Ground-based radio observations of space weather events with optimized CALLISTO stations

Abstract

Ground-based observations of accelerated electrons in the solar corona are a central part of space weather monitoring and research. Harmful impacts on technological systems are costly and should therefore be prevented in times of rising activity in space. The DLR contributes to this international task by providing continous and reliable radio observations recorded with its own CALLISTO (Compound Astronomical Low frequency Low cost Instrument for Spectroscopy and Transportable Observatory). A small network is built out of four combined CALLISTO stations. Each of the stations will be equiped with receivers for 10 to 80 MHz, 100 to 800 MHz, and 1000 to 1600 MHz. The recorded data from single stations is already used for both space weather services and scientific analysis of solar flares or CMEs. Various types of radio bursts can be studied across a broad frequency range. The original receivers are optimized in hardware and software to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, ease maintenance work, and provide improved comparability. We highlight the scientific aspect by presenting selected events from this year. It is shown how the evolution of space weather processes can be investigated with these radio instruments.