Implementation of a new ionospheric model (ANIMo) into a three-dimensional variational analysis (3D-Var) for imaging and forecasting purposes

During the past 15 years the University of Bath has been developing an ionospheric tomography algorithm known as the Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS). The aim of this document is to describe the approach which will extend MIDAS algorithms into a full physics forecasting system. This approach employs the utilization of data ingestion techniques known as Data Assimilation (DA). The presented DA method combines Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite measurements as observations, and the outcomes of A New Ionospheric Model (ANIMo) as background information. Although data ingestion methods have been already applied to the ionospheric medium, the science is relatively young and further efforts are required. The proposed approach is expected to be useful for this aim by providing a simple and robust set up for ionospheric imaging and forecasting experimentations.