Ionosphere variability I: Advances in observational, monitoring and detection capabilities

The paper aims to review recent advances regarding the observational and monitoring capabilities of the ionization conditions in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The analysis spans both ground and space-based experiments, seeking for new installations and/or missions, new or upgraded instrumentation and/or observational network establishments as means for advancing current understanding and prediction ability of the ionosphere variability. As a solid basis and a clear requirement for considerable advances in the field, progress towards the more efficient access to research facilities and data centres is also investigated. Giving the emphasis in the period from 2015 onwards, the ultimate goal of the present analysis is to assess present status with respect to the COSPAR/ILWS Space Weather roadmap's considerations/recommendations for 2015–2025 as input to the roadmap’s update undertaken by the ISWAT/COSPAR action.