NeQuick G model based scale factor determination for using SBAS ionosphere corrections at low earth orbit

A space-based augmentation system (SBAS) provides real-time correction data for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) users near ground. In order to use the SBAS ionosphere correction for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the correction should be scaled down for the LEO altitude. This scale factor varies with ionosphere distribution and it is hard to determine the value at LEO in real time. We propose a real-time scale factor determination method by using Galileo GNSS’s NeQuick G model. A LEO satellite GPS data and SBAS data received on ground were used to evaluate the performance of the NeQuick G derived variable scale factor. The NeQuick G derived scale factor shows a significant accuracy improvement over NeQuick G model or pre-determined constant scale factor. It improves a vertical positioning accuracy of the LEO satellite. The error mean reductions of the vertical positioning over NeQuick G and the constant scale factor are 31.5% and 11.7%, respectively.     

Latitudinal features of Total Electron Content over the African and European longitude sector following the St. Patrick’s day storm of 2015

GNSS TEC values have been obtained from 18 stations distributed from the magnetic equator to nearly 80°N magnetic dip in the African and west-European longitude sector corresponding to the March 17–18, 2015 geomagnetic storm. Significantly depleted ionosphere have been observed at stations north of 50°N geographic on March 18, 2015 following the above storm over a longitude swath 11.9°–21°E covering the Eastern Africa and Western European longitude sector. High ROTI values were noted on March 17^th at locations around 80°N magnetic dip. Two prominent peaks in PCN were noted around 09:00 UT and 14:00 UT on March 17, 2015 and around 15:00 UT on March 18, 2015. Daytime thermospheric (O/N₂) ratio was markedly less on March 18th at latitudes above 60°N geographic which is suggested to be the major driver behind depleted high latitude ionosphere during the recovery phase of the storm on March 18, 2015.     

Responses of the African equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) to some selected intense geomagnetic storms during the maximum phase of solar cycle 24

This study investigates the morphology of the GPS TEC responses in the African Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) region to intense geomagnetic storms during the ascending and maximum phases of solar cycle 24 (2012–2014). Specifically, eight intense geomagnetic storms with Dst ≤ ?100 nT were considered in this investigation using TEC data obtained from 13 GNSS receivers in the East African region within 36–42°E geographic longitude; 29°N–10°S geographic latitude; ± 20°N magnetic latitude. The storm-time behavior of TEC shows clear positive and negative phases relative to the non-storm (median) behavior, with amplitudes being dependent on the time of sudden commencement of the storm and location. When a storm starts in the morning period, total electron content increases for all stations while a decrease in total electron content is manifested for a storm that had its sudden commencement in the afternoon period. The TEC and the EIA crest during the main phase of the storm is significantly impacted by the geomagnetic storm, which experiences an increase in the intensity of TEC while the location and spread of the crest usually manifest a poleward expansion.     

基于卫星监视几何精度因子的UDRE值估计方法

星基增强导航系统(SBAS,Satellite Based Augmentation System)通过向用户提供用户差分距离误差(UDRE,User Differential Range Error),来保证广播星历和星钟改正数的精度并增强用户的完好性性能.给出了一种用于主控站的UDRE计算方法,提出了卫星监视几何精度因子(SSDOP,Satellite Surveillance Dilution of Precision)的概念.基于UDRE和SS-DOP的表达式,通过数学推导发现UDRE受到SSDOP和限制因子的影响,而限制因子可以用其统计平均值0.7438来替代,建立了由SSDOP估计UDRE的表达式.仿真结果表明:利用SS-DOP估计出的UDRE值,其误差不超过0.8 m,能够反映出当前卫星UDRE的特性,可以作为用户在无法接收完好性信息时快速推算UDRE的一种可行手段.     

