INSWIM: Indian Network for Space Weather Impact Monitoring
The Sun-Earth system is a complex system influenced by a wide variety
of physical processes over multiple spatial and temporal scales. These
processes include magnetic reconnection, plasma acceleration, particle
precipitation, formation of complex current systems in the terrestrial
magnetosphere and ionosphere, modfications of the ionospheric electric
fields and winds, and the impact on electrical, electronic and
biological systems both in space and in ground. Space Weather is a
field of research that provides new insights into the complex
influences of the Sun on interplanetary space, the Earth's
magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere, on space- and
ground-based technological systems, and beyond that on their
endangering effects to humans in space. Space weather impact
monitoring is therefore, a highly relevant subject of research for
our modern society as we are increasingly getting dependent on
these technological systems. To address this aspect, nations across
the globe including India have been pursuing research concerning Sun,
solar processes and their evolution from solar interior into the
interplanetary space, and their impact on Earth’s
magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system. In India, over the
years, a substantial amount of work has been done in each of these
areas, and based on these, it has been realized that simultaneous
measurements from different regions from polar to equatorial laitudes
is required to obtain comprehensive understanding of the space
weather and its effects in the terrestrial upper atmosphere.
In this context, with an objective to monitor the impact of Space
Weather Events on Indian Low latitude Upper Atmosphere-Ionosphere
System, the Space Physics Laboratory (SPL) of Vikram Sarabhai Space
Centre (VSSC) in Trivandrum has initiated a long term science program
called, Indian network for Space Weather Impact Monitoring (InSWIM).
The main objective of this program is to obtain comprehensive
measurements of ionospheric parameteres from a network spanning across
many strategically chosen locations in the country for space weather
studies. It envisages to study the space weather effects on the Indian
ionospheric region and formulate an Ionospheric Model which would be
helpful in ascertaining the impact of ionospheric variations on
GPS/IRNSS Radio signals.
Under the aegis of this program, dual frequency, multi-satellite GPS
Receiver systems have been installed at various places in India.
Currently nine of such receivers are functioning at Trivandrum,
Port-Blair, Bangalore, Kadapa, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Delhi, Hanle and
Pune. In due course, the present chain of stations would be extended
further to add several new stations over different latitude and
longitude regions in India. To enhance the scope of the Science, the
presently existing chain of LEO (Low-Earth Orbiting satellite) radio
receivers catering to SPL’s coherent Radio Beacon Experiment (CRABEX)
for ionospheric tomography has also been made a part of the InSWIM
Network. Subsequently, in later stages of InSWIM, other complementary
instruments, like Magnetometers, Airglow photometers, etc, would be
added to selected stations in a phased manner. The SPL-VSSC,
Trivandrum will serve as the repository of the InSWIM data and the
nodal centre to coordinate the program. The program involves
participation from national research institutions and universities,
making it by far the most ambitious space weather research initiative
of the country. With the evolution of this program, facilitation of
individual stations with a financial support for the upkeep, and
maintenance of the systems is also envisaged.