6 research outputs found
Ionosphere Monitoring
Global navigation satellite system (GSSS)-based
monitoring of the ionosphere is important in
a twofold manner. Firstly, GNSS measurements
provide valuable ionospheric information for correcting
and mitigating ionospheric range errors or
to warn users in particular in precise and safety
of life (SoL) applications. Secondly, spatial and
temporal resolution of ground- and space-based
measurements is high enough to explore the dynamics
of ionospheric processes such as the origin
and propagation of ionospheric storms.
It is discussed how ground- and space-based
GNSS measurements are used to create globalmaps
of total electron content (TEC) and to reconstruct
the highly variable three-dimensional (3-D) electron
density distribution on global scale under
perturbed conditions. Thus, the monitoring results
can be used for correcting ionospheric errors in
single-frequency applications as well as for studying
the driving forces of space weather-induced
perturbation features at a broad range of temporal
and spatial scales. Whereas large- and mediumscale
perturbations affect accuracy and reliability
of GNSS measurements, small-scale plasma irregularities
and plasma bubbles have a direct impact
on the continuity of GNSS availability by causing
strong and rapid fluctuations of the signal
strength, known as radio scintillations.
It is discussed how better understanding of
space weather-related phenomena may help to
model and forecast ionospheric behavior even
under perturbed conditions. Hence, ionospheric
monitoring contributes to the successful mitigation
of range errors or performance degradation
associated with the ionospheric impact on a broad
spectrum of GNSS applications