Diagnostics of large-scale structures of the high-latitude ionosphere based on tomographic treatment of navigation-satellite signals and of data from ionospheric stations

Abstract In this paper it is shown that, by using methods of ionospheric tomography when analyzing navigation-satellite signals at spatially separated reception sites, it is possible to expand the possibilities of diagnosing and monitoring large-scale structures of the high-latitude ionosphere such as the main ionospheric trough. The best space- and time-resolution is achieved in the case of a combined treatment of data from standard ionospheric stations and from satellite signal reception sites. The analysis has been made using modelling methods on the basis of experimental data from a meridional chain of ionospheric stations located in the latitude range 56–70°N.