[PEM17-01] Thailand-Japan collaboration on the first VHF radar for plasma bubbles monitoring
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Plasma Bubble, VHF Radar, GNSS, Space Weather, Ionosphere
Recently, the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) including GPS has been used in various situations in economy and society. It becomes an indispensable social infrastructure. As one of the GNSS, Japan operates QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, nickname is Michibiki). Because its radio waves can reach Thailand, it is expected that Thailand can utilize various applications using Japanese QZSS. GNSS is considered as a key technology for self-driving vehicles in the future.
On the other hand, it is not generally known for the public that the "plasma bubbles", one of the phenomena of space weather, have a significant effect on the accuracy of GNSS. Plasma bubbles occur around the magnetic equator, for example in Thailand, and generally travel eastward, for example to Japan, after their generation. It is a serious problem not only in Thailand and Japan but also all over the world.
NICT and KMITL have been conducting collaborative research in the space weather field, including establishment and operation of Southeast Asia Low-latitude Ionospheric Network (SEALION) for 17 years. Based on this strong relationship, NICT and KMITL have jointly installed the VHF radar in KMITL Chumphon campus, and started its operation to observe plasma bubbles from January 2020. Chumphon is close to the magnetic equator where plasma bubbles are expected to be generated. Therefore it is one of the best places to observe plasma bubbles from their initial generation stage. The VHF radar station will augment existing SEALION stations and sensors to give more complete understanding of ionosphere and coupling to upper and lower atmosphere. The operation of the VHF radar together with the SEALION will lead to a significant progress in the use of advanced satellite-based navigation in Southeast Asia and Japan, and contribute to the further development of both Southeast Asia and Japan.
On the other hand, it is not generally known for the public that the "plasma bubbles", one of the phenomena of space weather, have a significant effect on the accuracy of GNSS. Plasma bubbles occur around the magnetic equator, for example in Thailand, and generally travel eastward, for example to Japan, after their generation. It is a serious problem not only in Thailand and Japan but also all over the world.
NICT and KMITL have been conducting collaborative research in the space weather field, including establishment and operation of Southeast Asia Low-latitude Ionospheric Network (SEALION) for 17 years. Based on this strong relationship, NICT and KMITL have jointly installed the VHF radar in KMITL Chumphon campus, and started its operation to observe plasma bubbles from January 2020. Chumphon is close to the magnetic equator where plasma bubbles are expected to be generated. Therefore it is one of the best places to observe plasma bubbles from their initial generation stage. The VHF radar station will augment existing SEALION stations and sensors to give more complete understanding of ionosphere and coupling to upper and lower atmosphere. The operation of the VHF radar together with the SEALION will lead to a significant progress in the use of advanced satellite-based navigation in Southeast Asia and Japan, and contribute to the further development of both Southeast Asia and Japan.