Mission Support for the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) Satellite

Abstract

Abstract : Cornell University supported the Air Force Research Laboratory C/NOFS mission through a combination of experiment development, data acquisition and processing, simulation, and modeling of ionospheric processes pertinent to forecasting so-called equatorial spread F phenomena. A new radar mode capable of providing simultaneous plasma density and drift measurements in the equatorial ionosphere has been developed and implemented at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory. The new mode will be crucial for C/NOFS calibration/validation as well as for ongoing campaign Support. Data acquired in this and other modes have been taken at Jicamarca in support of DMSP and COSMIC satellite overflights. Processed parameters have been posted and distributed to the C/NOFS science team through the Madrigal distributed data server. These data can also be used to test and initialize the AFRL forecast models. Additional experimental runs will be performed throughout the actual C/NOFS mission. Three specific investigations were carried out during the Cornell award period An improved ionospheric irregularity forecast strategy based on an evolving understanding of a counter streaming plasma instability process has been formulated. The new strategy should outperform traditional ones based solely on Rayleigh Taylor-type instability mechanisms. A new long-pulse incoherent scatter radar data processing scheme has been developed for improved measurement of plasma density, temperature, and composition profiles in the topside ionosphere. The new mode will be particularly useful right after C/NOFS launch, which will occur near solar minimum. A new means of inverting satellite radio occultation data has been developed and demonstrated. The method reflects artifacts that would otherwise obscure the E and valley regions and will increase the usefulness of beacon data from C/NOFS.