Statistical Analysis of GPS Ionospheric Scintillation and Short-Time TEC Variations Over Northern Europe

: GPS ionospheric scintillation data collected at four stations in the United Kingdom and Norway were analyzed during periods of high solar flux, with ionospheric pierce points covering magnetic latitudes from about 40° to 75°. Maps of scintillation activity and total electron content (TEC) fluctuations for Northern Europe were generated. A detailed analysis of such maps enables us to infer the extension of the disturbed ionosphere controlled by the expansion and contraction of the auroral oval due to the varied geomagnetic conditions. Statistical distributions of phase scintillation magnitudes (based on the 60 s sφ scintillation index), amplitude scintillation magnitudes (based on the 60 s S4 scintillation index), and rate of change of TEC values (dTEC/dt computed for 15 s time bins) are presented in this paper. The statistical distributions were computed for each observation station and for the different geomagnetic activity conditions. Correlation with GPS user errors is also investigated, and possible implications for users are discussed.

[1]  S. Basu,et al.  Ionospheric constraints on VHF/UHF communications links during solar maximum and minimum periods , 1988 .

[2]  Susan Skone,et al.  The impact of geomagnetic substorms on GPS receiver performance , 2000 .

[3]  A. J. Van Dierendonck,et al.  Measuring Ionospheric Scintillation Effects from GPS Signals , 2001 .

[4]  J. Klobuchar,et al.  Ionospheric Effects on Low-Latitude Space Based Augmentation Systems , 2002 .

[5]  C. Valladares,et al.  Convection of polar cap patches observed at Qaanaaq, Greenland during the winter of 1989–1990 , 1994 .

[6]  J. Aarons,et al.  Global positioning system phase fluctuations at auroral latitudes , 1997 .

[7]  J. Aarons,et al.  Global morphology of ionospheric scintillations , 1971, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[8]  Alan S. Rodger,et al.  Simultaneous two hemisphere observations of the presence of polar patches in the nightside ionosphere , 1994 .

[9]  Taehwan Kim,et al.  GPS Receiver Performance Characterization Under Simulated Ionospheric Scintillation Environments II , 2002 .

[10]  Paul M. Kintner,et al.  Fading timescales associated with GPS signals and potential consequences , 2001 .

[11]  C. E. Valladares,et al.  Experimental evidence for the formation and entry of patches into the polar cap , 1994 .

[12]  Jules Aarons,et al.  Scintillation boundary during quiet and disturbed magnetic conditions , 1971 .

[13]  S. Skone,et al.  Limitations in GPS receiver tracking performance under ionospheric scintillation conditions , 2001 .

[14]  C. Hegarty,et al.  Modeling the effects of ionospheric scintillation on GPS/Satellite‐Based Augmentation System availability , 2003 .

[15]  T. Moore,et al.  Ionospheric Scintillation Monitoring in Northern Europe , 2001 .