CYPRUS IONOSPHERIC
RESEARCH GROUP

CyIRG conducts studies on ionospheric variability and exploits various techniques on monitoring and modeling of ionospheric characteristics in support of systems such as High Frequency (HF) communication networks and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). It is in the position to pursue this aim primarily by the main component of its infrastructure consisting of a top-edge modern digital ionosonde radar DPS-4D which is unique in the eastern Mediterranean area, and facilitates systematic near-real time high resolution ionospheric measurements. This is complemented by a HF spectral occupancy and VLF and scintillation monitoring systems, data from a network of 7 GNSS receivers and recently by an extended network of additional 130 GNSS receivers in Greece and Bulgaria through a GNSS Meteorology project that will also be used for ionospheric studies. CyIRG also operates an automatic weather station installed at the FRC premises.

Over the last 12 years, the team has completed 7 nationally funded research projects. The team has participated in European research consortia for securing funding in the area of Ionospheric monitoring and modeling project proposals, including Horizon 2020 and INTERREG EU Programmes. Moreover, the team has participated in COST actions COST296 “Mitigation of Ionospheric Effects on Radio Systems", ES0803 “Developing space weather services and products in Europe" and ES1206 “Advanced Global Navigation Satellite Systems tropospheric products for monitoring severe weather events and climate".

Currently the group coordinates 3 nationally funded projects, three projects funded by the European Space Agency and also participates in COST Action CA15211 “Atmospheric Electricity Network: coupling with the Earth System, climate and biological systems".   

The main research interests and activities of the group

The complexity of research related to ionospheric variability on various time-scales is extremely high and requires deep expertise in several space and atmosphere related physics domains such as magnetosphere, ionosphere, neutral atmosphere, space weather, relevant instrumentation (ground and space based) and monitoring and modelling techniques. Taking into account the pronounced ionospheric variability at low European latitudes, it is of great importance to maintain a continuous, comprehensive and intensive research guidance plan that will aid towards improved understanding of ionospheric variability patterns over the eastern Mediterranean region and especially of any systematic variations present.

Furthermore, the lack of any ionospheric stations in the immediate eastern Mediterranean area emphasizes the crucial role of the long-term operation of the CyIRG ionospheric monitoring infrastructure on improving the accuracy of ionospheric propagation services over the eastern Mediterranean region.

The research activity of the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group lies in the context of the study and mitigation of ionospheric effects on radio systems. It is in the position to pursue this aim by means of its infrastructure that facilitates continuous remote sensing of the state of the ionosphere, within various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (VLF, HF, UHF). Detrimental ionospheric effects on radio systems usually have their origin on the disturbed state or natural variability of the Sun and therefore the group has a genuine research interest on Space Weather and its subsequent impact on the Upper Atmosphere.

The ultimate goal of the group is to conduct studies on ionospheric variability and explore various techniques on monitoring and modeling of ionospheric characteristics in support of systems such as HF communication networks and Global Navigation Satellite Systems GNSS. 

Main equipment/tools/facilities available:

CyIRG conducts studies on ionospheric variability and exploits various techniques on monitoring and modeling of ionospheric characteristics in support of systems such as High Frequency (HF) communication networks and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

It is in the position to pursue this aim primarily by the main component of its infrastructure consisting of a top-edge modern digital ionosonde radar DPS-4D which is unique in the eastern Mediterranean area, and facilitates systematic near-real time high resolution ionospheric measurements.

This is complemented by a HF spectral occupancy and VLF and scintillation monitoring systems, data from a network of 7 GNSS receivers and recently by an extended network of additional 130 GNSS receivers in Greece and Bulgaria through a GNSS Meteorology project that is also used for ionospheric studies. CyIRG also operates an automatic weather station installed at the FRC premises.