International Reference Ionosphere Validation and IMprovement

The principal objective of project IRIVIM is to enhance top-level and internationally-significant scientific Research and Innovation (R&I) activities in the field of ionospheric monitoring and modeling for the purpose of promoting high-level scientific research in the context of IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) model validation and subsequent recommendations for its improvement.

This aim will be pursued by utilizing space-based data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) FORMOSAT7/COSMIC2 (F7/C2) constellation mission and the European Space Agency three-satellite (ESA) Swarm mission along with ground-based data from Digital ionosonde (Digisonde) ionospheric radars.

In the frames of this project we aspire to embark on innovative research activities in order to enhance the visibility and research potential of the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group (CyIRG) at Frederick Research Center (FRC) under the constructive collaboration with an
established fellow scientist, Dr Dieter Bilitza from George Mason University, USA and a science expert, Prof Christos Haldoupis (under FRC).

The project consists of 6 work packages:

WP1. Project Management

WP2. Dissemination and Exploitation Activities

WP3. Sporadic E investigation

WP4. Topside Data preparation

WP5. IRI topside validation

WP6. IRI topside improvement 

The principal objective of the proposed project (IRIVIM) is to enhance top-level and internationally-significant scientific Research and Innovation (R&I) activities in the field of ionospheric monitoring and modeling for the purpose of promoting high-level scientific research in the context of IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) model validation and subsequent recommendations for its improvement. 

This aim will be pursued by utilizing space-based data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) FORMOSAT7/COSMIC2 (F7/C2) constellation mission and the European Space Agency three-satellite (ESA) Swarm mission along with ground-based data from Digital ionosonde (Digisonde) ionospheric radars. In the frames of this proposal we aspire to embark on innovative research activities in order to enhance the visibility and research potential of the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group (CyIRG) at Frederick Research Center (FRC) under the constructive collaboration with an established fellow scientist, Dr Dieter Bilitza from George Mason University, USA and a science expert, Prof Christos Halsoupis (under FRC).

The main originality with respect to topside IRI aspects, to be addressed in the frames of this proposal, stems out of the criteria that will be imposed in selecting appropriate RO topside Electron Density Profiles (EDPs) for IRI validation and improvement. The main originality with respect to bottomside IRI aspects, is premised on an investigation on sporadic E layer (Es), occurrence and intensity, statistics over Nicosia Digisonde station that will subsequently support the development of a global IRI sporadic E layer model (in the future), which is currently not included in the IRI, though Es is crucial component relevant to a spectrum of applications related to IRI.

Researchers

Assoc Prof Haris Haralambous / Frederick Research Center

Dr Christina Oikonomou / Frederick Research Center

Dr Arun Kumar Singh / Frederick Research Center

Dr Theodoros Leontiou / Frederick Research Center

Prof Christos Haldoupis/ Frederick Research Center

Prof Dieter Bilitza / George Mason University USA