SANSA contribution to DemoGRAPE

Pierre Cilliers, PrEng, PhDResearch Physicist: SANSA Space Science

Hermanus, South Africa

Outline1. Introduction to SANSA2. SANSA-INGV collaboration3. GNSS infrastructure of SANSA4. Proposed GNSS location in Antarctica5. Time constraints6. Other issues

Introduction to SANSA

2nd International Polar Year (1932-33)

Hermanus

First magnetic observatory in South Africa established on University of Cape Town (UCT) campus – moved to Hermanus in 1941.

2nd International Polar Year (1932-33)

The HMO’s first buildings on the 

outskirts of Hermanus in 1941

Buildings on UCT campus which housed the fist magnetic observatory instruments.

HMO to SANSA Space Science

Year Event

1932 Prof Ogg at UCT established a magnetic observatory (in response to International Commission for the Polar Year)

1937 Magnetic Observatory placed under Trigonometrical Survey Office, Department of Lands

1941 Magnetic Observatory relocated to Hermanus (to escape the disturbing effects of the electric railway system)

1969 Magnetic Observatory incorporated into the CSIR

1987 Some of HMO’s services commercialised as a result of CSIR commercialisation

2001 HMO declared a National Facility and transferred to the NRF

2002 HMO mandate expanded to include student training

2011 HMO migrates to the South African National Space Agency (SANSA)

SANSA SPACE SCIENCEHermanus

The Space Science Directorate of SANSA is part of theworldwide network of magnetic observatories and isresponsible for research infrastructure and data used tomonitor the near Earth space environment. The scope ofactivities include fundamental and applied space physicsresearch, post-graduate student training, scienceadvancement, Space Weather and the provision ofgeomagnetic field related services on a commercial basis.

SANSA Earth Observation Directorate

Earth ObservationProgramme

SANSA Space Operations Directorate

Space OperationsProgramme

SANSA Space Science Directorate

Space Science Programme

SANSA Space Engineering Directorate

Space Engineering Programme

Human Capital Development Programme

Science Advancement Programme

SANSA Strategic Programmes

Space Science StructureManaging Director

ICT

Comms & MarketingEducation

Science Advancement

Shared Support ServicesAdvisory Forum

Site Services

Admin ‐ Fin & Bus

Geomag Iono & Atmo Waves

TechnologyResearch

Space WeatherRSU

Admin –HR

SANSA has been the Regional Warning Center (RWC) for Africasince June 2007.

http://www.ises-spaceweather.org/ISES/rwc/rwc.htmlhttp://spaceweather.sansa.org.za/

Regional Space Weather Centre for Africa at SANSA Space Science in Hermanus

• Provides important service to the nation by providing information, early warnings and forecasts on space weather conditions

• Products and services used mainly by defence, aeronautics, navigation and communication sectors

• Quality ensured data– Measurements used in developing global and national models

• Several of our data is used in real‐time to monitor space weather– K index from local magnetometer stations (HER, SANAE)– Ionosonde measurements

• Several of our data contribute to the global community for space weather modeling– Ionospheric Predictions Service (IPS, Australia)– Space Environment Centre (USA)– Ionospheric models (e.g. International Reference Ionosphere (IRI))

Space Weather Observations at SANSA

SANSA‐INGV collaboration• Started through IPY 2007-2008

UAMPY project • Collaboration with SCAR ICESTAR

IPY project• Focus on deployment of new

instruments (magnetometers, GISTMs)

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ICSU INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR 2007/2008 PROJECT:

Polar Space Weather studies during IPY/IHYBetter understanding of the Space Weather and Geomagnetic Storm mechanisms will allow more effective prediction of storm intensity and better mitigation actions to be taken.

