Bye Bye Boulder

[Terry Bullett]

All of HamSCI,

After decades—nearly a century—of faithful and reliable ionospheric measurements, the Boulder Ionosonde (BC840), a cornerstone resource for space weather, ionospheric science, climatology, and a public data source, will be permanently decommissioned.

For the past two years, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I have kept the Boulder ionosonde operational and preserved its data. While I have not had the resources to make these data publicly accessible, I do maintain a personal archive.

Contact me if you need that data. 

The system will produce its final ionogram sometime next week, likely around April 1—an appropriately ironic end.

I have already lost access to NOAA data systems, and as of April 4, I will also lose facility access and my NOAA email account. Additionally, my shared Google Drive containing data resources for the community will no longer be available.

Please update my HamSCI contact email to: Te...@FrontRangeRadio.com

There are broader circumstances surrounding this outcome that I do not fully understand, and choose not to dwell on.  I have to move on. 

I would encourage you not to expend energy protesting this particular decision—this was set in motion several years ago. Save your powder and shot for the next fight.

Despite my reduced involvement in HamSCI due to a career transition, I remain deeply appreciative of this community, your work, and your contributions.

Wishing you all the very best.

God bless,

Terry

-- 
Dr. Terry Bullett          WØASP 
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA/NCEI)
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
Terry....@noaa.gov    720-446-9775 (google voice)  978-337-9092 (cell)   
"Life is Complex.  It has a Real part and an Imaginary part." 

[robertjohnk1]

Hi Terry:

Sorry to hear about the decommissioning. Over the years, I used the Boulder Ionosonde data to facilitate my HF Army MARS radio work. I saw that Boulder was no longer reporting to the Lowell GIRO network after April 2024, so I knew something was up. During my 33-year career at NIST and NTIA/ITS, I used to take lunchtime walks right past the Boulder ionosonde station. I think the original station there was originally commissioned during the International Geophysical Year in 1958. Lots of history and lots of great memories. I'm sad to see it end. Thank you so much for sharing, Terry, and thanks for all of your great work!

73 Bob Johnk, WB0VGD

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