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Space Weather Effects and Consequences. The case of MOPITT on board of Terra spacecraft.

Space Weather Effects and Consequences. The case of MOPITT on board of Terra spacecraft. Florian Nichitiu Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Canada July 2004-Frascati.

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Space Weather Effects and Consequences. The case of MOPITT on board of Terra spacecraft.

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  1. Space Weather Effects and Consequences. The case of MOPITT on board of Terra spacecraft. Florian Nichitiu Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Canada July 2004-Frascati

  2. Space Climate/WeatherSpace Climate/Weather refers to changes in the space environment and effects that those changes have on Earth and mankind’s activities.These affect Earth climate on various temporal and spatial scale as well as communications, navigation and many other space and ground based systems.Space Climate or Climate in near-Earth space is characterized for long-term observations of space environment. Space Weather refers for short-term , very dynamic and highly variable conditions in the geo-space environment. • Impact on Solar Physics( with consequences even for fundamental particle physics; for example neutrino oscillation problem: SNO, Canada) • It is important in order to improve our understanding of the Earth’s climate and weather in relation with (some time) controversial problem of signatures of solar activity variability in meteorological parameters, Earth’s atmosphere chemistry and long term trends in Earth’s Climate. • Big impact on space technology.Need to have Space Weather nowcast and forecast . The very complex radiation effects on spacecraft systems and instruments, end even on Earth technology are influenced by Space Weather induced variations in the Earth’s space environment

  3. Sun - Geospace environment Sources of Space Weather  Sun : EM radiation & particle radiation  Galactic Cosmic Rays

  4. Indicators of Solar activitySolar and geomagnetic indices are used to describe the activity levels of the Sun and the disturbance of the geomagnetic field. • Sun Spot Number(SSN) • Solar Radio emissions : Flux of 10.7 cm ( Ottawa index). Are essential measurements of the total amount of thermal emissions from chromosphere and lower corona.The F107 index gives a good measure of the UV radiation output ( new E107). There are suggestions that 10.7 cm flux is also an excellent indicator of magnetic activity on the Sun. • UV flux, irradiance. • Magnetic indices ( aa, Ap, Kp, Dst, etc..).Geomagnetic indices typically describe the variations of the geomagnetic field over a certain time period.They provide a measure of the disturbance of the magnetosphere which has direct consequences for the charged particle space environment. • Trapped proton and electron fluxes • Galactic Cosmic Rays, protons of very high energy and neutrons fluxes.Flux periodicity correlated with IMF and erosion effect of Earth atmosphere via Solar activity.

  5. ~27 days (Solar rotation) ~11.2 years (Schwabe cycle, cycle of solar activity) ~22 years ( Hale cycle) (magnetic cycle : the original magnetic polarity is restored every second 11-year) 80-90 years ( Gleissberg cycle) (seen by an enveloping curve of peaks of sunspot record) ~205 years (de Vries cycle): Sporer minima (AD 1420-1540) Maunder minima (AD 1645-1715) Seasonal variations (related with seasonal variations of geomagnetic activity --> variations of outer belt electron population); due to motions of the Earth around Sun (--> annual changes in the Earth’s atmosphere introduce seasonal modulation in low-altitude trapped proton population) Daily variations of Earth’s magnetic dipole (due to axial rotation of the Earth; angle between dipole and rotational axes ~11 deg.) Variations and periodicitySolar radiation as main element of space weather, varies at very different time scales. due to solar activitydue to Solar-Earth system Longer cycles – important for effects related with Earth’s climate and long term trends

  6. Space Radiation Environment Electrons, protons and ions Trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field : Radiation Belts ( Van Allen Belts) e E< 2-3 MeV; p E< 200-300 MeV Passing through the solar system : Solar Wind ( e, p He4 ) E< 100 KeV Solar Particle Events mainly protons E = 1 - >100 MeV Galactic Cosmic Rays E up to TeV

  7. Radiation Belts -Oct and Nov 1957 : Sputniks 1 & 2 ( SU) -Jan 1958 : Explorer 1 ( US) (Geiger-Muller counter;J van Allen) Expected rate 30 count/sec & … zero count/sec ! -Explorer 2 =failed, BUT -March 25, 1958Explorer 3:  30 /s ;  increase to 128 /s (max on tape) then to zero c/s and again to 128. Near the perigee, back to expected 30c/s Ernest Ray : “My God, space is radioactive !”

  8. Inner & outer belts A charged particle became trapped in those regions where the magnetic field lines are closed • Circular motions with gyro-radius about the field line : T~ milliseconds • Bounce back and forth along a field line.Reversing direction at a mirror point: • T~ seconds. • Drift of particles around the Earth: T~ one hour. • Electrons drift to east, protons drift to west I II I There are two main belts: I- inner belt : e and p ( up to 2.4 Re) II- outer belt : e (2.8 – 12 Re)

  9. The Earth’s magnetic field is not symmetric South Atlantic Anomaly ( also called Brazilian Anomaly or Capetown Anomaly) is a lowest magnetic field region located at 26S, 53W.

  10. SAAis frequently said is due to the The tilt of the dipole axis with respect to the rotational axis And due to the displacement of the geomagnetic axis from the center of the Earth

  11. Radiation Belt Models Electrons AE-8 Protons AP-8

  12. Plasma and Solar Wind Continuous flux of particles ( e, p, He) from sun; (Expanding magnetized plasma generated by the Sun) -characterized mainly by speed and density. Geomagnetic activity is controlled by the solar wind speed and IMF orientation. An important parameter: Bz  oscillation and a ‘turn’ to <0 values  magnetic storm(Kp>5) Electron enhancements- tendency to occur at the solar rotation period (27 days) Strong correlation between electron precipitations (E>30 keV) at polar orbit and solar wind speed at 1 UA. -consequences for physico-chemistry parameters of the atmosphere.

  13. Solar Energetic Particles SEP or SPE (Solar Proton Events) ( Solar Cosmic Rays) Origin: Solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) p, e & He emitted by the sun in burst during ‘solar storms’ -energies > 10 MeV/nucleon -access to open magnetic fields of polar cap. Produce also : X-rays; gamma-rays, UV light burst and very fast wind flow which can inject protons into the trapping region ( even create ‘second proton belt’) Fluence: from 10^5 to 10^11 part/cm^2 Duration of event: from one to several days “Bastilia” Solar Event 14 July 2000

  14. SPE Periodicity: Frequency spectra of solar proton fluence of Energy > 30 MeV  periods of ~ 11 years and 3-4 years. Impossible to predict -greater occurrencefrequency during maximum solar activity - and during decline of cycle NASA SOHO Image Solar Flare

  15. Cosmic Rays Galactic Cosmic Rays: fully ionized particles of all stable elements (90% p ~7% He) Origin: galactic and extragalactic; Energies up to TeV Energy spectrum max at 0.3-1 GeV/nucleon The incoming charged particles are ‘modulated’ by the solar wind and IMF which decelerates and partially excludes the lower energy GCR from the inner solar system. There is a significant anticorrelation between solar activity and the intensity of the CR with E< 10 GeV. Variations of proton counts E=80-215 MeV of MEPED detector aboard the TIROS/NOAA spacecraft

  16. Natural Albedo Radiation Is in fact the secondary radiation generated in the inner magnetosphere due to: -nuclear reactions by GCR and SPE interactions with : - protons of the inner belt - and atoms of the atmosphere -secondary CR decay ( pions, muons..) This radiation component consists mostly of: - neutrons - e- and e+ - protons ( and antiprotons) , nuclei There is also an anticorrelation between solar activity and the intensity of secondary radiation as a result of atmosphere expanding ( and increasing of nuclear interaction rate) during high solar activity.

  17. Short term variations of Albedo Radiation -When the Sun releases a large burst of matter and magnetic disturbance a magnetic storm which prevent many cosmic rays from entering the atmosphere. Forbush decrease detected by the Inuvik neutron monitor at 23 Mar 1991. “Solar cosmic rays” produced by a solar flare are recorded as a sharp increase in secondary neutrons flux. The event of May 24, 1990 seen by Inuvik, Deep River and Goose Bay neutron monitors.

  18. Effects on Spacecraft and instruments Low energy particles - correlated with SA High energy particles - anti-correlated with SA Solar Activity Effects on Earth Climate Solar irradiance - correlated with SA Neutron Flux - anti-correlated with SA Neutrons  cosmogenic radionuclides (14C,10Be,36Cl) : extend record of Solar Activity : signal of past climate variations

  19. Radiation effect on spacecraft systems and instruments Spacecraft anomalies: from -------- easily recovered to -------- total mission failure origin: -- engineering (operation fault, mechanism failure and ageing) -- space weather which simulate engineering faults— BUT not only Based upon the effect upon the s/c : Surface charging | Photonics noise Deep dielectric charging | Total dose effects Single Event Upset (SEU) | Material degradation Solar radio frequency interference | Spacecraft drag

  20. Surface Charging S/C immersed in a cool, dense plasma e, ions, secondary emitted particles: photoelectrons and backscattered electrons  Gives net s/c potential And this lead to discharges  noise into the system; false command,  change the physical characteristics of subsystems. Occurs predominantly during geomagnetic storms ( for K index >=6) NightDay transitions are especially problematic during storms: photoelectric effect is abruptly present/absent  trip discharges There is also a strong local time asymmetry: majority Surface Charging anomalies occur during the night

  21. Deep dielectric charging Is a problem primarily for high altitude s/c Relativistic electrons (E> 1MeV) can easily penetrate s/c shielding and can build up charge where they come to rest ( in dielectrics). For high electron flux during extended period of time abrupt discharges deep in the s/c. Discharges appear to correlate well with long periods of high fluxes. High fluxes of these electrons vary with 11 year Solar Cycle. This variation is dictated by the nature of the sun’s output and by the character of the solar wind incident on the magnetosphere. Was also found that the equinoctial fluxes of electrons (this is an average over 7 years) were nearly a factor of three higher than the average solstice fluxes. Example: Anik/Intelsat (Ca) : 1994 wheel controller 1998 lost all power from solar panel array

  22. Single Event Upset (SEU) SEU occur when a high-energy particle penetrates s/c shielding and hit a device causing a disruption. Effects can range from simple device tripping to component latch-up or failure. Hitting memory devices result in ‘bit-flip’. SEU are normally caused by GCR and SPE and high energy trapped particles. SEU rates increase with high fluxes, but the particle energy spectrum and arrival time seen by satellites varies with the location and nature of the event on the solar disk. SEU peak occurrence frequency corresponds to the peak of ~50MeV protons of the inner belt. The shoulder in distribution correspond to the peak of the secondary proton belt (from 23 Mar 1991 solar storm). SEU attributed to Cosmic Rays Distribution of SEU over entire CRRES mission (launched July 25, 1990; returned data for ~14 months)

  23. Satellite anomalies over SAA UoSAT-2 microsatellite SEU- (recoverable) memory upsets (from Sept 1988 to May 1992) MISR camera (3 Febr—16 Febr 2000) Before cover opened (proton hits cameras designed to detect visible light)

  24. Bastilia Solar Event– example of High Radiation Background anomaly July 14, 2000-A powerful X class flare erupted from sunspot region 9077 at approximately 10:24- it was accompanied by a full halo coronal mass ejection that is Earth directed. April 23 2003 SOHO LASCO C2 & C3 Images

  25. TERRA Solid State Star Tracker anomalies High Background

  26. The case of MOPITT Device Single Events (DSE) - anomalies – occurring in a piezoelectric accelerometer within the MOPITT (Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere) instrument aboard the Terra spacecraft. - Piezoelectric accelerometer anomalies - Location of anomalies signals - Correlation with big Solar Particle Events - Correlation with Solar Activity ( Solar Sub maximum I and II) - Conclusions and consequences

  27. “Terra,” is the name of the Earth Observing System(EOS) flagship satellite, launched on Dec. 18, 1999. The mission is a vital part of NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise , helping us understand and protect our home planet Terra s/c is in a sun-synchronous polar orbit. Orbital period=98.88 min. Altitude=705 Km. 25 Jun 2004 01:41:51.36 Sun SAA

  28. MOPITT instrument MOPITT instrument is an infrared gas correlation radiometer.It operates with eight channels : for CO and CH4. Infrared detectors need to be cooled to less than 100 K ( by Stirling Cycle Coolers with two Compressors and two Displacers mounted back to back). The vibration level is measured by two piezoelectric accelerometers -Cooler Compressor (vibrations for x,y,z) -Cooler Displacer (vibrations for x,y,z)

  29. MOPITT Accelerometer anomalies Multi-component force measurements Kistler: K-Shear accelerometer. Sensing element: quartz crystal

  30. Location of MOPITT accelerometer anomalies Total time: 993 days; Daily rate=1.06 ev/day Total Nr events over SAA=567 ( 54%) SAA rate= 0.57 ev/day South Atlantic Anomaly seen by MOPITT MOPITT spend only 6.25% of time over SAA  SAA rate=9.14 ev/day

  31. MOPITT Accelerometer Anomalies are caused by the radiation environment SAA events = 54 % Background = 20.4% Poles ( +/- 65 ) = 25.6 %; North/South (poles) asymmetry=0.43

  32. MOPITT Accelerometer Anomalies in South Atlantic Anomaly region Day – Night Asymmetry SAA: Day/Night = 0.72 During the Night: Lat & Long widths increase with 2-3 deg.

  33. Solar Protons Events Detected by MOPITT accelerometer Y3 Y1 Y2 Doy ( Date ) # of DSE < # > 196 (July 14 2000) 8 1.03 Y1 197 (July 15 2000) 11 1.03 Y1 314 (Nov. 9 2000) 7 0.67 Y2 634 (Sept 25 2001) 3 1.24 N1 676 (Nov 6 2001) 16 1.59 Y3 694 (Nov 24 2001) 3 1.78 N2

  34. Solar Proton Events Max p Flux [pfu] @ >10 MeV >100 MeV Y1 Jul 14/15: 2000 24000410 Y2Nov 09: 2000 14800 347 N1 Sept 25: 2001 1290031 Y3 Nov 06: 2001 31700253 N2 Nov 24: 2001 189004 -Solar Proton Events ( from ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/ , http://www.sel.noaa.gov/weekly/) 1 pfu = 1part/(cm^2 s sr) MOPITT Accelerometer detect SPE at 6 Nov (during the second peak of proton flux) even if the Solar Event start at 4 Nov

  35. CELIAS/MTOF Proton Monitor on the SOHO Spacecraft The Proton Monitor data consists of counting rates in a MicroChannel Plate (MCP). The PM MCP responds to secondaries generated by ions with incident energies > 50 MeV and electrons with incident energies > 2 MeV. 4-7 Nov 2001 22-25 Nov 2001 Seen by MOPITT Acc ( Y3) NOT Seen by MOPITT Acc ( N2)

  36. 29 Oct 2003 Solar Proton Event Max Proton Flux (pfu) > 10 MeV > 100 MeV 29/10 : 29500 186 30/10 : 3300 110 MOPITT DSE Total # # /Day 29/10 : 9 2.15 30/10 : 7 2.15 This SPE induced a high daily rate for MOPITT DSE on two consecutive days when, as in previous cases, the high energy component (>100 MeV) reaches a large value. These MOPITT DSEs are also located on the polar regions.

  37. SPE detected by MOPITT. Energy dependence Correlation between number of DSE during SPEs and the SPE proton fluence for E> 15 MeV . Y# and N# refer to SPEs identified in previous Table . The energetic particles detected by the MOPITT (piezoelectric) accelerometer are mainly high energy protons

  38. MOPITT Accelerometer Anomalies during intense SPE - are caused by high energy charged particles precipitating via ‘pole horns’. - more events during the Day

  39. Double Solar Maximum Cycle #23

  40. Correlation with Solar activity There is an overall increase ( ~ two times) of MOPITT DSE daily rate during the time period Nov 2001 – Feb 2002 (second Solar sub-maximum) During High Solar Activity period ( II sub-max) the relative contribution of trapped particles in SAA decrease from ~70% to ~40%, Background remain almost constant(~20%) and Poles contribution increase (from ~15% to ~40%). This is a consequence of direct injection of more high energy particles (via poles) during High Solar Activity.

  41. Correlation with Solar activity With Sun Spot Number With 10.7 cm radio flux F10.7 MOPITT Accelerometer anomaliesare correlated with Solar Activity as shown by Solar centimetric Radio Flux : Ottawa index F10.7

  42. Summary and conclusions Analysis of MOPITT anomalous accelerometer signals shows a direct correlation of the DSE daily rate with solar activity, a Day/Night asymmetry caused probably by interaction of trapped particles with the neutral atmosphere, and a direct correlation with high intensity solar proton events (SPEs). The high energy particles – the source of anomalous accelerometer signals- are localized mainly in SAA region, but the polar regions, particularly the southern pole, are also regions of higher risk for satellites mainly during intense SPEs. We have also found that at least during the Solar maximum, there is a correlation of the particle population responsible for DSEs in the piezoelectric accelerometer with solar activity as expressed better by the F10.7 than the SSN. During the second sub-maximum of Solar Cycle SC23, the fraction of events over the poles relative to the SAA region increase, which mean that, probable there are more high-energy particles of non-trapped origin in this time interval, and a good proxy of Solar activity for this purpose is the F10.7 Solar Radio Flux index.

  43. Message : including Space Environment Sensors on satellites is a difficult idea to sell to management (because of cost/weight/power penalty) BUT with very good benefits The paper: Solar Particle Events seen by MOPITT instrument by: F. Nichitiu, J.R. Drummond, F.Zou,R.Deschambault has been accepted for publication in Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics MOPITT mission and data analysis are supported by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) E N D

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