About the potential of GPS radio occultation measurements for exploring the ionosphere

Kurzfassung

The GPS radio occultation technique onboard LEO satellites such as CHAMP is a rather simple and relatively inexpensive tool for profiling the electron density of the ionosphere from satellite orbit heights down to the bottomside. The paper addresses the capabilities of the ionospheric radio occultation (IRO) technique for monitoring the global ionosphere on a routine basis to derive value added data products and to study particular ionospheric processes such as perturbations. The model assisted retrieval technique, operational data processing and the validation of vertical electron density profiles are discussed. These profiles may not only be used to validate unknown models, they provide also a good data basis for developing new models of ionospheric key parameters such as the critical frequency f_oF₂, the peak height h_mF₂ and the scale height H. Such models are helpful to improve retrieval procedures and tomographic reconstruction techniques. Due to the operational data processing capabilities the data products may contribute to space weather monitoring of the ionosphere