International Ionospheric Tomography Community

IITC IPY Data Descriptions

Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory

This page provides information pertaining to the Finnish tomography chain operated by the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory (SGO) in Scandinavia.

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Contact Information

Professor Tauno Turunen
Mr. Tero Raita (for data issues)
tero.raita@sgo.fi
+358 (0)16 619864

Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory
Tähteläntie 62
FIN-99600 Sodankylä
Data Description

Total electron content (TEC) measurements are made by monitoring phase coherent transmissions from polar orbiting satellites at a chain of radio receivers aligned essentially in longitude but separated in latitude. The locations of the receivers are:

  • Kilpisjarvi (KIL), Finland (69.02°N, 20.86°E)
  • Kiruna (KIR), Sweden (67.84°N, 20.41°E)
  • Lulea (LUL), Sweden (65.58°N, 22.17°E)
  • Kokkola (KOK), Finland (63.83°N, 23.06°E)
  • Nurmijarvi (NUR), Finland (60.51°N, 24.65°E)

Inversion of the TEC yields two-dimensional, latitude-versus-height tomographic images of electron density.

Data coverage: Radio transmissions are monitored as a satellite traverses above the horizon. The duration of a satellite pass is 15-20 mins. Passes are monitored routinely throughout the day, but the data coverage is not continuous.

Geographic Location Latitude Span: From +60.0° To +69.5°
Center Longitude: 22.8°E
Coverage: Scandinavia.
NOTE: Coverage varies due to varying satellite viewing geometry.
Archive Information The Finnish radio tomography data is stored into observatory's archives where the data is available via request to the observatory. The information about the monitored satellites and electron density maps can be found from the www-pages of the chain. The webpage of the chain is:
http://www.sgo.fi/Data/Tomography/tomography.php

Date of last update: 05 December 2006

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