Application and evaluation of EDAM with assimilated GPS total electron content in the European Sector

  • James Parker

Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

Abstract

This thesis presents results from EDAM modelling and observing ionospheric phenomena in the European sector. EDAM used GPS TEC to create 3-D electron density grids that are then used to create vertical Total Electron Content maps. This enabled observations of ionospheric phenomena in the European sector. Alongside EDAM, SuperDARN potential plots and Ionosondes among other data sources are used to help confirm and verify the modelling results. Statistical results are presented of the main ionospheric trough, obtained from EDAM with assimilated GPS TEC from September to December 2002. The results not only considered the width and depth of the trough but are also used to parameterise the shape of the trough in terms of a set of parameters. The parameters were used in a previous study that used NIMS TEC measurements and tomographic imaging. This study has been published in Annales Geophysicae by Parker et al. (2018) (Reuse of this text is allowed for this Chapter by way of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. There are changes in the text, but the content is the same.) Observations of the TOI and SED are presented using EDAM assimilated GPS VTEC maps, difference VTEC maps, electron density difference height profiles and SuperDARN electric potential plots. The evolution of the TOI and SED are presented over the Western European sector on 30 September 2002. The results have also considered IMF and solar wind data from ACE, indices such as the Kp index, Dst index and DMSP data plots. Modified Taylor Diagrams are used to show the performance of EDAM and IRI with respect to a truth receiver between September 2002 and August 2003. The diagrams are categorised into three different parameters to focus on; the time of day, individual satellites, and Kp index. A time period where the EDAM modelled results underperformed compared to the truth data as shown by Modified Taylor Diagrams is discussed, where the cause may have been down to
a number of factors including Sporadic E.
Date of Award2018
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Aberystwyth University
SupervisorEleri Pryse (Supervisor), Manuel Grande (Supervisor) & Natasha Jackson-Booth (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Electron Density Assimilative Model (EDAM)
  • Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)
  • ionosphere

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