Design of BDS-3 integrity monitoring and preliminary analysis of its performance

With the improvement in the service accuracy and expansion of the application scope of satellite navigation systems, users now have high demands for system integrity that are directly related to navigation safety. As a crucial index to measure the reliability of satellite navigation systems, integrity is the ability of the system to send an alarm when an abnormity occurs. The new-generation Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) prioritized the upgrading of system integrity as an important objective in system construction. Because the system provides both basic navigation and satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) services by the operational control system, BDS-3 adopts an integrated integrity monitoring and processing strategy that applies satellite autonomous integrity monitoring and ground-based integrity monitoring for both the basic navigation service and SBAS navigation service. BDS-3 also uses an improved and refined integrity parameter system to provide slow, fast and real-time integrity parameters for basic navigation, and provide SBAS-provided integrity information messages in accordance with Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) specification and dual frequency, multi-constellation (DFMC) specification to support the SBAS signal frequency, single constellation operation and DFMC operation respectively. The performance of BDS-3 system integrity monitoring is preliminarily verified during on-orbit testing in different states, including normal operation, satellite clock failure and satellite ephemeris failure. The results show that satellite autonomous integrity monitoring, ground-based integrity monitoring and satellite-based augmentation all correctly work within the system. Satellite autonomous integrity monitoring can detect satellite clock failure but not satellite orbit failure. However, ground-based integrity monitoring can detect both. Moreover, the satellite-based augmentation integrity system monitors the differential range error after satellite ephemeris and clock error corrections based on user requirements. Compared to the near minute-level time-to-alert capability of ground-based integrity monitoring, satellite autonomous integrity monitoring reduces the system alert time to less than 4 s. With a combined satellite-ground monitoring strategy and the implementation of different monitoring technologies, the BDS-3 integrity of service has been considerably improved.     

WAAS卫星播发电文一致性分析

星基增强系统(SBAS)是在传统GNSS的基础上为了进一步满足民航用户对卫星导航系统越来越高的精度、完好性、连续性和可用性需求而应运而生.目前全球已建立起了多个SBAS系统,其中提供服务时间最长的是美国的WAAS系统.WAAS系统包括38个参考站、3个主控站、6个上注站和3颗GEO卫星,每个参考站配备3套独立的监测接收...     

一种基于GNSS数据的全球电离层不规则结构活动表征方法

针对如何利用GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite System)数据进行电离层扰动监测的问题,提出了一种基于GNSS数据表征全球电离层扰动的方法.利用大约400个GNSS地面站点的观测数据,计算总电子含量(Total Electron Content,TEC)变化率的标准差——ROTI(Ra...     

基于空间统计方法的电离层折射修正技术

针对中国上空电离层所具有的特殊性和GPS观测站在中国西部分布相对稀疏的特点, 尝试探索中国卫星增强系统电离层时延信息修正技术, 为卫星导航定位以及遥感、遥测等空间应用工程的电波修正提供数据. 利用中国地壳形变监测网提供的双频GPS数据, 以空间统计方法为主要工具, 给出了普通Kriging电离层估计算法, 构建了平静期和磁暴期电离层理论变异模型, 详细分析了电离层折射修正的精度. 结果表明, 将空间统计方法应用于卫星增强系统中的电离层时延改正问题, 有利于提高增强系统的电离层折射修正精度, 特别是在观测样点相对较少的情况下, 有利于系统完整性的实现.      

Klobuchar电离层模型误差分析及预测

电离层延迟误差是全球导航卫星系统（global navigation satellite system，GNSS）中的重要误差源之一。目前在电离层延迟改正模型中，应用最广泛的是Klobuchar参数模型，但是该模型的改正率仅能达到60%左右，无法满足日益增长的精度需求。将国际GNSS监测评估系统（international GNSS monitoring & assessment system，iGMAS）发布的高精度电离层格网数据作为对照，对Klobuchar电离层模型误差进行计算和分析，结果发现在中纬度区域误差存在明显的周期性特征。为进一步提高Klobuchar电离层模型在中纬度区域的改正精度，建立了基于粒子群优化反向传播（back propagation，BP）神经网络的Klobuchar电离层误差预测模型,并以2019年10月的采样数据为例进行误差预测。结果表明，用该模型对中纬度区域电离层延迟提供误差补偿，可将精度提高到90%左右。     

SBAS电文时序动态编排算法

星基增强系统（SBAS）通过GEO卫星转发SBAS电文实现对GNSS服务性能的提升，以满足民航用户不同飞行阶段的导航需求，因此，合理有效的电文内容及播发时序设计是系统实现高质量服务的重要保证。为提高电文编排的灵活性，避免固定时序填补空余电文引起的播发资源浪费，提出了一种SBAS电文时序动态编排算法，在满足国际标准要求的前提下，综合利用SBAS电文龄期和最大播发间隔实现待播发电文的自动选择。利用NTMF实测数据对当前各主要SBAS的电文进行了特性分析，对所提方法的单双频SBAS电文编排效果进行了评估。结果表明:所提算法可保证电文时序符合国际标准要求，实现了重要电文的优先播发，将空余时隙进行动态分配实现了各类型电文播发间隔的近等比例缩短。与固定时序相比，单频SBAS完好性电文播发间隔缩短约15.0%，首次定位时间缩短约8%，双频SBAS电文首次定位时间缩短约6.5%；与固定时序的BDSBAS B1C电文相比，完好性服务能力提升约14.7%，首次定位时间缩短约16.7%。所提算法有效提升了SBAS电文播发的播发效率，实现了SBAS播发资源的100%有效利用。      

