2010 Incoherent Scatter Coordinated Observation Days

2010 Incoherent Scatter Coordinated Observation Days
URSI-ISWG

Data collection on these Incoherent Scatter Coordinated Observation Days is to start no later than 1300 UT on the indicated day and stop not before 2000 UT the ending day. That means that an experiment scheduled for 1 day, actually runs for minimum 31 hours. Depending on local setups, it is recomended to extend the runs around the core hours to be sure to have the systems up at full power during the selected periods.

In the following table, columns 1 and 2 give the UT start dates of the experiments, column 3 lists the lengths of the experiments, column 4 shows the dates of new moon, and column 5 lists the experiment titles. See special notes associated with each World Day period.

2010 Incoherent Scatter Coordinated Observation Days *Final*
Month	Starting Day	Observation Length (days)	New Moon	Experiment
January	15-31 Alert	10	15	Stratospheric warmings...see note 1
February	1-15 Alert	10	14	Stratospheric warmings...see note 1
March	9	2	15	QP TIDs
April	13	1	14	SolarMin
May	10	1	14	SolarMin
June	15	2	12	Topside
July	6	1	11	SolarMin
August	10	1	10	SolarMin
September	7	2	8	TopSide
October	5	1	7	SolarMin
November	8	1	6	SolarMin
December	7	2	5	Topside
Total		24		Total 653 hours...see note 2

NOTES: 1: The decision to start will be based on predictions of stratospheric warming by Larisa Goncharenko. 2: With start/stop times of 1300/2000 UT: 2424h+117h=653h
Schedule last updated: Monday, 5 October 2009

Real-Time Data Links (when available)
Jicamarca	Arecibo	Millstone Hill	Sondre Stromfjord	EISCAT
Kharkov	Irkutsk	MU	SuperDARN

Send comments, questions and proposals for the World Day schedule to to Ingemar Haggstrom at ingemar@eiscat.se and to Mary McCready at mary.mccready@sri.com

World Day Facts

Establishing "World Day" schedules for coordinating the operations of the incoherent scatter radars around the world is one of the activities of the Incoherent Scatter Working Group (ISWG) of Commission G of URSI. These schedules are published yearly as part of the International Geophysical Calendar. Here are some of the facts about world days:

World Days (WD) provide for coordinated operations of two or more of the incoherent scatter radars (ISRs) for some common scientific objective. (Experiments that require only 1 UAF should be set up separately and directly with those in charge of that UAF.)
World Days should be scattered throughout the calendar year.
World Day data is to be promptly submitted to the CEDAR database and/or made available through other online databases as appropriate.

The World Day Schedule for 2009 can be found at worldays_2009.html

Procedures for requesting World Day experiments

Instructions and guidlines for submitting World Day proposals are available at: RequestingWD.doc.
A sample proposal for requesting special World Days will be available at: http://people.ece.cornell.edu/wes/URSI_ISWG/SampleWDproposal.htm.

Notes on World Day observations proposed for 2010

Strat-Warming: Dynamics and Temperature of the Lower Thermosphere During Sudden Stratospheric Warming

Key Objectives:

To measure neutral wind (zonal and meridional components) and electron and ion temperatures in the lower thermosphere before and during sudden stratospheric warming.
To compare variations in temperature and winds to average variations observed by ISRs during the winter.
To compare variations in temperatures and winds to mesospheric response as given by MF and meteor radars and lidars.
To extend studies of stratospheric warming effects to the lower thermosphere and investigate possible coupling with the ionosphere
To examine the mechanisms responsible for variations in lower thermospheric dynamics and temperatures and investigate to what degree they can be related to sudden stratospheric warming.

Background Conditions: The observations need to be made before and during the sudden stratospheric warming. A 10-day campaign is requested, based on an alert to be issued either in January or February.
ISRs Needed: All
Parameters to Measure: LTCS mode - electron and ion temperatures from lowest possible altitude throughout the F-region, zonal and meridional components of neutral wind in the lower thermosphere (95-140km), F-region meridional wind. Temporal resolution can be sacrificed and data integration period increased in order to obtain data at lower altitudes.
Need for Simultaneous Data: The idea is to measure how variations in temperature and winds associated with sudden stratospheric warmings change with latitude and altitude.
Scheduling: A month-long alert period in January or February 2010 is proposed. Initiation of observations will be based on NCEP and/or EMCWF forecasts of changes in stratospheric temperatures.
Participant Duties: Larisa Goncharenko is responsible for issuing the alert. Peter Hoffmann will coordinate MF and meteor radar data. Irfan Azeem will coordinate OH airglow temperatures. William Ward will facilitate collaboration between modeling, radar, and lidar efforts.
Contacts: Larisa P. Goncharenko, Peter Hoffmann, Irfan Azeem, and William Ward.

