Some Thoughts on Ground-Based Observations

Eric Donovan – Prague – June 11, 2008

ILWS Overarching Objective (in a nutshell) – Achieve System-Level understanding of GeoSpace. ILWS agencies recognize that GB observations must be an integral part of the system-level effort, and that they are a critical complement to space-based observations. GB, for example, is essential to THEMIS, RBSPs, ERG, ORBITALS, KuaFu, MMS, SWARM (for GeoSpace), Cross Scale, etc.

CAWSES/SCOSTEP, ICESTAR, IHY, IPY, CEDAR, GEM, THEMIS-GBO, Cluster GBWG, eGY, etc. – There is a general theme of data exploitation (turning information into knowledge). This effort is agency sponsored as in the case of the Heliophysical Data Environment Program of NASA.

Key focus of this talk: With the exception of NSF, Space Agencies offer the only real hope of creating a world-wide network of geospace sensors that will facilitate significant advances in our field. Constellation-class missions deserve and need constellation-class GB observations. This cannot happen in a real way without genuine agency buy-in.

From CEDAR “Frontiers”

Networks and Chains…

(1) of the 36 submissions to the recent CEDAR “Frontiers” session, at least 18 made mention of the need for global and regional scale networks

(2) issues that were highlighted were globalization, enhanced spatio-temporal resolution, observing across multiple scales, three dimensional measurements etc (for example the figure at right shows the stratospheric vortex inferred from meteorological reanalysis of radiosonde data - a future possible network of Lidars would provide a synoptic time evolving view and shed light on vortex dynamics and variability.)

(3) the way to achieve global synoptic measurements of the IT system, as well as arrays within arrays for multi-scale studies is DASI – Distributed Arrays of Small Instrumentation. This is arguably the most important next step in GB space science observation and essential to system-level science. This must be international. Someone must take ownership of this… why not ILWS?

Linked networks of GB instruments are the framework:

For Example

The Internet

Site C3

Site C6

Site C5

Site C4

Site C2

Site C1

Site C0

Site F3

Site F6

Site F5

Site F4

Site F2

Site F1

Site M3

Site M6

Site M5

Site M4

Site M2

Site M1

Site M0 Site F0

CGSM MERIDIAN MIRACLE

What do we have to build on?

There are facilities and programs all over the world…

(1) Networks of small instruments: CGSM, MIRACLE, UNIS, AGI, AUGO, MEASURE, MERIDIAN, THEMIS GBO, InterMagnet, SuperDARN, etc. etc.

(2) Large multi-instrument observatories at the location of large facilities: Poker Flat, Resolute Bay, Sondrestrom, Tromso, Millstone, South Pole Station, SuperDARN sites, etc. etc.

(3) The growing “network” of virtual observatories: VMO/G, VMO/U, VITMO, VSO, VSPO, SPIDR, GAIA, Gloria, etc. etc. Each nation should sponsor an inventory of capacity

(1) What sites are out there?

(2) What instruments are out there?

(3) Can we develop ways of integrating data?

(4) What is likely to come in the near future?

Note that capacity surveys have been carried out in the past not to much avail – why?

(1) The output of these surveys has not been in a uniform format and generally these have not been incorporated into relational databases

(2) The big “carrot” has not been there – if a big player (ie., NSF or equivalent agency or agencies) gets going on DASI the rest of the world will follow – they will have to!

Concrete Steps Need to be Taken

So what should we do – DASI Phase I

(1) brainstorm on what expertise and knowledge is needed to make DASI happen – with this in mind establish a steering committee (look to CAWSES, ICESTAR, HPDE, etc).

(2) host system-level science workshops – choose five grand challenge themes.

(3) use the outcome of (2) to establish observational requirements for DASI sites.

(4) devote resources to developing a web accessible data base for capacity surveys.

(5) carry out the capacity surveys – make them complete, searchable, useable, and updatable.

(6) devote resources to the evolving (international) geospace data environment - ensure that data from DASI instruments are readily available via the growing network of VxOs and make sure that VxOs complement rather than duplicate each other.

(7) devote resources to bringing together those responsible for the operations of multi-instrument sites (MERIDIAN, MIRACLE, SRI, THEMIS-GBO, CGSM, AGO, AUGO, UAGI, PENGUIn, CANMOS, SuperDARN, EISCAT, etc etc). Address site management, data transport, standards, etc. This forms the “spacecraft bus” for DASI.

(8) There is interest in a DASI Phase I that would have all the elements of DASI – science driven, multi-national, multi-agency, multi-instrument program. Make it real, perhaps starting with the Canada (CSA), USA (NSF), Denmark and Mexico.

(9) use outputs of (3) & (5) to determine what we can add to what we have by 2010 (examples may be StormDARN, CHAIN, MF radars, FPIs, GPS & mag array enhancements, etc.)

(10) engage instrument teams, modellers, data assimilation experts, and of course funding agencies and implement enhancements established in (8)