The Ionosphere's Pocket Litter: Exploiting Crowd-Sourced Observations

TitleThe Ionosphere's Pocket Litter: Exploiting Crowd-Sourced Observations
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsMiller, ES, Frissell, N, Kaeppler, S, Demajistre, R, Knuth, A
Conference NameFall AGU - Oral Presentation
Date Published12/2015
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union
Conference LocationSan Francisco, CA
Abstract

One of the biggest challenges faced in developing and testing our understanding of the ionosphere is acquiring data that characterizes the latitudinal and longitudinal variability of the ionosphere. While there are extensive networks of ground sites that sample the vertical distribution, we have rather poor coverage over the oceans and in parts of the southern hemisphere. Our ability to validate the ionospheric models is limited by the lack of point measurements and those measurements that essentially constitute characterization of horizontal gradients. In this talk, we discuss and demonstrate the use of various types of crowd-sourced information that enables us to extend our coverage over these regions. We will discuss new sources of these data, concepts for new experiments and the use of these data in assimilative models. We note that there are new, low cost options for obtaining data that broaden the participation beyond the aeronomy/ionospheric community.