POPDAT

Problem-oriented Processing and Database Creation for Ionosphere Exploration

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The present Project purpose is the problem-oriented processing of observational data collected and stored by former ionospheric satellite missions – their data mining with the aim to create the database of ionosphere waves catalogues. This is an urgent need of modern space science because its realization will help to improve considerably Space Weather nowcast and forecast and to promote the progress of actual today GMES and other applied studies, e.g., ionospheric monitoring of natural and man-made hazards. At a first stage of the Project fulfillment, the different types of wave data will be selected, processed and arranged in topical catalogues: atmosphere gravity waves, moving plasma disturbances (bubbles, blobs, TID, etc), and ELF-VLF plasma emissions (whistler waves, hisses, etc). Then the Ionosphere Wave Service will be created including the composition of catalogues metadata to provide useful tool to access the database through a web portal. Ionosphere Wave Service will be promoted to a great number of scientists and specialists working in the numerous theoretical and applied space oriented branches. The particular goals of the POPDAT Project are: − Collection of datasets from different sources which concern the wave-like phenomena in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere to form input data field for further processing; − Appropriate design of the flexible software tools for the search of wavelike and/or any other anomalous behaviors detected in the satellite datasets; − Creation of thematic catalogues of ionosphere perturbations, which have known, supposed or unknown origin; − Implementation of a Ionosphere Wave Service accessible to scientific communities and public users; − Creation of Ionosphere Virtual Dynamic Observatory to assist educational activities; − Dissemination and promotion of the Ionosphere Wave Service at topical conferences and in scientific and public press.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

The way the Earth's space environment is sensed has changed in the past years as several satellites and constellations of satellites have been placed in orbit. An EU-funded project consolidated massive amounts of unused satellite data to afford a better understanding of what drives changes to the ionosphere.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Since the beginning of the space age, numerous satellites have amassed a wealth of observations from the outer edge of the Earth' atmosphere, the ionosphere. This transition region between the Earth's atmosphere and near-Earth space acts as a mirror, reflecting radio signals for long-distance communications. Today, in the age of satellite communications, it is the ionosphere that is responsible for causing the instability to received signals.

The EU-funded 'Problem-oriented processing and database creation for ionosphere exploration' (http://www.popdat.org/ (POPDAT)) gathered data from 10 missions to the ionosphere. These were first evaluated for their suitability to study wave-like phenomena taking place in the ionosphere. Dedicated software tools were then developed for processing data to identify the signatures of ionosphere disturbance, such as electromagnetic and gravity waves.

A collection of wave catalogues was ultimately created which interested researchers can access through the http://popdat.cbk.waw.pl/ (project website) . Data mining and visualisation routines allow users to extract specific ionospheric events. Processed measurements from a variety of ground-based observations are also available to enable the available satellite data to be fully exploited.

The POPDAT project reached out to fellow researchers through publications and conferences where they gauged their interest in and need for accessing this type of data. However, the 'ionosphere waves service' was also set up with the aim of providing data products for use by students and amateurs in their own scientific research or education activities.

By analysing plasma density and electromagnetic field records from multiple satellites, the POPDAT project opened a unique window onto the Earth's near space environment. From large earthquakes and lighting discharges to solar storms striking Earth, the research conducted into the physical processes that disturb the ionosphere is intriguing.

With such in information to hand, researchers can study the effect of ionospheric disturbances on the communication and other systems that people depend on each day.