Pacific Region Equatorial Anomaly Studies in Asia (PREASA): Part 1 introduction and overview of the program Original Research Article

This paper introduces the Pacific Region Equatorial Anomaly Studies in Asia program which began in February 1996 and will continue throughout a solar cycle (approximately to the year 2006). The PREASA program aims to improve the understanding of the electrodynamics and atmospheric dynamics in the regions where the ionospheric equatorial anomaly causes disruptions in the ground based and ground to satellite communication links. The program is based on mutual cooperation among the institutes in countries around the South-East Asian sector for the improvement to the telecommunications industry. The program has sponsored three campaigns, one in 1996, 1997 and 1998, producing several new and interesting results, of which some will be discussed in this paper.