Effects of CME and CIR induced geomagnetic storms on low-latitude ionization over Indian longitudes in terms of neutral dynamics

This paper presents the response of the ionosphere during the intense geomagnetic storms of October 12–20, 2016 and May 26–31, 2017 which occurred during the declining phase of the solar cycle 24. Total Electron Content (TEC) from GPS measured at Indore, Calcutta and Siliguri having geomagnetic dips varying from 32.23°N, 32°N and 39.49°N respectively and at the International GNSS Service (IGS) stations at Lucknow (beyond anomaly crest), Hyderabad (between geomagnetic equator and northern crest of EIA) and Bangalore (near magnetic equator) in the Indian longitude zone have been used for the storms. Prominent peaks in diurnal maximum in excess of 20–45 TECU over the quiet time values were observed during the October 2016 storm at Lucknow, Indore, Hyderabad, Bangalore and 10–20 TECU for the May 2017 storm at Siliguri, Indore, Calcutta and Hyderabad. The GUVI images onboard TIMED spacecraft that measures the thermospheric O/N₂ ratio, showed high values (O/N₂ ratio of about 0.7) on October 16 when positive storm effects were observed compared to the other days during the storm period. The observed features have been explained in terms of the O/N₂ ratio increase in the equatorial thermosphere, CIR-induced High Speed Solar Wind (HSSW) event for the October 2016 storm. The TEC enhancement has also been explained in terms of the Auroral Electrojet (AE), neutral wind values obtained from the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM14) and equatorial electrojet strength from magnetometer data for both October 2016 and May 2017 storms. These results are one of the first to be reported from the Indian longitude sector on influence of CME- and CIR-driven geomagnetic storms on TEC during the declining phase of solar cycle 24.     

Monthly trends in temporal and spatial distribution of Ionospheric Irregularities across the African region during the descending phase of solar cycle 24

Ionospheric irregularities are well-known phenomena associated with ionospheric scintillation. These irregularities comprise steep electron density gradients in the equatorial F region some 1 to 2 h after sunset in regions close to the geomagnetic equator. Using the IGS network of GNSS receivers spread across the low-latitude region over the African sector, we present the monthly trends in ionospheric irregularity activity levels based on Rate of TEC Index (ROTI) during the declining phase of solar 24. The monthly trends are statistically represented by counts of the night time ROTI values exceeding a threshold of 0.4 TECU/min. A clear trend emerges on the irregularity occurrence across the African sector: during the first four months of the year, the irregularity occurrence is highly pronounced on the western side of the region. The irregularity occurrence then shifts to the eastern side during the months of May, June, July, and August. During the last four months of the year, the irregularity occurrence is again more intense on the western side of Africa than on the eastern side. The occurrence of irregularity structures on only one side of the region during a given night is an unusual feature reported here for the first time.     

Transition radiation mechanism for broad-band component of stimulated electromagnetic emission

As is well known in the F-region of the ionosphere modified by high power HF radio waves broad-band electromagnetic stimulated emission (SEE) is observed. It was discovered both the beams of superthermal electrons and intensive small-scale irregularities in modified region. These magnetic field aligned irregularities have caviton shape — deep electron density holes. The presence of such irregularities and superthermal electrons create conditions for generation of transition emission. We consider this radiation mechanism for interpretation the SEE broad-band component.     

Stochastic modelling considering ionospheric scintillation effects on GNSS relative and point positioning

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), in particular the Global Positioning System (GPS), have been widely used for high accuracy geodetic positioning. The Least Squares functional models related to the GNSS observables have been more extensively studied than the corresponding stochastic models, given that the development of the latter is significantly more complex. As a result, a simplified stochastic model is often used in GNSS positioning, which assumes that all the GNSS observables are statistically independent and of the same quality, i.e. a similar variance is assigned indiscriminately to all of the measurements. However, the definition of the stochastic model may be approached from a more detailed perspective, considering specific effects affecting each observable individually, as for example the effects of ionospheric scintillation. These effects relate to phase and amplitude fluctuations in the satellites signals that occur due to diffraction on electron density irregularities in the ionosphere and are particularly relevant at equatorial and high latitude regions, especially during periods of high solar activity. As a consequence, degraded measurement quality and poorer positioning accuracy may result.     

