Accurate Now-Casting of Near-Earth Space Conditions from Low-Altitude Satellites

摘要

Auroral particles have been studied for years using DMSP satellites. The goal of this project was to apply past research to develop practical tools for monitoring the real-time position of the auroral oval (nowcasting), and more generally, monitoring the general state of space weather from DMSP particle data. The effort was successful. A real-time auroral oval monitor (OVATION) was developed, and transitioned to AF space weather operations. The OVATION effort nowcasts the current auroral oval position and intensity, along with the general state of excitation of the near-Earth space conditions ('space weather'). The tools developed in creating OVATION in turn provided new opportunities for basic research. One important finding which resulted is that a seasonal variation in space weather intensity exists, which depends primarily on whether the nightside auroral oval of either the northern or southern hemisphere is sunlit.