan AW, Krier CS, Cullens CY, Wu YJJ, Triplett CC, Sirk MM, Korpela EJ, Harding BJ, Englert CR, Immel TJ. First results from the retrieved column O/N 2 ratio from the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON): Evidence of the impacts of nonmigrating tides. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. SPACE PHYSICS 2021; 126:e2021JA029575. [PMID: 34650899 PMCID: PMC8506977 DOI: 10.1029/2021ja029575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In near-Earth space, variations in thermospheric composition have important implications for thermosphere-ionosphere coupling. The ratio of O to N2 is often measured using far-UV airglow observations. Taking such airglow observations from space, looking below the Earth's limb allows for the total column of O and N2 in the ionosphere to be determined. While these observations have enabled many previous studies, determining the impact of non-migrating tides on thermospheric composition has proved difficult, owing to a small contamination of the signal by recombination of ionospheric O+. New ICON observations of far UV are presented here, and their general characteristics are shown. Using these, along with other observations and a global circulation model we show that during the morning hours and at latitudes away from the peak of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly, the impact of non-migrating tides on thermospheric composition can be observed. During March - April 2020, the column O/N2 ratio was seen to vary by 3 - 4 % of the zonal mean. By comparing the amplitude of the variation observed with that in the model, both the utility of these observations and a pathway to enable future studies is shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott L. England
- Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, United States
| | - R. R. Meier
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University, Fairfax, United States
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Emeritus, Washington DC, United States
| | - Harald U. Frey
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Stephen B. Mende
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | | | - Christopher S. Krier
- Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, United States
| | - Chihoko Y. Cullens
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Yen-Jung J. Wu
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Colin C. Triplett
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Martin M. Sirk
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Eric J. Korpela
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Brian J. Harding
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | | | - Thomas J. Immel
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
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5
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Vanhamäki H, Maute A, Alken P, Liu H. Dipolar elementary current systems for ionospheric current reconstruction at low and middle latitudes. EARTH, PLANETS, AND SPACE : EPS 2020; 72:146. [PMID: 33088208 PMCID: PMC7561552 DOI: 10.1186/s40623-020-01284-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The technique of spherical elementary current systems (SECS) is a powerful way to determine ionospheric and field-aligned currents (FAC) from magnetic field measurements made by low-Earth-orbiting satellites, possibly in combination with magnetometer arrays on the ground. The SECS method consists of two sets of basis functions for the ionospheric currents: divergence-free (DF) and curl-free (CF) components, which produce poloidal and toroidal magnetic fields, respectively. The original CF SECS are only applicable at high latitudes, as they build on the assumption that the FAC flow radially into or out of the ionosphere. The FAC at low and middle latitudes are far from radial, which renders the method inapplicable at these latitudes. In this study, we modify the original CF SECS by including FAC that flow along dipolar field lines. This allows the method to be applied at all latitudes. We name this method dipolar elementary current systems (DECS). Application of the DECS to synthetic data, as well as Swarm satellite measurements are carried out, demonstrating the good performance of this method, and its applicability to studies of ionospheric current systems at low and middle latitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Astrid Maute
- High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado USA
| | - Patrick Alken
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado USA
| | - Huixin Liu
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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6
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Wu YJ, Harding BJ, Triplett CC, Makela JJ, Marr KD, Englert CR, Harlander JM, Immel TJ. Errors From Asymmetric Emission Rate in Spaceborne, Limb Sounding Doppler Interferometry: A Correction Algorithm With Application to ICON/MIGHTI. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2020; 7:e2020EA001164. [PMID: 33134433 PMCID: PMC7583381 DOI: 10.1029/2020ea001164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Michelson Interferometer for Global High-resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) on NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission is designed to measure the neutral wind and temperature between 90 and ∼300 km altitude. Using the Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne (DASH) spectroscopy technique, observations from MIGHTI can be used to derive thermospheric winds by measuring Doppler shifts of the atomic oxygen red line (630.0 nm) and green line (557.7 nm). Harding et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-017-0359-3) (Harding17) describe the wind retrieval algorithm in detail and point out the large uncertainties that result near the solar terminators and equatorial arcs, regions of large spatial gradients in airglow volume emission rates (VER). The uncertainties originate from the assumption of a constant VER at every given altitude, resulting in errors where the assumption is not valid when limb sounders, such as MIGHTI, observe regions with significant VER gradients. In this work, we introduce a new wind retrieval algorithm (Wu20) with the ability to account for VER that is asymmetric along the line of sight with respect to the tangent point. Using the predicted ICON orbit and simulated global VER variation, the greatest impact of the symmetric airglow assumption to the ICON vector wind product is found within 30° from the terminator when the spacecraft is in the dayside, causing an error of at least 10 m/s. The new algorithm developed in this study reduces the error near the terminator by a factor of 10. Although Wu20 improves the accuracy of the retrievals, it loses precision by 75% compared to Harding17.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen‐Jung J. Wu
