TY - JOUR
T1 - Retrospect and prospect of ionospheric weather observed by FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2
AU - Liu, Tiger Jann Yenq
AU - Lin, Charles Chien Hung
AU - Lin, Chi Yen
AU - Lee, I. Te
AU - Sun, Yang Yi
AU - Chen, Shih Ping
AU - Chang, Fu Yuan
AU - Rajesh, Panthalingal Krishnanunni
AU - Hsu, Chih Ting
AU - Matsuo, Tomoko
AU - Chen, Chia Hung
AU - Tsai, Ho Fang
N1 - Funding Information:
Data of FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and FORMOSAST-7/COSMIC-2 are retrieved from Taiwan Analysis Center for COSMIC (TACC, https://tacc.cwb.gov.tw/v2/download.html ). All the figures are newly plotted by the authors, except Figs. , , and . The authors wish to thank JYL’s graduate students, Ms. Mei-Yu Chen, Mr. Po-Han Lee and Mr. Chun-Yen Huang at Department of Space Science and Engineering, National Central University, Taiwan for graphing electron density structures of the EIA (Fig. ), middle latitude trough (Fig. ), and F7/C2 S4 index (Fig. ), respectively. This study is supported by the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology grant MOST 108-2119-M-008-001. This work was financially supported by the Center for Astronautical Physics and Engineering (CAPE) from the Featured Area Research Center program within the framework of Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan.
Funding Information:
Data of FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and FORMOSAST-7/COSMIC-2 are retrieved from Taiwan Analysis Center for COSMIC (TACC, https://tacc.cwb.gov.tw/v2/download.html). All the figures are newly plotted by the authors, except Figs. 2 , 5 , and 20. The authors wish to thank JYL’s graduate students, Ms. Mei-Yu Chen, Mr. Po-Han Lee and Mr. Chun-Yen Huang at Department of Space Science and Engineering, National Central University, Taiwan for graphing electron density structures of the EIA (Fig. 2), middle latitude trough (Fig. 5), and F7/C2 S4 index (Fig. 20), respectively. This study is supported by the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology grant MOST 108-2119-M-008-001. This work was financially supported by the Center for Astronautical Physics and Engineering (CAPE) from the Featured Area Research Center program within the framework of Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) constellation of six micro-satellites was launched into the circular low-earth orbit at 800 km altitude with a 72-degree inclination angle on 15 April 2006, uniformly monitoring the ionosphere by the GPS (Global Positioning System) Radio Occultation (RO). Each F3/C satellite is equipped with a TIP (Tiny Ionospheric Photometer) observing 135.6 nm emissions and a TBB (Tri-Band Beacon) for conducting ionospheric tomography. More than 2000 RO profiles per day for the first time allows us globally studying three-dimensional ionospheric electron density structures and formation mechanisms of the equatorial ionization anomaly, middle-latitude trough, Weddell/Okhotsk Sea anomaly, etc. In addition, several new findings, such as plasma caves, plasma depletion bays, etc., have been reported. F3/C electron density profiles together with ground-based GPS total electron contents can be used to monitor, nowcast, and forecast ionospheric space weather. The S4 index of GPS signal scintillations recorded by F3/C is useful for ionospheric irregularities monitoring as well as for positioning, navigation, and communication applications. F3/C was officially decommissioned on 1 May 2020 and replaced by FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 (F7/C2). F7/C2 constellation of six small satellites was launched into the circular low-Earth orbit at 550 km altitude with a 24-degree inclination angle on 25 June 2019. F7/C2 carries an advanced TGRS (Tri Gnss (global navigation satellite system) Radio occultation System) instrument, which tracks more than 4000 RO profiles per day. Each F7/C2 satellite also has a RFB (Radio Reference Beacon) on board for ionospheric tomography and an IVM (Ion Velocity Meter) for measuring ion temperature, velocity, and density. F7/C2 TGRS, IVM, and RFB shall continue to expand the F3/C success in the ionospheric space weather forecasting.
AB - FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) constellation of six micro-satellites was launched into the circular low-earth orbit at 800 km altitude with a 72-degree inclination angle on 15 April 2006, uniformly monitoring the ionosphere by the GPS (Global Positioning System) Radio Occultation (RO). Each F3/C satellite is equipped with a TIP (Tiny Ionospheric Photometer) observing 135.6 nm emissions and a TBB (Tri-Band Beacon) for conducting ionospheric tomography. More than 2000 RO profiles per day for the first time allows us globally studying three-dimensional ionospheric electron density structures and formation mechanisms of the equatorial ionization anomaly, middle-latitude trough, Weddell/Okhotsk Sea anomaly, etc. In addition, several new findings, such as plasma caves, plasma depletion bays, etc., have been reported. F3/C electron density profiles together with ground-based GPS total electron contents can be used to monitor, nowcast, and forecast ionospheric space weather. The S4 index of GPS signal scintillations recorded by F3/C is useful for ionospheric irregularities monitoring as well as for positioning, navigation, and communication applications. F3/C was officially decommissioned on 1 May 2020 and replaced by FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 (F7/C2). F7/C2 constellation of six small satellites was launched into the circular low-Earth orbit at 550 km altitude with a 24-degree inclination angle on 25 June 2019. F7/C2 carries an advanced TGRS (Tri Gnss (global navigation satellite system) Radio occultation System) instrument, which tracks more than 4000 RO profiles per day. Each F7/C2 satellite also has a RFB (Radio Reference Beacon) on board for ionospheric tomography and an IVM (Ion Velocity Meter) for measuring ion temperature, velocity, and density. F7/C2 TGRS, IVM, and RFB shall continue to expand the F3/C success in the ionospheric space weather forecasting.
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U2 - 10.1007/s44195-022-00019-x
DO - 10.1007/s44195-022-00019-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85131528645
VL - 33
JO - Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
JF - Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
SN - 1017-0839
IS - 1
M1 - 20
ER -