Metop-C Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2)
Abstract
NOAA's latest SEM-2 instrument has captured a year of measurements of the space radiation environment from its low Earth, polar-orbiting platform on the EUMETSAT Metop-C satellite. Metop-C was launched on 7 November 2018. The SEM-2 instrument was activated on 23 November 2018. NOAA has been observing high energy electrons and ions from satellites in polar low Earth orbits (LEO) since TIROS-N was placed into operations in 1978. The Space Environment Monitor (SEM-2) instrument has 2 components, covering low to high energy measurements of electrons and protons: the Total Energy Detector (TED) and the Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detector (MEPED). TED telescopes observe the lowest energy electrons and protons which are responsible for generating the aurora borealis and australis and are consequential for charging up the surfaces of satellites such as solar panel arrays, possibly resulting in damage and even total loss. MEPED telescopes observe medium energy electrons and protons known to cause charging of sub-surface satellite elements such as solar arrays and integrated circuits deep within the satellite bus. Discharges of built up electric charge can be disastrous. TED and MEPED telescopes enable relating these radiation measurements to the orientation of Earth's magnetic field, critical for capturing dynamics. Finally, MEPED's four omni-directional detectors provide observations of the highest energy protons, which have sufficient energy to penetrate most spacecraft materials, potentially causing upsets in integrated circuits. Near real-time observations are regularly used by satellite operators to address on-orbit anomalies and to avoid conducting non-essential activities during elevated radiation conditions. The research community relies heavily on the multi-decadal archive from POES and Metop satellites to develop and advance physical data assimilative models and metrics of the location, frequency and strength of the worst-case radiation environments, critical for future mission planning activities. This presentation reports on the first year of Metop-C SEM scientific observations, post-launch calibration/validation activities and public data access.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSM41C3260R
- Keywords:
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- 2720 Energetic particles: trapped;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2722 Forecasting;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2774 Radiation belts;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 7984 Space radiation environment;
- SPACE WEATHER