GPS scintillation over the European Arctic during the November 2004 storms |
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| Authors: | Robert W Meggs Cathryn N Mitchell Farideh Honary |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, BA1 7AY, UK;(2) Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4WA, UK |
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| Abstract: | Small-scale irregularities in the background electron density of the ionosphere can cause rapid fluctuations in the amplitude
and phase of radio signals passing through it. These rapid fluctuations are known as scintillation and can cause a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver to lose lock on a signal. This could compromise the integrity of a safety of life system
based on GPS, operating in auroral regions. In this paper, the relationship between the loss of lock on GPS signals and ionospheric
scintillation in auroral regions is explored. The period from 8 to 14 November 2004 is selected for this study, as it includes
both geomagnetically quiet and disturbed conditions. Phase and amplitude scintillation are measured by GPS receivers located
at three sites in Northern Scandinavia, and correlated with losses of signal lock in receivers at varying distances from the
scintillation receivers. Local multi-path effects are screened out by rejection of low-elevation data from the analysis. The
results indicate that losses of lock are more closely related to rapid fluctuations in the phase rather than the amplitude
of the received signal. This supports the idea, suggested by Humphreys et al. (2005) (performance of GPS carrier tracking loops during ionospheric scintillations. Proceedings Internationsl Ionospheric Effects
Symposium 3–5 May 2005), that a wide loop bandwidth may be preferred for receivers operating at auroral latitudes. Evidence from the Imaging Riometer
for Ionospheric Studies (IRIS) appears to suggest that, for this particular storm, precipitation of particles in the D/E regions
may be the mechanism that drives the rapid phase fluctuations in the signal.
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| Keywords: | Ionosphere Scintillation GPS |
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