Ionospheric Monitoring and Prediction Center

Abstract

In order to provide space weather information, which are in particular relevant for user of communication and navigation systems, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is operating the online platform Space Weather Application Center Ionosphere (SWACI) since 2004. SWACI has started as a feasibility study and has been continuously extended and improved and is now a grown up system ready to be transformed into an Ionospheric Monitoring and Prediction Center (IMPC). The IMPC, as a permanent ionospheric weather service, will use ground as well as space based GNSS data, such as GPS and GLONASS measurements, and non-GNSS data such as vertical sounding data of ionosonde stations, radio beacons and solar wind data to provide relevant information for GNSS users in the area of telecommunication, precise radio-measurements and navigation. DLR is highly experienced in the reception, archiving, distribution and utilization of earth observation data in 24/7 operation mode. Therefore the IMPC is based on a dedicated infrastructure developed at DLR, where a fully automated Data Information and Management System (DIMS) is used for quality control, long-term data archiving as well as for dissemination of data to end users. A very large amount of ionospheric data covering high, medium and low solar activity periods over the globe has been captured, processed and archived since 1995. The captured data is being used for ionospheric research including modelling and characterization of ionospheric parameters and effects. This talk gives an introduction in the future IMPC. It will demonstrate samples of products, e.g. European and global maps of the total electron content (TEC) monitored by DLR and available via the SWACI/ IMPC platform in near real-time. SWACI/ IMPC provides solar wind parameters taken with the ACE satellite (and his successor DSCOVR) and models their impact within the physical interaction chain in the atmosphere to significantly increase the prediction time of hazardous perturbations. The lecture will present an overview of existing facilities and their development to an IMPC.