Ionospheric Weather and Climate Observed by Using FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2

The FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) constellation launched on 15 April 2007, which consists of six micro-satellites in the low-earth orbit, is capable of monitoring the ionosphere by using the powerful technique of radio occultation (RO). With more than 1500 observations per day, it provides an excellent opportunity to monitor three-dimensional structures and dynamics of the electron density and scintillation/irregularity in the ionosphere. Many prominent features of ionospheric climate, the equatorial ionization anomaly, middle latitude trough, Weddell Sea anomaly, sudden stratospheric warming, scintillation, etc. are observed and report. The RO data also demonstrate that an improvement in ionospheric weather of the global electron density specification is achieved by assimilating the F3/C observations into the TIE-GCM (Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model). Finally, impact of the F3/C follow-on, FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 which consists of twelve (six, low inclination, 550 km altitude and six, high inclination, 800 km altitude) small-satellites will be launched in 2016 and 2017, mission on ionospheric weather and climate monitoring will be briefed.