

System that both influence and result from the dynamical and chemicalĬoupling of the atmosphere and ionosphere. Space mission to simultaneously retrieve all of the properties of the Originating from lower atmospheric regions are not.
Leostar specs drivers#
Inputs are now well quantified, the drivers of ionospheric variability Ionosphere can act like bubbles in a lens or scratches in a mirror,ĭistorting the signal, sometimes to the point of unintelligibility or Through the ionosphere, and non-uniform distributions of plasma in the The radio signals used for communication and navigation must propagate We have also recently developed a strong reliance onīroadcast navigation signals such as those provided by GPS satellites. As a society, we are very dependent on communicationĪnd navigation networks around the globe – both space based, and Variations in the atmosphere is very important in the technological era Over the continents (image credit: UCB/SSL) Notice the large, unexplained enhancements The observed distribution of plasma around the magnetic equator, madeīy NASA's TIMED spacecraft. 8)ĭistribution of plasma around the magnetic equator after sunset. Models of the ionosphere predict that there should be a regular riseĪnd fall of this portion of the atmosphere as the Earth rotates fromĭay to night, independent of longitude. Gas in narrow bands on either side of the magnetic equator. This results in a sharp increase of the density of ionized “plasma fountain”, which results in a dramatic upwelling of Inīetween, near sunset, the low-latitude ionosphere is dominated by a Or “plasma” tends to recombine, dramatically reducing itsĭensity as it converts back to an electrically neutral state. Portion of the atmosphere is not exposed to the Sun, this ionized gas, Ultraviolet radiation, which heats and partially ionizes the neutralĪtoms and molecules, creating the ionosphere. The Earth rotates, a new portion of its atmosphere is exposed to solar Sun has a significant effect on this region of the upper atmosphere. On the space environment that surrounds us (Ref. ICON will compare the impacts of these two drivers as they exert change


This variability often occurs in concert with weather on our planet. Has long been known to respond to “space weather” driversįrom the sun, but recent NASA missions have surprised us in showing That affects space-based technological systems like GPS. Plasma and neutral gas collide and react exhibits dramatic variability – to understand the physical connection between our world and the Science: ICON will explore the boundary between Earth and space – the ionosphere ICON will beĭesigned, built and operated by scientists at UCB/SSL (Space Sciences Improving forecasts of extreme "space weather”. NASA Selects Explorer Projects To Probe Earth's UpperĬalifornia, Berkeley) a contract to build a satellite to determine howĮarth's weather affects weather at the edge of space, in hopes of Will provide space observations to study Earth's ionosphere and Satellite mission and a new space-based instrument to begin developmentĪs part of the agency's Heliophysics Explorer Program. Spacecraft Launch Mission Status Sensor Complement Ground Segment References ICON (Ionospheric Connection Explorer) Mission