LaCour Magnetometer in Norwegian Research Station under the Antarctic ice

First SA Expedition: 3nd International Polar Year & IGY (1957-58)

Mr Mosibudi MangenyaMinister of Science and TechnologyOfficial Opening of IPY in RSA

RSA IPY4-launch 1 March 2007

Photo: Pierre Cilliers

UAMPY IPY Polar Space Weather Studies Team

INGV

24E

RHODESHMO

ISSAUKZN

HartRAO

UP

NWU

UCT

IPY4 (Participants in ICESTAR project 63)

GNSS infrastructure of SANSA Space Science

Gough Island40.0°S, 10.0°W

Marion Island46.87º S, 37.86ºE

SANAE IV72.0°S, 2.5°W

Hermanus34.42°S, 19.22°E

SANAE-IV

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Proposed antenna locations at SANAE

Photo: Martin Louw

Vesleskarvet & SANAE IV from the West

Photo: Carol Jacobs

SANAE IV

Photo: I-TASC

SANAE Helicopter landing pad

SANAE from the S-East

A-Lab

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Proposed antenna locations at SANAE

1

2

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GISTM Antenna71° 40’ 25.67’’ S02° 50’ 30.42 ’’ W

200 m

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Proposed antenna location (1)on the Southern end of the roof of the SANAE base

http://www.sanap.org.za/

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Proposed antenna location (1)on the Southern end of the roof of the SANAE base

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Proposed antenna location (2)on the same pillar as the other GPS antenna

IGS GPS

GISTM

Photo: Anton Feun

Photo: Anton Feun

Photo: Anton Feun

Photo: Anton Feun

On the pillar in the DI Observation hatch

Instruments installed at SANAE in 2006-2008 for IPY Polar Space Weather Studies

• Overhauser magnetometer for total geomagnetic field measurements.

• GPS ionospheric scintillation monitor for ionospheric studies

• FGE fluxgate magnetometer for continuous recording of vector geomagnetic field (2008).

Physical Science Instrumentation at SANAE-IV

• HF (SuperDARN) radar

• Riometers (beamforming)

• Magnetometers

• Neutron Monitor

• VLF-receiver

• GPS receiver for geodesy

• Seismometer

• Weather station

• Ozone monitorSuperDARN

HF Radar antenna

HF Radar at SANAE-IV

4  element HF Radar interferometer antenna. Main array Interferometer array

Digital upgrade of the SuperDARN HF Transceivers

First data from the new digital radar 2014-02-18

Beamforming Riometer SANAE-IV

64 element beam forming imaging riometer at 38.2 MHz

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VLF Receiver at SANAE• Owner by University of Kwa-

Zulu Natal (UKZN) Space Physics Group

• Antenna: Orthogonal loops• Receiver: Omnipal VLF• Automatic Whistler Detector• Data logged continuously• Data uploaded daily to UKZN

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GISTM Equipment at SANAE-IV

receiver

GPSantenna

PC logger

Internet

LAN

Antenna: Novatel N355

GISTM: Novatel

GSV4004B

Transport to SANAE• Ship & helicopter (80

days)• DC10 aircraft (ALC)

(EUR 8000 one way)

Transport to SANAE

• SANAE is about 180 km from the ice shelf• Transport of staff and sensitive equipment via helicopter• Transport of equipment via ice tractor (2 day trip)

Human resources • SANSA is part of the South African

National Antarctic Programme (SANAP)

• Conducts several on-going space science and space weather related research projects in Antarctica, Marion Island and Gough Island.

• SANSA sends 2 overwintering engineers per year to SANAE and 1 to Marion Island

• 5 months technical training in Hermanus + 1 month survival training in Cape Town

• Engineers spend 14 months in Antarctica and Marion Island

GISTM & GNSS data

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GPS Satellite visibility and horizon from SANAE

360⁰ view of the receiver's environment as seen from the GISTM antenna.

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Coverage of the SANAE Scintillation receiver

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SCINDA (Modified) GPS logger software

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GPS Receiver position

SCINDA (Modified) GPS logger software

GPS TimeVisible satellites

Total Electron Content

Ionospheric Scintillation Statistics of SANSA GISTMs from GBSC, 2011

Gough Marion

Black is the distribution obtained from all data with elev>20°, Red is from data with both S4<0.1 and σΦ<0.1, i.e. due to non-scintillating signals.

SANAE

Spogli et al, SCAR OPEN SCIENCE CONFERENCE (13-25 July 2012, Portland, USA)

Communication from SANAE

• Via INTELSAT

• Bandwith for real-time upload to SANSA: 300 kB/s

• Daily upload capacity: 500 MB max

• Total annual upload: 200 GB

Thank you for your interest!