The Ionosphere Monitoring and Prediction Center

The ionosphere has strong influence on the radio signal propagation and therefore an impact on all applications based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), like navigation support, traffic guidance systems, land survey and communication services. Ionospheric effects can affect availability, accuracy and reliability of radio systems with carrier frequencies up to 10 GHz.

The Ionosphere Monitoring and Prediction Center (IMPC) of the German Aerospace Center provides a near real-time information and data service on the current state of the ionosphere, related forecasts and warnings using ground and space based GNSS measurements.

The IMPC is involved e.g. in

• the coordination of the Expert Service Center Ionospheric Weather (I-ESC) as "Federated Service" of the ESA Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Programme.
• the provision of products and coordination of the GNSS user services within the Pan- European Consortium for Aviation Space Weather User Services (PECASUS), which is a global space weather product provider for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The IMPC contributes to the mitigation of ionospheric impacts on technology with near real-time space weather monitoring, prediction of disturbed conditions, information messages to users, data delivery services as well as education and public outreach.



Contact Stefaan Poedts