Annual Report for the period July 2008‐July 2009 

Operation of SCINDA Receiver at the University of Calcutta 

Principal Investigator: Prof. Ashish Kumar DasGupta 

Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics 

University of Calcutta 

92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road 

Kolkata 700009 

India 

 

The  SCINDA  receiver  has  been  operational  at  the  Institute  of  Radio  Physics  and 

Electronics,  University  of  Calcutta,  Calcutta,  India  since  November  2006.  A  proposal  for 

procuring a dedicated broadband  internet  connection  for uploading  the SCINDA data and  its 

archival, and on‐line power backup was submitted  to  the Asian Office of Aerospace Research 

and Development (AOARD), Japan in May 2008. A one‐time grant of US$6900.00 was received 

in July 2008. During the period July 2008 through July 2009, operation of the SCINDA receiver 

has  been  almost  uninterrupted  except  during  the  total  solar  eclipse  of  July  22,  2009.  A 

dedicated  broadband  internet  connection  is  operational  from  the  government‐run  Bharat 

Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  since  October  2008.  An  on‐line  UPS  has  been  procured  to 

prevent data loss due to disruption of power. 

Data from the SCINDA receiver is available to the Satellite Beacon Group of this Institute 

in  the  post‐processed  form.  It  has  been  utilized  for  studying  some  Space Weather  events 

occurring on February 2, 2008 and September 25, 2008 when post‐sunset  scintillations were 

observed on GPS  links  from Calcutta  (22.58°N, 88.38°E geographic; magnetic dip: 32°N). The 

SCINDA GPS  S4  and  elevation  angle  plot  of  September25,  2008  showed  fluctuations  on  the 

SV12 link around 21:30 LT. Figure 1 shows the GPS S4 and elevation angle plot corresponding to 

September 25,  2008.  The  shaded portion  of  the  figure  corresponds  to  the  local  post  sunset 

hours. The SCINDA polar plot for the same evening showed the  location of SV12 to be almost 

due  south  of  Calcutta  as  evident  from  Figure  2.  A  software‐based  dual  frequency  high 

resolution GPS receiver  is available with this group which has the capability of measuring TEC 

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1. REPORT DATE 13 NOV 2009

2. REPORT TYPE Final

3. DATES COVERED 25-06-2008 to 23-09-2009

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Operation of SCINDA Receiver at the University of Calcutta

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER FA23860814111

5b. GRANT NUMBER

5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER

6. AUTHOR(S) Ashish Kumar Dasgupta

5d. PROJECT NUMBER

5e. TASK NUMBER

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) University of Calcutta,92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road,Kolkata 700009,India,NA,NA

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER N/A

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) AOARD, UNIT 45002, APO, AP, 96337-5002

10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) AOARD

11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) AOARD-084111

12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14. ABSTRACT The SCINDA receiver has been operational at the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, Calcutta,India since November 2006. During the period July 2008 through July 2009, operation of the SCINDA receiver has been almostuninterrupted except during the total solar eclipse of July 22, 2009. A dedicated broadband internet connection is operationalfrom the government‐run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) since October 2008. An on‐line UPS has beenprocured to prevent data loss due to disruption of power. Data from the SCINDA receiver is available to the Satellite BeaconGroup of this Institute in the post‐processed form. It has been utilized for studying some Space Weather eventsoccurring on February 2, 2008 and September 25, 2008 when post‐sunset scintillations were observed on GPS links fromCalcutta (22.58?N, 88.38?E geographic; magnetic dip: 32?N). The SCINDA GPS S4 and elevation angle plot of September25,2008 showed fluctuations on the SV12 link around 21:30 LT. The period of this report correspond to very low sunspot numberresulting in very few severe Space Weather events as observed on February 02, 2008 and September 25, 2008. Although thecurrent solar cycle has been weak so far, it may take only one powerful Space Weather event to cause serious damage to thetechnological infrastructure on which society relies. This SCINDA station in Kolkata India is operational continuouslythroughout the year supplying data to the network of such stations.

15. SUBJECT TERMS Space weather, Ionospheric Irregularities

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

Same as Report (SAR)

18. NUMBER OF PAGES

7

19a. NAME OFRESPONSIBLE PERSON

a. REPORT unclassified

b. ABSTRACT unclassified

c. THIS PAGE unclassified

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18

with an accuracy of 5 X 10‐4 TEC unit and provides phase of the received signals at both L1 and 

L2 frequencies. 

Figure 3 shows the variation of CNO (C/N ratio) at L1 and TEC during the evening hours 

of September 25, 2008 on the SV12 link from Calcutta using data from the software based GPS 

receiver. A patch of scintillation could be observed around 21:30 LT coupled with bite out  in 

TEC. The phase deviation at L1 and  its moving average corresponding to September 25, 2008 

for the GPS SV12 link from Calcutta is shown in Figure 4. A patch of phase scintillation may be 

observed around 21:36 LT with increased deviation around that time. 

The period of this report correspond to very  low sunspot number resulting  in very few 

severe  Space Weather  events  as  observed  on  February  02,  2008  and  September  25,  2008. 

Although  the current  solar cycle has been weak  so  far,  it may  take only one powerful Space 

Weather event  to cause  serious damage  to  the  technological  infrastructure on which  society 

relies. 

The expenditure incurred so far during the period July 2008 through July 2009 has been 

INR 198523.00 with a balance of INR 96678.00. In order to sustain the continuous recording and 

uploading  of  the  SCINDA  data,  rental  for  the  broadband  internet  connection  has  to  be 

continued, storage media for archiving the data and batteries for the online UPS procured and 

other  contingent expenses met.    It  is hereby proposed  to utilize  the balance  amount of  INR 

96678.00 during the next one year period for the above pourpose. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1 

 

 

 

 

 

        Figure 2 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

                         

                         

                         

                         

                         

                         

                         

                         

  Figure 3         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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September 25, 2008 Stn: Kolkata SV12 

 

 

    Figure 4             

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditure Incurred during the period July 2008-July 2009 for the project “SCINDA”

Sl.No. Head Sanctioned Amount ($)

Sanctioned Amount in

(Rs.)

Expenditure (Rs.)

Balance(Rs.)

1 Application fees,

Laying of Cables for dedicated Broadband Connection

1000.00 1,000.00

2 Rental for Broadband Connection

1500.00 23,265.00

3 On line UPS with Power Supply

2500.00 91,313.00

4 Storage Media for archiving the data

1000.00 44,245.00

5 Over head 15% 900.00 38,700.00 6,900.00 2,95,201.00 1,98,523.00 96,678.00