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Introduction

Global Observations of the Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere Using Coordinated World Days

The URSI Incoherent Scatter Working Group (ISWG) will have its usual planning meeting at CEDAR to coordinate the World Day experiments involving the world's upper atmospheric observatories. The procedures for scheduling World Day observations are described at [1] and the other links referenced therein which include a sample proposal. Written proposals are requested for meeting specific research needs using the World Day observations. These proposals should be submitted by June 12 (an extended date). (**(This date has past, but if there is something you still wish to propose, send it ASAP to wes@ece.cornell.edu.)**) The planning meeting is for the ISWG and UAF staffs to review all the proposals submitted and determine how the global network of ISRs can best satisfy the approved observational requests. The proposer's presence during this discussion is not required, but all are welcome, especially students.

The global network of incoherent scatter radars (ISR) provides observations of fundamental properties of the atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere. Use of these radars is open to all qualified scientists, and the data are freely disseminated to a broad community of users for research and in the development and validation of models and instrumentation.

Radar observing time is allocated (1) to individuals or groups through either formal or informal requests to the institutions responsible for operating the facilities, and (2) for World Day observations coordinated through a plan developed annually by the URSI Incoherent Scatter Working Group (ISWG).

The high demand for ISR observations, in particular for extended multi-day and multi-radar operations, requires certain procedures to help ensure that the highest priority scientific research is addressed by the coordinated World Day schedule within the limits imposed by the cost and technical restrictions of ISR operations.

The process begins with the development of a baseline schedule of general-purpose experiments that fall within the operating constraints of the radars. The baseline World Day schedule for 2008 and its updates will be available at [2]. If you are planning extended duration and/or multiple facility ISR experiments in 2008, you should review this schedule carefully to determine whether your observational requirements can be met by the provisional baseline observations. If not, and if your experiment cannot be easily accommodated through requests to individual radar facilities, you will need to submit a proposal for additional or modified operations to the Chair of the ISWG (see below). The deadline for the receipt of such proposals has been extended to June 12, but the sooner they are received the better. Instructions for preparing your request and a sample proposal are available at: [3]. If you are unsure whether or not your experiment requires the submission of a proposal, please contact the ISWG Chair or any staff member of an ISR facility. The ISWG will review these proposals along with any external reviews at its usual planning meeting at CEDAR to schedule the World Day experiments for calendar year 2008. The ISWG group will determine how the global network of ISRs can best satisfy the approved observational requests and will ensure that the experimental configurations, numbers of radars involved, time distribution and total time allocated are appropriate for the specified science goals. Although the proposer's presence during this discussion is not required, it is often useful for quick answers to additional answers that arise. Students are also welcomed.

Please feel free to consult with any facility staff member for clarification on this new process for requesting ISR observing time within the World Day program. (Dr. Wesley E. Swartz, Chair, ISWG of URSI Commission G)