Citizen science is conducted by organisations using members of the public to usually collect and classify data. This enables the organisations themselves to get on with what they do best, whilst members of the public get an understanding of research being performed in new exciting areas, not to mention the sense of involvement in important research that can benefit the environment, the world population and beyond. The latest citizen science project that might be interest to us is a request from the North American Space Agency (NASA) for amateur radio operators to help investigate the forthcoming solar eclipse on October 14th 2023 (annular), and a further one on April 8th 2024 (total). Transmitting before, during and after the eclipses will enable valuable data to be obtained that can be compared with that obtained when there are no eclipses.
HamSCI (Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation) was formed by group of scientists, who are also radio amateurs, that study the physics of the upper atmosphere and near and far space. They use such tools as the Reverse Beacon Network, WSPRNet, PSKReporter, DX Cluster, ClubLog, to generate large amounts of data provide useful observations of the Earth’s ionosphere. They will be running Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science on the dates of the eclipses. Activities will include:
- Solar Eclipse QSO Party – a contest using CW, SSB and digital data modes on the 160-6m bands. You don’t need to be a bigger hitter in contests to take part, even a few contacts will provide valuable data to the researchers.
- Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge – a unique event for those who enjoy operating beacons (CW and digital), and the ‘propagation study modes’ of WSPR and FST4W in both transmit and receive.
By transmitting, receiving and recording signals across the HF spectrum, vast sums of data will be generated that will help researchers answer important science questions about the ionosphere. They will understand more fully how the ionosphere reacted to the eclipse. Comparing the newly generated data to existing computer models of the ionosphere will help top improve the accuracy of those models. As a result, researchers will obtain a better understanding of how the ionosphere’s refractive properties varied during the beginning and ending phases of the eclipses.
This is a fascinating opportunity to be involved in some worldwide research that will contribute to a fuller knowledge on how the ionosphere works that future radio amateurs, and commercial operators, will benefit from.
Further details can be found on the HamSCI website together with registration forms (not essential to take part)