NeQuick Validation with Ionospheric Radio Occultation


The main aim of this proposal is the introduction of a new post-doctoral researcher at GeoImaging Ltd for high-level scientific research in the field of ionospheric physics. He will be supported by Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group (CyIRG) at Frederick Research Center, as well as by the T/ICT4D Ionospheric Radiopropagation Unit at Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics. The principal scientific goal of the project is the application of radio occultation (RO) measurements on NeQuick model validation studies. The proposed project aims to provide a quantitative on the discrepancy between manually scaled ionosonde and RO electron density profiles (EDP) and use a subset of those EDPs from current future (F7/C2) RO mission to validate the NeQuick ionospheric model in the bottomside, peak and topside over the globe.

The project consists of 6 work packages:

    WP1. Project Management

    WP2. Dissemination Activities

    WP3. NeQuick validation database preparation

    WP4. Peak parameter comparison and investigation

    WP5. NeQuick bottomside validation

    WP6. NeQuick topside validation

The main aim of this proposal is high-level scientific research in the field of ionospheric model validation through novel ionospheric studies based on the FORMOSAT7/COSMIC2 (F7/C2) satellite radio occultation (RO) mission that was launched in June 2019. The ultimate objective is to embark on innovative research activities in order to enhance the research potential in Cyprus, through the introduction of a new post-doctoral position at GeoImaging Ltd. GeoImaging Ltd is a technology company that has a strategic long-term interest in ionospheric studies based on its commercial activities in the context of precise positioning in collaboration with the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group (CyIRG) at Frederick Research Center (FRC). The proposal aims in scientific excellence in the fields of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) radio occultation (RO) and ionospheric modeling through novel ionospheric studies based on future RO satellite mission datasets.

The incorporation of the young researcher at GeoImaging Ltd will be supported by the scientific collaboration with ICTP that has high-level experience in RO measurements and data processing and extended experience on ionospheric modeling as the developer of the well-known NeQuick three dimensional electron density profile (EDP) model (https://t-ict4d.ictp.it/nequick2). This model is the foundation of the ionospheric single-frequency GNSS correction algorithm (NeQuick-G) adopted by European Space Agency (ESA) Galileo GNSS system.

Researchers

Agis Agisilaou / GeoImaging Ltd

Sampad Panda / Frederick Research Center

Haris Haralambous / Frederick Research Center

Christina Oikonomou / Frederick Research Center

Bruno Nava / Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)