Scintillation Network Decision Aid: SCINDA Intro and Update Keith Groves, Ron Caton, Ben Heruska, Kyle Wiens, Josh Orfield Space Weather Center of Excellence Space Vehicles Directorate Air Force Research Laboratory First Workshop on ISWI 6-10 November 2010 Helwan University Cairo, Egypt

2 Overview SCINDA concept and current network development SCINDA Network in Africa Recent developments from the SCINDA team & opportunities for collaboration with African scientific community Summary

3 The Problem with Scintillation Satellite communication disruptions for extended periods (hours) Increased Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation errors Degraded High Frequency (HF) radio communication Scintillation = Rapid amplitude and phase fluctuations of radio signals from space due to turbulence generated by Ionospheric Irregularities

4 SCINTILLATION NETWORK DECISION AID (SCINDA) Ground-based sensor network – Passive UHF / L-band /GPS scintillation receivers – Measures scintillation intensity, eastward drift velocity, and TEC – Automated real-time data retrieval via internet Data supports research and space weather users – Understand on-set, evolution and dynamics of large-scale ionospheric disturbances – Empirical model provides simplified visualizations of scintillation regions in real-time A regional nowcasting system to support research and users of space- based communication and navigation systems

5 SCINDA Sensor Suite GPS Antenna Tri-band Beacon System GPS Receiver Single channel VHF Receiver USRP VHF Receiver UHF Antenna Yagi Patch

6 GPS SCINDA Sensor GPS Antenna GPS Receiver PRN 7 Scintillated GPS Signal

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

8 GPS Scintillation in Same Environment Can Be Much Weaker than VHF GPS Scintillation VHF Scintillation Latitude variation

– Livingston, Zambia 116 delegates from 27 nations including 79 representing 19 African countries SCINDA/IHY Workshops ZAMBIA 2007 – Addis, Ethiopia ~50 participants from 12 nations at 2007 IHY in Ethiopia 2006 – Cape Verde 20 participants representing 7 nations 2010 – Nairobi, Kenya, Bahir Dar, Ethopia, Cairo, Egypt* The beginning of ISWI

10 Existing SitesFuture ISWI SitesOther/collaboration SCINDA Ground Stations Present and anticipated thru 2011

11 SCINDA Africa Network ISWI Existing Sites (16) SCINDA SitePrincipal Investigator Abidjan, Ivory CoastDr. Olivier Obrou Addis Ababa, EthiopiaDr. Gizaw Mengistu Akure, NigeriaDr. Babatunde Rabiu Bahir Dar, EthiopiaDr. Baylie Damtie Brazzaville, CongoDr. Jean Bienvenu Dinga Cairo, EgyptDr. Ayman Mahrous Ilorin, NigeriaDr. Jacob Adeniyi Ile Ife, NigeriaDr. Emmanuel Ariyibi Kampala, UgandaDr. Florence D’ujanga Lagos, NigeriaDr. Larry Amaeshi (West) Nairobi, KenyaDr. Paul Baki (East) Nairobi, KenyaDr. Jared Ndeda Nsukka, NigeriaDr. Bonaventure Okere Sal, Cape VerdeMr. Jose Carlos Zanzibar, TanzaniaAl Amin de Rafara Sao Tome & Principe Dr. Rui Fernandes Hermanus, South Africa Dr. Pierre Cilliers Indicates reporting real-time data

12 SCINDA monumented GPS installation in Zanzibar First SCINDA VHF receiver installed at Univ. of Nairobi in July 2010 Began VHF equipment installation at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda New VHF installation Nov 2010 at Washera Geospace and Radar Science Laboratory, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia At least four new GPS installations planned in near term. Recent Developments SCINDA Installations 2010

13 SCINTILLATION NETWORK DECISION AID (SCINDA) Focus – Continue expansion of GPS SCINDA sensors 2 new installations planned in Fall new installations planned in Early 2011 – Expand SCINDA data suite at several sites with installation of new generation VHF scintillation receivers Developing a new low-power SCINDA equipment package consisting of “Fit-PC”, deep cycle UPS (with optional solar panels) and cell-phone modem First permanent install with “Fit-PC” last week

14 VHF Data from Bahir Dar 4 Nov 2010

15 New VHF Scintillation Sensor Software Digital Radio (SDR) AFRL/RVBXI is pursuing a new VHF geostationary beacon sensor exploiting software digital radio technology – Much greater capability (10x), much less costly (1/10) than existing hardware receiver – Enables sensor proliferation  sustenance for data-starved models! – Plan is to adopt technology for other RF monitoring systems (e.g., C/NOFS beacon receiver) SDR monitors multiple VHF GEO channels VHF channels in Spectrum Analyzer Frequency Power (dB)

16 Autonomous SCINDA system upgrades: New Developments – Low power computer (6-8 W) – Deep cycle UPS (with optional solar panel addition) – 3G cellular USB modem (to augment network connection) – Solar powered version under development (first deployment in early 2011) Low power, compact Fit-PC

17 SCINDA Summary SCINDA collects useful data for ionospheric density and irregularities specification with easy- to-operate sensors Sensor development continues to try to improve autonomous operation and robust performance We are well on the way to meeting our goal of ensuring coverage across Africa in time for the upcoming Solar Max…but, 4-5 more sites are still needed, priority in northern anomaly region Future emphasis on improving and upgrading capability at existing successful sites