Earth:Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network

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CHAIN site in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut

The Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) is an array of ground-based radio instruments deployed in the Canadian Arctic and operated by the University of New Brunswick. The CHAIN instruments include high data-rate GPS receivers and digital ionosondes.[1] After passing through the Earth's ionosphere, microwave GPS signals carry information about the total electron content (TEC). This information is commonly used to improve the precision of GPS and to study ionospheric morphology.[2][3] Ionosondes transmit pulses of radio signals in the Medium Frequency (MF) and High Frequency (HF) ranges, whose echos are analyzed to measure height and density of the ionosphere. Advanced digital ionosondes used in the CHAIN network are also able to measure the bulk motion of ionospheric plasma.[4]

Most of the CHAIN instruments are located within the polar cap defined as a region of open magnetic field lines. The polar cap ionosphere is directly linked to the interplanetary magnetic field carried by the solar wind. Polar cap thus provides a vantage point for the study of energy exchange between the solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere.

CHAIN is an integral part of the Canadian Geospace Monitoring (CGSM) programme. It provides ground support for Canadian and international scientific space missions such as THEMIS and CASSIOPE. CHAIN ionosonde and GPS data are used for tomographic reconstructions of polar cap plasma anomalies during geomagnetic storms [5]

In January 2012, the Canada Foundation for Innovation announced funding for the Expanded Canadian High-Arctic Ionospheric Network (ECHAIN). This funding was used to add 15 Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to the existing network of GPS receivers and radars of the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN). The data will contribute significantly to the progress of space research by providing a better understanding of the processes in the Sun-Earth system.[6]

CHAIN instrument sites

Location Station code Coordinates Instruments
Arctic Bay, Nunavut arcc [ ⚑ ] 73°00′N 85°02′W / 73.00°N 85.03°W / 73.00; -85.03 GPS
Arviat, Nunavut arvc [ ⚑ ] 61°06′N 94°04′W / 61.10°N 94.07°W / 61.10; -94.07 GPS
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut cbbc [ ⚑ ] 69°06′N 105°07′W / 69.10°N 105.11°W / 69.10; -105.11 GPS, ionosonde
Churchill, Manitoba chuc [ ⚑ ] 58°46′N 94°05′W / 58.76°N 94.09°W / 58.76; -94.09 GPS
Coral Harbour, Nunavut corc [ ⚑ ] 64°11′N 83°21′W / 64.19°N 83.35°W / 64.19; -83.35 GPS
Eureka, Nunavut eurc [ ⚑ ] 79°59′N 85°54′W / 79.99°N 85.90°W / 79.99; -85.90 GPS, ionosonde
Fort McMurray, Alberta mcmc [ ⚑ ] 56°39′N 111°13′W / 56.65°N 111.22°W / 56.65; -111.22 GPS
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories fsic [ ⚑ ] 61°46′N 121°14′W / 61.76°N 121.23°W / 61.76; -121.23 GPS
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories fsic [ ⚑ ] 60°02′N 111°56′W / 60.03°N 111.93°W / 60.03; -111.93 GPS
Gillam, Manitoba gilc [ ⚑ ] 56°23′N 94°38′W / 56.38°N 94.64°W / 56.38; -94.64 GPS
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut gjoc [ ⚑ ] 68°38′N 95°50′W / 68.63°N 95.84°W / 68.63; -95.84 GPS
Grise Fiord, Nunavut gric [ ⚑ ] 76°25′N 82°54′W / 76.42°N 82.90°W / 76.42; -82.90 GPS
Hall Beach, Nunavut halc [ ⚑ ] 68°46′N 81°16′W / 68.77°N 81.26°W / 68.77; -81.26 GPS, ionosonde
Iqaluit, Nunavut iqac [ ⚑ ] 63°44′N 68°32′W / 63.73°N 68.54°W / 63.73; -68.54 GPS, ionosonde
Kugluktuk, Nunavut kugcc [ ⚑ ] 67°49′N 115°08′W / 67.82°N 115.13°W / 67.82; -115.13 GPS
Ministik Lake, Alberta edmc [ ⚑ ] 53°21′N 112°58′W / 53.35°N 112.97°W / 53.35; -112.97 GPS
Pond Inlet, Nunavut ponc [ ⚑ ] 72°41′N 77°58′W / 72.69°N 77.96°W / 72.69; -77.96 GPS, ionosonde
Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut qikc [ ⚑ ] 67°34′N 64°02′W / 67.56°N 64.03°W / 67.56; -64.03 GPS
Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan rabc [ ⚑ ] 58°14′N 103°41′W / 58.23°N 103.68°W / 58.23; -103.68 GPS
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut ranc [ ⚑ ] 62°49′N 92°07′W / 62.82°N 92.11°W / 62.82; -92.11 GPS
Repulse Bay, Nunavut repc [ ⚑ ] 66°31′N 86°14′W / 66.52°N 86.23°W / 66.52; -86.23 GPS
Resolute, Nunavut resc [ ⚑ ] 74°45′N 95°00′W / 74.75°N 95.00°W / 74.75; -95.00 GPS, ionosonde
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut sanc [ ⚑ ] 56°32′N 79°14′W / 56.54°N 79.23°W / 56.54; -79.23 GPS
Taloyoak, Nunavut talc [ ⚑ ] 69°32′N 93°34′W / 69.54°N 93.56°W / 69.54; -93.56 GPS

References

  1. Jayachandran PT (2009). "The Canadian high arctic ionospheric network (CHAIN)". Radio Science 44 (1): RS0A03. doi:10.1029/2008RS004046. Bibcode2009RaSc...44.0A03J. 
  2. Mannucci A (1999). "GPS and ionosphere". in Stone WR. Review of radio science 1996-1999. Wiley-IEEE Press. ISBN 978-0-7803-6003-7. 
  3. Bust CS; Mitchell CN (2008). "History, current state, and future directions of ionospheric imaging". Rev. Geophys. 46 (1): RG1003. doi:10.1029/2006RG000212. Bibcode2008RvGeo..46.1003B. 
  4. MacDougall JW; Jayachandran PT (2001). "Polar cap convection relationship with solar wind". Radio Science 36 (6): 1869–80. doi:10.1029/2001RS001007. Bibcode2001RaSc...36.1869M. 
  5. Pokhotelov D (2009). "Ionospheric response to the corotating interaction region–driven geomagnetic storm of October 2002". J. Geophys. Res. 104 (A12): A12311. doi:10.1029/2009JA014216. Bibcode2009JGRA..11412311P. 
  6. "UNB researcher given funding boost". University of New Brunswick. http://blogs.unb.ca/newsroom/2012/01/24/unb-researcher-given-funding-boost/. Retrieved 14 February 2012. 

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