Proposal for an ionosphere/plasmasphere monitoring system
A space-based satellite system suited for long-term monitoring of the Earth's ionosphere/plasmasphere systems is proposed. The monitoring system consists of a network of radio beacon satellites capable of measuring the ionospheric and plasmaspheric electron content on a continuous base with...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
1994-04-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/12/431/1994/angeo-12-431-1994.pdf |
| Summary: | A space-based satellite system suited for
long-term monitoring of the Earth's ionosphere/plasmasphere systems is proposed.
The monitoring system consists of a network of radio beacon satellites capable
of measuring the ionospheric and plasmaspheric electron content on a continuous
base with high time resolution. It takes advantage of the geometrical
relationship between the orbit of geostationary satellites and the position of
the plasmapause region characterized by a steep electron density gradient. A
combination of geostationary and nongeostationary satellites may explore the
three-dimensional structure of the plasmasphere. Taking into account
plasmaspheric characteristics some criteria for an effective arrangement of the
satellites are derived and discussed. Since the plasmapause position is very
sensitive to changes or distortions in the solar wind and the related
geomagnetic activity, a continuous monitoring of the position of the plasmapause
would be helpful in understanding solar-terrestrial relationships. |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |