Radio Sensing of the Atmosphere in an Intersatellite Constellation of Small Satellites

Paper number

GLOC-2023,T,IP,x75270

Author

Mr. Ramson Nyamukondiwa, LaSEINE, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

Coauthor

Ms. Makiko Kishimoto, LaSEINE, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

Coauthor

Prof. MENGU CHO, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

Year

2023

Abstract

Recently, extreme weather events resulted in record-breaking snowfall, floods, typhoons, heatwaves and drought that caused global economic and human destruction. To safeguard living species and infrastructure, active satellites and ground-based remote sensing techniques are becoming critical in monitoring, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to abrupt climate changes and devastating weather patterns. This paper presents another solution that uses spread spectrum (SS) radio signals and software-defined radio (SDR) to measure atmospheric variables such as total water vapor content (TWVC) and total electron content (TEC) onboard the satellite. This method shall be used in a constellation of 1,000 satellites that use reconfigurable ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands and inter-satellite (ISL) ranging to achieve better accuracy than conventional methods. The measurement results will have a horizontal resolution of 20 kilometres, a temporal resolution of 5 to 15 minutes, and a measurement delay of less than 1 second. The obtained data will be incorporated into the global atmospheric database of geophysical parameters and used to develop and enhance climate and weather prediction models. The accurately deduced models will evaluate risk management options, project future climate changes, and develop informed preparedness plans, thereby reducing vulnerability to the risks of extreme disasters.

Keywords: Software-defined radio, inter-satellite-ranging, constellation, total water vapor content, total electron content, spread spectrum

Abstract document

GLOC-2023,T,IP,x75270.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

GLOC-2023,T,IP,x75270.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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