QP TIDs: Coordinated Study of Quasi-Periodic Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances with Extended Latitude Coverage

Key Objectives:

To determine whether gravity-wave induced medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) consistently observed at high geomagnetic latitudes under quiet geomagnetic conditions are at all related to the continuum of quasi-periodic thermospheric waves observed at both Arecibo, Millstone, and perhaps AMISR Poker Flat.
To Firmly establish the geophysical parameter range over which these quasi-periodic MSTIDs�that currently appear to defy theoretical explanation�exist.

Background Conditions: Low to moderate geomagnetic activity, New Moon.
ISRs Needed: All, for three 48-hour runs.
Parameters to Measure: Continuous or near-continuous vertical power profiles through the E/F regions (100-800 km) with the best time resolution possible. We must have 5 minute or better time resolution power profiles in order to properly filter the data to separate small amplitude waves from the normal variations of the ionosphere.
Secondary Parameters to Measure: Dual-beam ion velocities commensurate with the primary objective.
Simultaneous Data: As the waves sought for this study are known to exist at AO, MSH, and PFISR, simultaneous data are needed to further study the waves and identify the generative processes.
Participant Duties: John Mathews will coordinate the observations to ensure that proper modes are used at each UAF.
Contact: J.D. Mathews, F.T. Djuth, D. Livneh, I. Seker, M.P. Sulzer, C.A. Tepley, S.M. Smith, W.A. Bristow, J.C. Foster, and M. Nicolls.

TopSide: Latitudinal and Altitudinal Variability of the Topside Ionosphere at Low, Mid, and High Latitudes

Key Objectives:

to investigate the latitudinal variability of topside parameters (temperatures, drifts, and composition) under similar geophysical conditions
to apply new measurement and analysis schemes to topside measurements
to investigate topside ion upflow at high latitudes at different geomagnetic locations
to investigate equatorial / low-latitude topside coupling via simultaneous measurements along common (similar) flux tubes

Background Conditions:Measurements during different seasons are requested (summer, equinox, winter). Magnetic and solar activity is not of major concern.
ISRs Needed:All (especially PFISR, JRO and AO) including EISCAT ESR, VHF, and UHF (in that order of preference), and Irkutsk
Parameters to Measure:Because these topside measurements require the extraction of “specialized” products, such as H+/He+ fractions, and the data will be used to test the capability of extracting other products (such as O+ and H+ velocities simultaneously), lag profiles / power spectra / raw data are requested (especially for PFISR and AO). Measurement schemes will be developed with coordination at each institution, but in general, a common approach will be requested, which will utilize long, uncoded pulses and application of analysis schemes developed for these measurements. At AO, a dual-beam (vertical + beam-swinging) experiment is requested. At JRO, the offperpendicular Hybrid2/Full-profile topside mode is requested. At MH, Sondrestrom, and EISCAT, field-aligned direction is requested. At PFISR, 4-beam experiment is requested (field-aligned, bore-sight, and two-beams for electric fields).
Secondary Parameters to Measure:Electric fields at all facilities
Simultaneous Data:The goal is to have similar geophysical conditions at all radars to investigate latitudinal coupling of the topside region on closed field lines, and to investigate ion upflow under similar geophysical conditions in the high latitude region. Ideally we would have measurements spread throughout the year (at least three 24-hour periods), in summer, equinox, and winter.
Existing Data Meeting Objectives:Little coordinated topside data exists in the necessary form (lag profiles / raw samples) in new modes (e.g., at JRO, PFISR) developed for topside measurements.
Existing Data Closest to Objectives:Data from uncoordinated days exists for each radar independently.
Relevance of Baseline WD Schedule:To our knowledge, there are no days set aside for coordinated topside measurements.
Participant Duties:Fabiano Rodrigues and Michael Nicolls will coordinate the experiments to ensure proper modes are used at each UAF. The PIs will work closely with experts at each facility to analyze and interpret measurements.
Facility Personnel Contacted:Sixto Gonzalez (AO), David Hysell and Jorge Chau (JRO), Phil Erickson (MH), Craig Heinselman (PFISR, Sondrestrom), Y. Ogawa (Nagoya University), Unni Pia Lovhaug (University of Tromso), Tony van Eyken (SRI Internationa, EISCAT)
Principle Investigators: Fabiano Rodrigues, Michael Nicolls

Solar Minimum:To cover the end of the unique extreme solar minumum

Key Objectives:

The present solar minimum is the lowest in historic times and the turning into higher solar activities should be coveraged.
To provide an unprecedented data set with multiple applications.
To provide correlative data for other instrumentation and models.

Background Conditions:Regular monthly experiments to cover the unique event
ISRs Needed: All, for at least 24-hour runs.
Parameters to Measure:Vertical power profiles through the E/F regions The radar modes should cover altitude profiles of the normal IS parameters over E and F regions, possibly also vector drifts.
Contact: Tony van Eyken, Ingemar Haggstrom.