RE-ISSUE IMPROVED MODELING OF SHORT AND LONG TERM CHARACTERISTICS OF IONOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES DURING ACTIVE YEARS OF THE SOLAR CYCLE (PTRP) – EXPRO PLUS
17, February 2015

ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8214
Open Date: 11/02/2015
Closing Date: 25/03/2015

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.1EE.10
Prog. Ref.: TRP
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – TRP
Special Prov.: B+DK+F+D+I+NL+E+S+CH+GB+IRL+A+N+FIN+POR+GR+LUX+CZ+RO+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 100-200 KEURO
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Manag
Department: Electrical Engineering Department
Division: Electromagnetics and Space Environment D
Contract Officer: van Hilten, Linda
Last Update Date: 11/02/2015
Update Reason: Tender issue

This activity has the objective of developing ionospheric models and adapt existing ones based on experimental data measured in activities during active periods of the solar cycle (e.g. MONITOR) able to: – reproduce the effects of the ionosphere in equatorial regions (temporal/spatial gradients and ionospheric scintillations) – reproduce small-scale effects such as TIDs or depletions and other disturbances – understand better the effects of geomagnetic storms in the ionosphere – adapt to changes in geomagnetic field and solar cycle – improve prediction and forecasting capabilities for ionospheric effects – understand the effects of such effects on GNSS systems Extensive measurements over solar maximum will be carried out during the MONITOR activity under the GNSS Evolutions Programme and other experiments from external organisations. They will be able to provide a better insight on several processes affectingGNSS performance and they will have a proper basis for improved modelling. Long-term characteristics shall be characterised on statistical basis. Furthermore, ionospheric climatological models uses monthly median maps of M(3000) and foF2 for ionospheric electron density and other predictions and internal analysis has indicated that such maps must be adapted to changes of geomagnetic field andsolar cycle variations. The activity covers the following tasks: – Review and select relevant data from internal and external activities for the detailed characterisation of ionospheric effects (in the long and short-term). – Analyse tha data and process to remove external error contributions for the understanding of ionospheric characteristics. Compare with external data and geophysical indices. – Develop models suitable to analyse effects on GNSS systems and users. – Select datasets that reproduce effects on given scenarios, able to verify the models. – Analyse the effects on GNSS performance of the studied effects. Procurement Policy: C(3) = Activity restricted to SMEs & R&D Entities. For additional information please go to EMITS news “Industrial Policy measures for non-primes,SMEs and R&D entities in ESA programmes”.

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