Department of Electrical Engineering

This paper aimed to overview the interaction of the thunderstorm with the ionospheric electric fields during major geomagnetic storms in Antarctica through the GPS tropospheric delays. For the purpose of study, geomagnetic activity and electric fields data for the period from 13 to 21 March 2015 representing the St. Patrick's Day storm is analyzed. To strengthen the analysis, data for the period of 27 October to 1 st November 2003 representing for the Halloween storm is also compared. Our analysis showed that both geomagnetic storms were severe (Ap ≥ 100 nT), where the intensity of Halloween storm is double compared to St. Patrick's Day storm. For the ionospheric electric field, the peaks were dropped to-1.63 mV/m and-2.564 mV/m for St. Patrick and Halloween storms, respectively. At this time, the interplanetary magnetic field Bz component was significantly dropped to-17.31 nT with Ap > 150 nT (17 March 2015 at 19:20 UT) and-26.51 nT with Ap = 300 nT (29 October 2003 at 19:40 UT). For both geomagnetic storms, the electric field was correlated well with the ionospheric activity where tropospheric delays show a different characteristic. 1. Introduction Characterization the cause-effect mechanisms driving the formation and evolution of middle and the coupling between the upper and the lower levels of the atmosphere is challenging task. The physical mechanism on how the ionospheric activities interact directly or indirectly to troposphere is still not clear. It is well known theoretically that the high latitude ionosphere-troposphere contains the footprints of processes that have their origin in the planetary space. Many different techniques are now available for probing the ionosphere-troposphere, from radar measurements to the analysis of radio propagation noise. Among them the use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements allows to describe the 3D plus time evolution of the ionospheric plasma and water vapor over restricted regions [1,2]. Mathematical techniques combined with experimental observations provide the ability to study the ionosphere from high in the F-region to the lower atmosphere. Thus the coupling processes between the magnetosphere and the neutral atmosphere can be approximated. Therefore, the possible linkages between solar phenomena, solar-induced interplanetary disturbances, the magnetospheric state and the chemistry of the middle and lower terrestrial atmosphere have been explored over the years with intent to separate natural variations from the anthropogenic forcing [3]. However, a solar influence on water vapor over Antarctica during the intense magnetospheric disturbance [2] found that the coupling between the upper and lower levels of the atmosphere is less sensitive enough to sense the coupling process. In fact, there are many phenomena occurs from the ionosphere to the lower atmosphere such as precipitation events, including water vapor distribution, formation of clouds and aerosols and the chemistry of the lower atmosphere [3], formation of polar stratospheric clouds, lightning and atmospheric electricity [4], and a long-lived trace gas in the mesosphere provides a possibility atmospheric motion and drags as well as hazard material detection during active weather. In this sense, global electric circuit is identified as a possible physical mechanism for the coupling process. Lightning and thunderstorm activity, as related to global electric circuit plays an important role in the coupling between Earth's lower atmosphere and the ionosphere [5]. Thunderstorm activity has an effect on the E-sporadic layer and the global electric circuits are shown to be organized by lightning phenomena over the geomagnetic equator. Global thunderstorm charge ionosphere and current returns

This book addresses space science and communication – one of the main pillars of space science sustainability, an area that has recently become of great importance. In this regard, research and development play a crucial role in sustainability development. However, obtaining essential data in the physical world to interpret the universe and to predict what could happen in the future is a challenging undertaking. Accordingly, providing valid information to understand trends, evaluate needs, and create sustainable development policies and programs in the best interest of all the people is indispensable.

This book was prepared in conjunction with the fifth meeting of the 2017 International Conference on Space Science and Communication (IconSpace2017), held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 3-5 May 2017 to introduce graduate stuandents, researchers, lecturers, engineers, geospatialists, meteorologists, climatologists, astronomers and practitioners to the latest applications of space science, telecommunications, meteorology, remote sensing and related fields. The individual papers discuss a broad range of space science and technology applications, e.g. the formation of global warming from space, environmental and remote sensing, communication systems, and smart materials for space applications.

