1. SCINDA Status & Plans Dr. Keith Groves Institute for Space Research
LISN Workshop
Sao José dos Campos
S.P., Brasil
7-10 November 2011
Dr. Keith Groves
Institute for Space Research
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA USA

2. Acknowledgments to the Team
Santimay Basu Ronald Caton Charlie Carrano
Chris Bridgwood Isseyas Mengistu John Quinn
Robert Livingston Stephen Jimenez Cesar Valladares
Randy Cicale Ben Heruska Peter Ning
Mike Verlinden Dean Anneser Rui Fernandes
Patrick Roddy Nelson Bonito Ted Erickson
AND a long list of instrument hosts!

3. OUTLINE SCINDA Purpose & Status African Initiative Plans & Summary
Equipment Description
Global Scintillation & Ionospheric Monitoring
African Initiative
Plans & Summary
A bit about COPEX…
PRN 7

4. Scintillation: Why we care
Rapid amplitude and phase fluctuations of
radio signals from space due to turbulence generated by Ionospheric Irregularities
Regional UHF SATCOM outages for extended periods (hours)
Increased Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation errors
Degraded High Frequency (HF) radio communication 4

5. SCINTILLATION NETWORK DECISION AID (SCINDA)
A regional nowcasting system to support basic research and users of space-based comm/nav systems
Ground-Based Sensor Network
Passive UHF / L-Band /GPS Scintillation Receivers
Measures Scintillation Intensity, Zonal Drift Velocity and TEC
Automated Real-time Data Retrieval Via Internet
Data Drives Equatorial Scintillation Model Providing Simplified Visualizations for users
TEC data available for ambient ionosphere models 5

6. SCINDA Sensor Suite UHF SATCOM Receiver Tri-band Beacon System
GPS Antenna
UHF Antenna
GPS Receiver

7. Typical Hardware Configuration
Antenna Layout
West Receiver
East Receiver
meters
2 meters
RG9913 Coaxial Cable
(180 meters max.)
Magnetic E-W Baseline
cable out to antennas
Shared Monitor
VHF Computer
GPS Computer
VHF Receiver
Internet / Local Network
GPS Receiver
KVM Switch
Keyboard
GPS Antenna
LEGACY SLIDE, MIGHT DELETE
Figure 5. VHF (250 MHz) Receiver Chain and Data Acquisition System
Receivers Set-Up 7

8. Software Digital Radio Technology
Measures full spectrum of satellite channels simultaneously
1/10 the cost of existing UHF SATCOM monitoring systems
Enables sensor proliferation for data-starved models!
Real-time processing capability being tested now for field deployment in FY10
Any single channel subject to satellite modulation
Example of good agreement with the old system (red) and the software digital radio (green) during a strong scintillation period.
SDR captures entire UHF SATCOM spectrum; collectively a good channel is always available
Software-based system exhibits lower noise floor

9. SCINDA Ground Stations
Present and anticipated thru 2012
30N
30S
Recent SCINDA Focus
LISN Domain
210E
240E
270E
300E
330E
30E
60E
90E
120E
150E
Existing Sites
Future UN ISWI Sites
Other collaboration

10. Scintillation Activity in Africa
Strength of scintillations over Africa unknown
Adapted from S.Y. Su, 2005
Scintillation activity across Africa assumed high based on satellite observations, but ground-based measurements are needed
C/NOFS sees similar maximum in activity over Africa
Leveraged UN-sponsored workshops to identify host nation partners & collaborators ( )
Goal is to establish robust monitoring network with scientific collaboration across Africa, Asia and South America

11. SCINDA-IHY Workshops in Africa
Purpose: To train participants in equatorial Ionospheric physics and SCINDA sensor installation, operation and maintenance
1st Workshop: Jul 2006, Espargos, Sal Island, Cape Verde
20 African participants, installed full SCINDA sensor suite, outlined plan for new sites
As a result, established 3 SCINDA sites in Nigeria (2) and Ivory Coast in 2007
2nd Workshop: 11 Nov 2007, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
More than 50 participants representing 12 nations
Results of initial research on SCINDA data from and presented by African hosts
Established 3 SCINDA sites in Ethiopia (2) and Kenya in 2008
3rd Workshop: 7-12 Jun 2009, Livingstone, Zambia
More than 100 participants representing 25 nations!
Presentations and discussions of research on SCINDA data led by African scientists!
Deployed 5 systems to Uganda, Egypt, Liberia, Nigeria & Kenya and plans for future deployment of up to 10 more systems in Africa
4th Workshop 6-10 Nov 2010 in conjunction with Workshop on International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI), Helwan, Egypt

12. 1st SCINDA-IHY Workshop in Africa
10-14 Jul 2006 – Espargos, Cape Verde

13. 2nd SCINDA-IHY Workshop in Africa
11 Nov 2007 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bigger…

14. 3rd SCINDA-IHY Workshop in Africa
7-12 Jun 2009, Livingstone, Zambia
Still Growing…

15. Plans (unofficial)
Install an additional 4-5 sites in Africa, 2-3 other locations in S.E. Asia/Pacific
Improve infrastructure/capability at functional sites in Africa
Solar panels, robust power systems, mobile data transfer
Add VHF scintillation/drift sensors
Develop improved multi-frequency LEO beacon receiver systems focused on next-generation beacon design (still TBD); up to six equatorial satellites in constellation (2015)
New sensors useful throughout SCINDA & LISN networks

16. Basic Infrastructure Needs Congo Brazzaville, 2-6 Nov 2011

17. VHF & GPS Sensor Data Nairobi, Kenya, 01 Oct 2011

18. Plans (unofficial)
Exploit data for more scientific studies on both local and global scintillation phenomena
Storm-time behavior, 4-cell pattern in TEC/scintillation, local gradients, anomaly characteristics
Ultimate goal is to forecast equatorial Spread F

19. Meridional Structure & Evolution: COPEX TEC Central Brazil Oct-Nov 2002
13-19 October
Mlat
VTEC
Combined data from three (3) stations reveals dramatic low latitude density structure and variation
Asymmetric anomaly structure driven by inter-hemispheric neutral wind
Scintillation characteristics symmetric
1-7 December
Mlat
Local Time
VTEC
3-9 November
Local Time
VTEC

20. Longitudinal Variations: Continental Scale
14 Oct
15 Oct
16 Oct
27 Oct
ASI
ASI
ASI
ASI
WEST
KIN
KIN
KIN
KIN
CENTRAL
ZNZ
ZNZ
ZNZ
ZNZ
EAST
Synoptic scale features can be resolved with current network, but better resolution is needed

21. Plans (unofficial)
Continue to support LISN initiative—South America is critical region and offers excellent observing opportunities

22. Recent SCINDA Installations
GPS site established in Zanzibar, Tanzania July 2010
VHF system installed in Nairobi, Kenya
GPS sites established in Kinshasa & Kisangani, DRC May 2011

23. More SCINDA Site Photos
TIA (This is Africa)

24. TIB (This is Brasil)
Obrigado