Date of Award:

8-2017

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Physics

Committee Chair(s)

Jan J. Sojka

Committee

Jan J. Sojka

Committee

Michael Taylor

Committee

Jeong-Young Ji

Committee

Vincent Wickwar

Committee

Rees Fullmer

Abstract

This study aims to characterize the topside ionospheric density and temperature profiles using readily available Global Positioning System (GPS) total electron content (TEC) and ionosonde bottomside profile of electron density. The aim of this study is to find a technique that can be applied globally rather than specific locations where a wealth of data exists. Knowledge of the distribution of electron density and its altitude dependence, known as scale height, is important for ionospheric empirical modeling and ionospheric studies, and for practical applications, such as time delay correction of radiowave propagation through the ionosphere.

Over the years, researchers have gathered information and developed several different methods to analyze the topside ionosphere, including: coherent scatter radar observations of underdense electron density irregularities, incoherent scatter radar (ISR) probing, topside sounders onboard satellites, in situ rocket and satellite observations, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), and occultation measurements.

We were able to obtain topside information by an analysis of GPS TEC in combination with bottomside electron density profiles observed by ionosondes. This was verified by a study using one month’s worth of data from Millstone Hill ISR observations.

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