Water vapor plays an important role in the global climate system. A clear relationship between water vapor and solar activity can explain some physical mechanisms of how solar activity influences terrestrial weather/climate changes. To gain insight of this possible relationship, the atmospheric precipitable water vapor (PWV) as the terrestrial climate response was observed by ground-based GPS receivers over the Antarctic stations. The PWV changes analyzed for the period from 2003 to 2008 coincided with the declining phase of solar cycle 23 exhibited following the solar variability trend. Their relationship showed moderate to strong correlation with 0.45 < R 2 < 0.93 (p < 0.01), on a monthly basis. This possible relationship suggests that when the solar-coupled geomagnetic activity is stronger, the Earth’s surface will be warmer, as indicated by electrical connection between ionosphere and troposphere.

The influence of solar energetic phenomena, solar flare index and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) on precipitable water vapor (PWV) are investigated during the intense 2003 geomagnetic storms at Scott Base station Antarctica for the period between 22 October ...

This research was performed to characterize the variability of weather behavior in the lower and upper atmosphere layers, particularly its dependence on conditions in the troposphere and ionosphere at six different stations over UKM Bangi, Selangor. The ...

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) plays a crucial role in generating the extreme conditions in the Borneo region of the Pacific Ocean. We report on the monitoring of the variability of precipitable water vapor (PWV) derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) signals together with surface meteorological measurements at three stations (Kota Kinabalu, Bintulu and Miri) along the northern coast of Borneo Island during an El Niño event in DJF 2004/2005. Two years of hourly PWV observations resulted in an average PWV value of 51.25 mm with a standard deviation (STD) of 2.03 mm. The PWV exhibited a semi-annual cycle with its maximum occurring during the warmest months of April - May, minimum occurring in July and its increased in September. The coolest months were December and January, with average temperatures of 23.50°C and 24.40°C, respectively, due to the surface airflow and synoptic cold surges from Siberia. At the onset of the El Niño event of DJF 2004/2005, the warmer sea surface temperature (SST) caused the PWV content to decrease by ~26% compared to the average PWV of the DJF 2003/2004 and DJF 2005/2006 seasons. This phenomenon suggests that when warm water surges eastward, the evaporation rate from the ocean increases, leading to decreased rainfall in the western Pacific. We emphasize that the water vapor variability in the northern part of the Borneo region during this event is controlled by tropical cyclones within the synoptic weather disturbances.

ABSTRACT Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) are photon waves originating from astrophysical sources which traverse through the interstellar/interplanetary medium and reaching the terrestrial atmosphere. The energies of Galactic Cosmic Ray particles up to and exceeding 1012 eV, and this spectrum are peaked around 1 GeV. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provide satellite mission for monitoring the energy GCR particles in polar orbit, so-called the ACE and OMNI. In this paper, we analyze results from measurement error of GCR sensor. The error result is obtained by comparing the measurements from GCR sensor with ground-based neutron monitors at Bartol University. The measurements were taken for two periods during a Solar Particle Event (SPE) maximum on 14 July 2000 and 28 October 2003. The largest value of measurement error from GCR sensor in this study is OMNI satellites. After the error results were obtained, they were applied into Geant4 simulation. This simulation shows the shape of particle energy distribution of GCR sensors. The simulation has been tested and can be operated very well under Linux based platform.

ABSTRACT The space environment has grown intensively harmful to spacecraft and astronauts. Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are one of the radiation sources that composed of high energetic particles originated from space and capable of damaging electronic systems through single event upset (SEU) process. In this paper, we analyzed GCR fluxes at different altitudes by using Space Environment Information System (SPENVIS) software and the results are compared to determine their intensities with respect to distance in the Earth's orbit. The altitudes are set at low earth orbit (400 km and 685 km), medium earth orbit (19,100 km and 20,200 km) and high earth orbit (35,793 km and 1,000,000 km). Then, within Low Earth Orbit (LEO) near the equator (NEqO), we used altitude of 685 km to compare GCRs with the intensities of solar particles and trapped particles in the radiation belt to determine the significance of GCRs in the orbit itself.