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | | | | | - Jonathan J. Makela
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Kenneth D. Marr
- Space Science DivisionU.S. Naval Research LaboratoryWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | | | - Thomas J. Immel
- Space Sciences LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
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Greer KR, Eastes R, Solomon S, McClintock W, Burns A, Rusch D. Variations of Lower Thermospheric FUV Emissions Based on GOLD Observations and GLOW Modeling. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. SPACE PHYSICS 2020; 125:e2020JA027810. [PMID: 32728510 PMCID: PMC7380304 DOI: 10.1029/2020ja027810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Here we compare the global-scale morphology of Earth's the Far-Ultraviolet (FUV) emissions observed by NASA's Global-scale Observations of Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission to those modeled using the Global Airglow (GLOW) code with atmospheric parameters provided by Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM). The O 5S oxygen (135.6 nm) and N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield (LBH) emissions are observed over the Western hemisphere every 30 min by the GOLD instrument. The FUV brightness of the thermosphere-ionosphere is expected to vary in systemic ways with respect to geophysical parameters, solar energy input from above, and terrestrial weather input from below. In this paper we examine the O 5S oxygen emission and the N2 LBH emission brightnesses with local time, latitude, season, tides, geomagnetic activity, and solar activity based on GOLD observations and GLOW modeling. Early GOLD observations indicate that the model effectively reproduces the brightness variations with local time and latitude but is biased low in magnitude. However, the TIEGCM is unable to accurately represent the extraordinary nighttime equatorial ionization anomaly observed by GOLD. It is also expected from these results that the signal from geomagnetic storms may obscure tidal signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Greer
- University of Colorado Boulder-LASP Boulder CO USA
| | | | - Stan Solomon
- National Center for Atmospheric Research-HAO Boulder CO USA
| | | | - Alan Burns
- National Center for Atmospheric Research-HAO Boulder CO USA
| | - David Rusch
- University of Colorado Boulder-LASP Boulder CO USA
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8
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Cullens CY, Immel TJ, Triplett CC, Wu YJ, England SL, Forbes JM, Liu G. Sensitivity study for ICON tidal analysis. PROGRESS IN EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE 2020; 7:18. [PMID: 32626648 PMCID: PMC7319356 DOI: 10.1186/s40645-020-00330-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Retrieval of the properties of the middle and upper atmosphere can be performed using several different interferometric and photometric methods. The emission-shape and Doppler shift of both atomic and molecular emissions can be observed from the ground and space to provide temperature and bulk velocity. These instantaneous measurements can be combined over successive times/locations along an orbit track, or successive universal/local times from a ground station to quantify the motion and temperature of the atmosphere needed to identify atmospheric tides. In this report, we explore how different combinations of space-based wind and temperature measurements affect the retrieval of atmospheric tides, a ubiquitous property of planetary atmospheres. We explore several scenarios informed by the use of a tidally forced atmospheric circulation model, an empirically based emissions reference, and a low-earth orbit satellite observation geometry based on the ICON mission design. This capability provides a necessary tool for design of an optimal mission concept for retrieval of atmospheric tides from ICON remote-sensing observations. Here it is used to investigate scenarios of limited data availability and the effects of rapid changes in the total wave spectrum on the retrieval of the correct tidal spectrum. An approach such as that described here could be used in the design of future missions, such as the NASA DYNAMIC mission (National Research Council, Solar and space physics: a science for a technological society, 2013).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihoko Y. Cullens
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Thomas J. Immel
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Colin C. Triplett
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Yen-Jung Wu
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Scott L. England
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA
| | | | - Guiping Liu
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
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9
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Triplett CC, Immel TJ, Wu YJ, Cullens C. Variations in the ionosphere-thermosphere system from tides, ultra-fast Kelvin waves, and their interactions. ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) 2019; 64:1841-1853. [PMID: 33867620 PMCID: PMC8050945 DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2019.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Large scale waves, such as the atmospheric tides and ultra-fast Kelvin waves (UFKW), have direct effects on the neutral wind and temperature fields of the ionosphere-thermosphere (I-T) system. In this study we examine the response of the I-T system to the atmospheric tides, one UFKW, and the secondary waves generated from their interactions using the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM). We find that forcing an UFKW at the lower boundary of the TIEGCM is all that is required for it to setup in the model. We see variations around 10% in the zonal winds that lead to similar variations in the total electron content (TEC) depending on the phase of the UFKW. From these simulations, we expect the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission will be able to fully capture these wave interactions by observing winds and temperatures at the mesopause and above.
