Dourbes (DB049)

Metadata from the NOAA Metadata Manager's Repository (NMMR)

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Publication_Date:1957

Title:

Dourbes (DB049)

Online_Linkage:

Description:

Abstract:

Ionograms are recorded tracings of reflected high-frequency radio pulses generated by an ionosonde. Swept-frequency radiowaves transmitted upwards into the ionosphere are reflected at various heights according to well understood processes which are dependent, to a large degree, on the local plasma environment at the reflection point. The frequency and measured time-of-flight for the transmitted and reflected radiowave are used to characterize the layered structure of the ionsphere below the maximum F2 peak. Parameters of typical scientific interest are the heights, local plasma densities, and critical (reflection) frequencies of the F2, F1, and E peaks. Other interested parties include the amateur HAM radio community, emergency management officials, and the military who rely on the ionosphere for long-range radio transmissions at high-frequencies. Ionospheric characteristics can be extracted from an ionogram using manual or computer-automated techniques. Raw ionograms as well as selected ionospheric parameters for the global network of ionosondes are archived by and made available through the World Data Centers.

Purpose:

The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) Geophysical Centre at Dourbes (4.6°E, 50.1°N) is a complex observational site consisting of several observatories – vertical ionosphere sounding (digital ionosonde), geomagnetic (member of INTERMAGNET), GPS TEC, meteorologic, etc. The vertical ionospheric soundings at Dourbes began in 1957 (well before the extensive exploration of the upper atmosphere by satellites) and continued uninterruptedly into to the present time. Several generations of ionosondes were in operation during all those years. Currently, the ionospheric observations are carried out by a digital ionospheric sounder (DGS-256) developed by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Plans are underway to acquire the new generation Digisonde-4D sometime in early 2010. Operational parameter / DB049 nominal settings --- frequency range: 1-16 [MHz] frequency scale: linear frequency steps: 100 [kHz] range resolution: 5.0 [km] number of range pixels: 128 range start: 60 [km] pulse repetition range: 100 [/s] pulse width: 66 [µs] transmitter RF power: 5 [kW] duration of ionogram: 4 [min] Doppler resolution: 4 [Hz] ---

Supplemental_Information:

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date:1957

Ending_Date:2009

Status:

Progress:Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:Unknown

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate:4.6000

East_Bounding_Coordinate:4.6000

North_Bounding_Coordinate:50.1000

South_Bounding_Coordinate:50.1000

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword:

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:NASA/GCMD Location Keywords

Place_Keyword:

Access_Constraints:None

Use_Constraints:

None

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:IRM Centre de Physique du Globe (IRM-CPG)

Contact_Person:Dr. Stan Stankov

Contact_Position:http://dourbes.meteo.be/stankov.htm

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:Mailing and Physical

Address:

R. Centre Physique 1, B-5670

City:Dourbes

State_or_Province:Viroinval

Postal_Code:

Country:Belgium

Contact_Voice_Telephone:+32 60 395 435

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone:+32 60 395 423

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:S.Stankov@oma.be

Browse_Graphic:

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Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

Browse_Graphic_File_Type:CGM

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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

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Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Contact_Person:Rob Redmon

Contact_Position:

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:Mailing and Physical

Address:

NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC 325 Broadway

City:Boulder

State_or_Province:CO

Postal_Code:80305

Country:USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:(303) 497-4331

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone:(303) 497-6513

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:ionosonde@noaa.gov

Resource_Description:Downloadable data

Distribution_Liability:

While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

Standard_Order_Process:

Non-digital_Form:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name:ARCE

Format_Version_Number:

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Fees:None

Custom_Order_Process:

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date:20080421

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Contact_Person:Rob Redmon

Contact_Position:

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:Mailing and Physical

Address:

NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC 325 Broadway

City:Boulder

State_or_Province:CO

Postal_Code:80305

Country:USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:(303) 497-4331

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone:(303) 497-6513

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:ionosonde@noaa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name:Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version:FGDC-STD-012-2002