Thermospheric Density and Wind Determination from Satellite Dynamics

Doornbos, Eelco

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-25129-0

Cited by 156 publications

(231 citation statements)

References 148 publications

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“…In general, the empirical models are created by fitting a set of parametric equations to an underlying database of observations. The accuracy of the models is therefore dependent on both the strength of the database as well as the ability of the parametric equations to reproduce these data for interpolation and extrapolation (Doornbos 2012). The proposed method does not bear such limitations and can give acceptable results under various geophysical conditions if reliable Ne(h) profiles are used.…”

Section: Calculatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrieval of thermospheric parameters from routinely observed F2-layer Ne(h) profiles at the geomagnetic equator

Михайлов

Belehaki

Perrone

et al. 2013

J. Space Weather Space Clim.

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A principal possibility to retrieve basic thermospheric parameters (neutral temperature Tex, atomic [O] and molecular [O 2 ] oxygen as well as molecular nitrogen [N 2 ] concentrations) from the observed daytime electron density profiles Ne(h) in the equatorial F2-region is demonstrated for the first time. The reduction of a 2D continuity equation for electron concentration in the low-latitude F2-region at the geomagnetic equator (I = 0) results in a simple 1D equation which can be efficiently solved. The method was tested using Jicamarca Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) and Digisonde Ne(h) profiles for the periods when CHAMP and GRACE neutral gas density observations are available in the vicinity of the Jicamarca Observatory. The retrieved from ISR Ne(h) neutral gas densities were shown to be close to the observed ones (MRD < 10%) being within the announced absolute uncertainty (10-15%) of the neutral gas density observations and more successful than the predictions of the empirical models JB-2008 (MRD = 32%) and MSISE-00 (MRD = 27%) for the analyzed cases. The implementation of the method with Jicamarca Digisonde Ne(h) profiles has also shown acceptable results especially for solar minimum conditions (MRD~12%) and higher prediction accuracy than modern empirical models provide. This finding seems to open a way for the practical exploitation of the method for thermospheric monitoring purposes.

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Section: Calculatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrieval of thermospheric parameters from routinely observed F2-layer Ne(h) profiles at the geomagnetic equator

Михайлов

Belehaki

Perrone

et al. 2013

J. Space Weather Space Clim.

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“…Sutton (2009) shows an overestimation of the CHAMP density values of about 20 % when compared to the HASDM semiempirical model. Doornbos (2012) observed a similar overestimation when comparing the same semi-empirical model data with CHAMP densities processed with a different retrieval algorithm. Both Sutton (2009) and Doornbos (2012) conclude that the bias in the density values is caused by the approximations in the modelling of the external satellite geometry and the aerodynamic interaction of the gas with the spacecraft walls.…”

Section: Validation Datamentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Doornbos (2012) observed a similar overestimation when comparing the same semi-empirical model data with CHAMP densities processed with a different retrieval algorithm. Both Sutton (2009) and Doornbos (2012) conclude that the bias in the density values is caused by the approximations in the modelling of the external satellite geometry and the aerodynamic interaction of the gas with the spacecraft walls. The design of the CHAMP satellite, with its complex elongated shape and protruding instruments, antennae and baffles, is not ideal for the purpose of density measurements.…”

Section: Validation Datamentioning

confidence: 59%

Effect of the solar activity variation on the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM)

et al. 2016

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Abstract. The accuracy of global atmospheric models used to predict the middle/lower thermosphere characteristics is still an open topic. Uncertainties in the prediction of the gas properties in the thermosphere lead to inaccurate computations of the drag force on space objects (i.e. satellites or debris). Currently the lifetime of space objects and therefore the population of debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) cannot be quantified with a satisfactory degree of accuracy. In this paper, the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM) developed at the University of Michigan has been validated in order to provide detailed simulations of the thermosphere. First, a sensitivity analysis has been performed to investigate the effect of the boundary conditions on the final simulations results. Then, results of simulations have been compared with flight measurements from the CHallenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites and with existing semiempirical atmospheric models (IRI and MSIS). The comparison shows a linear dependency of the neutral density values with respect to the solar activity. In particular, GITM shows an over-predicting or under-predicting behaviour under high or low solar activity respectively. The reasons for such behaviour can be attributed to a wrong implementation of the chemical processes or the gas transport properties in the model.

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“…Current drag and atmospheric models of satellites show deviations up to 20% from the actual behaviour (Doornbos 2011;Mehta et al 2013). This leads to satellite operators overestimating the fuel required, and to less accurate orbit predictions.…”

Section: Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric Drag, Occultation ‘N’ Ionospheric Scintillation (ADONIS) mission proposal

Hettrich

Kempf

Perakis

et al. 2015

J. Space Weather Space Clim.

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The Atmospheric Drag, Occultation 'N' Ionospheric Scintillation mission (ADONIS) studies the dynamics of the terrestrial thermosphere and ionosphere in dependency of solar events over a full solar cycle in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The objectives are to investigate satellite drag with in-situ measurements and the ionospheric electron density profiles with radio occultation and scintillation measurements. A constellation of two satellites provides the possibility to gain near real-time data (NRT) about ionospheric conditions over the Arctic region where current coverage is insufficient. The mission shall also provide global highresolution data to improve assimilative ionospheric models. The low-cost constellation can be launched using a single Vega rocket and most of the instruments are already space-proven allowing for rapid development and good reliability. From July 16 to 25, 2013, the Alpbach Summer School 2013 was organised by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the European Space Agency (ESA), the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) and the association of Austrian space industries Austrospace in Alpbach, Austria. During the workshop, four teams of 15 students each independently developed four different space mission proposals on the topic of ''Space Weather: Science, Missions and Systems'', supported by a team of tutors. The present work is based on the mission proposal that resulted from one of these teams' efforts.

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Thermospheric Density and Wind Determination from Satellite Dynamics

Cited by 156 publications

References 148 publications

Retrieval of thermospheric parameters from routinely observed F2-layer Ne(h) profiles at the geomagnetic equator

Retrieval of thermospheric parameters from routinely observed F2-layer Ne(h) profiles at the geomagnetic equator

Effect of the solar activity variation on the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM)

Atmospheric Drag, Occultation ‘N’ Ionospheric Scintillation (ADONIS) mission proposal

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