August 2009 Meeting
Wednesday 5th August 2009, University of Newcastle GP1.1
7.30pm-9pm
“Zig-zag, whirl in the Earth's upper atmosphere”
with
Professor Colin Waters
from the Centre for Space Physics Newcastle UniversityZig-zag, whirl in the Earth's upper atmosphere
The Iridium satellite system delivers data and voice services to all places on Earth. The system was originally designed by Motorola and is now a part of the Boeing Company. Researchers at Newcastle have access to a part of the engineering data from all Iridium satellites (over 100) through a unique collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Maryland, USA.
Radars use high frequency electromagnetic waves to remote sense motion by the Doppler effect. Researchers at Newcastle work with the Space physics research team at LaTrobe University (Melbourne) to operate and obtain data from two over-the-horizon radars located in Tasmania and Invercargill, NZ. These radars are part of an international network of 21 similar radars.
How are the Iridium and radar data used to explore the dynamics of the upper atmosphere? These and other questions you never thought to ask will be discussed in this introductory level presentation. Many are under the impression that space is rather large and empty and that very little happens beyond a few kilometres altitude. The Iridium and radar data show that near-Earth space is rather busy involving the aurora, large electric currents and energy deposition processes.
All welcome to attend
For more info contact info @ nas.org.au