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10
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Immel TJ, England SL, Mende SB, Heelis RA, Englert CR, Edelstein J, Frey HU, Korpela EJ, Taylor ER, Craig WW, Harris SE, Bester M, Bust GS, Crowley G, Forbes JM, Gérard JC, Harlander JM, Huba JD, Hubert B, Kamalabadi F, Makela JJ, Maute AI, Meier RR, Raftery C, Rochus P, Siegmund OHW, Stephan AW, Swenson GR, Frey S, Hysell DL, Saito A, Rider KA, Sirk MM. The Ionospheric Connection Explorer Mission: Mission Goals and Design. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 2017; 214:13. [PMID: 33758433 PMCID: PMC7983873 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-017-0449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, is a new NASA Explorer mission that will explore the boundary between Earth and space to understand the physical connection between our world and our space environment. This connection is made in the ionosphere, which has long been known to exhibit variability associated with the sun and solar wind. However, it has been recognized in the 21st century that equally significant changes in ionospheric conditions are apparently associated with energy and momentum propagating upward from our own atmosphere. ICON's goal is to weigh the competing impacts of these two drivers as they influence our space environment. Here we describe the specific science objectives that address this goal, as well as the means by which they will be achieved. The instruments selected, the overall performance requirements of the science payload and the operational requirements are also described. ICON's development began in 2013 and the mission is on track for launch in 2017. ICON is developed and managed by the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, with key contributions from several partner institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Immel
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - S L England
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - S B Mende
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - R A Heelis
- University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, USA
| | - C R Englert
- Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - H U Frey
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | | | - W W Craig
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - M Bester
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - G S Bust
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | | | - J M Forbes
- University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | - J D Huba
- Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - B Hubert
- University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - J J Makela
- University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, USA
| | - A I Maute
- National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - R R Meier
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - C Raftery
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
- National Solar Observatory, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - P Rochus
- University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - A W Stephan
- Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - G R Swenson
- University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, USA
| | - S Frey
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - A Saito
- Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - K A Rider
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - M M Sirk
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Forbes JM, Zhang X, Hagan ME, England SL, Liu G, Gasperini F. On the Specification of Upward-Propagating Tides for ICON Science Investigations. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 2017; 212:697-713. [PMID: 30093735 PMCID: PMC6077998 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-017-0401-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) will provide a physics-based context for the interpretation of ICON measurements. To optimize the realism of the model simulations, ICON wind and temperature measurements near the ~97 km lower boundary of the TIEGCM will be used to specify the upward-propagating tidal spectrum at this altitude. This will be done by fitting a set of basis functions called Hough Mode Extensions (HMEs) to 27-day mean tidal winds and temperatures between 90 and 105 km altitude and between 12°S and 42°N latitude on a day-by-day basis. The current paper assesses the veracity of the HME fitting methodology given the restricted latitude sampling and the UT-longitude sampling afforded by the MIGHTI instrument viewing from the ICON satellite, which will be in a circular 27° inclination orbit. These issues are investigated using the output from a reanalysis-driven global circulation model, which contains realistic variability of the important tidal components, as a mock data set. ICON sampling of the model reveals that the 27-day mean diurnal and semidiurnal tidal components replicate well the 27-day mean tidal components obtained from full synoptic sampling of the model, but the terdiurnal tidal components are not faithfully reproduced. It is also demonstrated that reconstructed tidal components based on HME fitting to the model tides between 12°S and 42°N latitude provide good approximations to the major tidal components expected to be encountered during the ICON mission. This is because the constraints provided by fitting both winds and temperatures over the 90-105 km height range are adequate to offset the restricted sampling in latitude. The boundary conditions provided by the methodology described herein will greatly enhance the ability of the TIEGCM to provide a physical framework for interpreting atmosphere-ionosphere coupling in ICON observations due to atmospheric tides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Forbes
- Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80305, Tel.: +1-303-735-0551, ,
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80305
| | - Maura E Hagan
- Department of Physics, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84332
| | - Scott L England
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Guiping Liu
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Federico Gasperini
- Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80305
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