Ionospheric Modeling / Space Weather Forecasting Technology

This application grew from the SWIFT application we worked on for Mission Research Corp. in the late 1990s, but has been modified and extended to be a more general ionospheric model. It provides users with relatively accurate predictions of local ionospheric electric- and magnetic-field conditions about an hour ahead.

The model utilizes near real-time satellite data on the charged particle flux from the Sun and continuously recalculates and maps the currents of charged particles in the ionosphere onto a 3-D finite-element grid with 100-kilometer spacing. From those maps we can derive the electric and magnetic field maps.

This model of the ionosphere is about ten kilometers thick and about one-hundred kilometers above the surface of the Earth. The algorithms are a work in progress. This link leads to images of predicted potential patterns. Here is a contour plotting demonstration using some data from early verisons.

Severe solar (geomagnetic) storms cause communications problems, abruptly increase drag on spacecraft, and can cause electric utility blackouts over a wide area. When used as a space weather forecasting technology, the predications it provides can be of great benefit to communications providers and the power distribution industry allowing them to take preemptive action.

Here is a link to my report of an eclipse expedition I was part of in 1979.