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Evaluation of Global Ionospheric Electron Density using Simultaneous Observations from Amateur Radio Networks, International Space Station, and NeQuickG Model for Space Weather Prediction

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Abstract

The ionosphere's electron density is a critical factor in long-distance communication and sky-wave propagation, directly affecting signal transmission quality. Accurate prediction of the ionosphere’s state is crucial for understanding signal perturbations and estimating key parameters for improved transmission. Space weather impacts on trans-ionospheric technological systems are well-documented. This study presents a web application that visualizes global day-to-day electron density variations using the NeQuickG model. Additionally, it analyzes hop data from ground-based HAM radio networks at various wavelengths (e.g., 10 m and 20 m) alongside electron density measurements obtained from space-based probes on the International Space Station (ISS). The electron density variations for 2017 are comprehensively represented. Optimization techniques are proposed to generate a denser, spatially-resolved ionospheric electron density map by employing a probabilistic approach to estimate the optimal weight function, minimizing error variance in areas with sparse data. This work emphasizes developing user-friendly metrics for amateur radio operators and the civil aviation sector. The web-based application has potential as an enhanced visualization tool for space weather forecasting. **The project, titled "Fellowship of the Ionosphere," was a Global Finalist in the 2022 NASA Space Apps Challenge, which saw over 31,400 participants from 162 countries and territories, with 5327 teams submitting more than 3000 projects. As a Global Finalist, this project was ranked among the top 35 submissions.
Evaluation of Global Ionospheric TEC Using
Simultaneous Observations from Amateur Radio
Networks, International Space Station, and
NeQuickG Model for Space Weather Prediction
Gamal Zayed 1,Marcin Leśniowski, Pasumarthi Babu Sree Harsha 2,
Matt Downs, Daniel Metcalfé, Sıla Kardelen Karabulut
1Cairo University
2SONDRA, Centralesupelec, France
Manuscript submitted to HamSCI Workshop 2023. HamSCI, Scranton, PA, 2023.
space.foti@gmail.com
space.foti@gmail.com
Evaluation of Global Ionospheric Electron
Density using Simultaneous Observations
from Amateur Radio Networks, International
Space Station, and NeQuickG Model for Space
Weather Prediction
Gamal Zayed1
Marcin Leśniowski
P.B.S. Harsha2VU3HPH
Matt Downs 2E1GYP
Daniel Metcalfe
Sıla Kardelen Karabulut
1Cairo University, Egypt
2CentraleSupelec, France
Evaluation of Global Ionospheric Electron Density using Simultaneous Observations from Amateur Radio
Networks, International Space Station, and NeQuickG Model for Space Weather Prediction
Image credit: NASA Space Apps
space.foti@gmail.com
Space Apps Challenge
https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/2022-challenges/radio-enthusiasts/details
Hackathon time: 48 hours (Weekend)
Develop an application that
uses information from ISS and
HAM radio broadcasts
Display images of Earth’s
ionosphere
High-temporal and high-spatial
resolution
space.foti@gmail.com
The Fellowship of the Ionosphere
Daniel / Frontend Developer Gamal / Researcher / Ionospheric model Harsha / Researcher / ISS data
Matt / RF tech / HAM Data Sıla / Project Manager / Management Marcin / Developer / Glue
space.foti@gmail.com
Our Goal
Web application to allow more exposure (broader audience)
no technical knowledge needed to use it
public website can promote ionospheric research
splitting frontend and backend allows for independent development
Be flexible / future proof
We might want to eventually combine multiple sources of data
Be able to see / compare multiple sources of data
HAM
ISS
Model
(possibly others)
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Individual work schedule
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Why multiple sources (vertically)
Intro
Summary
1. HAM radio reporting
network (WSPR)
2. Floating Potential
Measurement Unit
(FPMU) onboard ISS
3. NeQuickG global
ionospheric model
space.foti@gmail.com
Amateur Radio Networks
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Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Net.
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Method 1
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Method 2
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Future research
space.foti@gmail.com
Gwyn G3ZIL
South Coast England
John N8OBJ
Case Western Reserve University
W8EDU
Case Amateur Radio Club
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Future research
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International Space Station (ISS)
1. ISS is equipped with a Floating Potential
Measurement Unit (FPMU).
2. FPMU is a collection of 4 probes that are
used to measure the ISS floating potential
as well as the electron density and
temperature of the local plasma
environment.
3. Download the data from below link:
https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/internat
ional_space_station_iss/sp_fpmu/
Top-side Electron Density Profile
(from ~400 km to ~450 km)
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Diurnal variation of electron density
ISS daily orbital trajectory for the 1 January 2017
Electron Density (el/cm-
3)
Height
(km)
ISS data could be useful for better
prediction
of space weather impacts.
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NeQuick G Model
space.foti@gmail.com
NeQuick G Model: About
1. NeQuick G model is a global ionospheric model
2. provides better spatial and temporal resolution.
3. developed by
a. International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
b. University of Gruz
4. As a single frequency model to provide ionospheric corrections for the
GNSS user community.
1. Now, the European Space Agency officially approves the NeQuick G model as a signal of
service for the Galileo Users.
NeQuick G
Solar &
Geomagnetic indices
Galileo coefficients, TX, RX vTEC
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Methodology: Galileo Coefficients
European Union Agency for the Space Program
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space.foti@gmail.com
Code
space.foti@gmail.com
NeQuick G Parameters
space.foti@gmail.com
space.foti@gmail.com
Output Sample
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Particle Swarm
Optimization
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PSO optimized location
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Results / App
https://mrcne.github.io/space-radio-foti/
space.foti@gmail.com
Summary
1. The project is still in early state of development, but we’re still collaborating and having
regular meetings.
2. We invite people to try the app and give us feedback despite it being far completion.
3. In the future it might help users to understand ionospheric electron density and its hourly
variations.
4. HAM radio broadcast data from WSPR Network is utilized to approximate the bottom side
of the ionosphere.
5. ISS provides measurements of the top-side electron density.
6. NeQuick G model is useful to study electron density variations with great spatial and
temporal resolution.
7. Utilization of the three data sources could help in better ionospheric state prediction in the
future.
space.foti@gmail.com
Links and Resources
Contact us at: space.foti@gmail.com
Feel free to explore the web app:
https://mrcne.github.io/space-radio-foti/
Source code:
https://github.com/mrcne/space-radio-foti
Space Apps Challenge: https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/2022-challenges/radio-
enthusiasts/details
Challenge project: https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/2022-challenges/radio-
enthusiasts/teams/fellowship-of-the-ionosphere/project
Weather balloon data: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/weather-balloon/integrated-global-
radiosonde-archive
A survey of the techniques for measuring the radio refractive index (nist.gov)
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Thank you / QA
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ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.