Geomagnetic storm effects on the occurrences of ionospheric irregularities over the African equatorial/low-latitude region

The study investigated the effects of intense geomagnetic storms of 2015 on the occurrences of large scale ionospheric irregularities over the African equatorial/low-latitude region. Four major/intense geomagnetic storms of 2015 were analyzed for this study. These storms occurred on 17th March 2015 (?229?nT), 22nd June 2015 (?204?nT), 7th October 2015 (?124?nT), and 20th December 2015 (?170?nT). Total Electron Content (TEC) data obtained from five African Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) stations, grouped into eastern and western sectors were used to derive the ionospheric irregularities proxy indices, e.g., rate of change of TEC (ROT), ROT index (ROTI) and ROTI daily average (ROTI_AVE). These indices were characterized alongside with the disturbance storm time (Dst), the Y component of the Interplanetary Electric Field (IEFy), polar cap (PC) index and the H component of the Earth’s magnetic field from ground-based magnetometers. Irregularities manifested in the form of fluctuations in TEC. Prompt penetration of electric field (PPEF) and disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF) modulated the behaviour of irregularities during the main and recovery phases of the geomagnetic storms. The effect of electric field over both sectors depends on the local time of southward turning of IMF Bz. Consequently, westward electric field inhibited irregularities during the main phase of March and October 2015 geomagnetic storms, while for the June 2015 storm, eastward electric field triggered weak irregularities over the eastern sector. The effect of electric field on irregularities during December 2015 storm was insignificant. During the recovery phase of the storms, westward DDEF suppressed irregularities.     

Temporal evolution of the EIA along 95°E as obtained from GNSS TEC measurements and SAMI3 model

The total electron content (TEC) derived from GNSS measurements at a trans-hemispheric meridional chain of ground stations around 95°E longitude are used to study the quiet time inter-hemispheric structure and dynamics of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) during the period March 2015 to February 2016. The stations are Dibrugarh (27.5°N, 95°E, 43° dip), Kohima (25.6°N, 94.1°E, 39° dip), Aizawl (23.7°N, 92.8°E, 36° dip), Port Blair (11.63°N, 92.71°E, 9° dip) and Cocos Islands (12.2°S, 96.8°E, 43° dip). The observation shows that the northern crest of the EIA lies in the south of 23°N (Aizawl) in all seasons but recedes further south towards the equator during December solstice. The largest poleward expansion of the northern (southern) EIA is observed in the March equinox (December solstice). The equinoctial and hemispherical asymmetry of TEC is noted. The winter anomaly is observed in the northern hemisphere but not in the southern hemisphere. The highest midday TEC over any station is observed in the March equinox. The TEC in southern summer (December solstice) is significantly higher than that in the northern summer (June solstice). The observed northern EIA contracts equatorward in the postsunset period of solstice but the southern EIA persists late into the midnight in the December solstice. The asymmetry may be attributed to the different geographic location of the magnetically conjugate stations. The SAMI3 simulations broadly capture the EIA structure and the inter-hemispheric asymmetry during solstices. The difference between observations and the SAMI3 is higher in March equinox and December solstice. The higher E?×?B vertical drift in the 90–100°E sector and the large geographic-geomagnetic offset in observing stations may have contributed to the observed differences.     

The ionosphere,radio navigation,and global navigation satellite systems

This article is a review of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for space scientists who are interested in how GNSS signals and observables can be used to understand ionospheric dynamics and, conversely, how ionospheric dynamics affect the operational capabilities of GNSS receivers. The most common form of GNSS is the Global Positioning System (GPS); we will first review its operating principles and then present a discussion of errors, of which ionospheric propagation is the most significant. Methods and systems for mitigating errors will be introduced, along with a discussion of modernization plans for GPS and for entirely new systems such as Galileo. In the second half of this article the effects of the ionosphere on GPS signals will be examined in more detail, particularly ionospheric propagation, leading to a discussion of the relation of TEC to ranging errors. Next, the subject of scintillations will also be introduced and connected to the presence and scale sizes of irregularities. Scintillations will be examined as spatial and temporal structures. The method of measuring scintillation pattern drift and ionospheric velocity will be discussed. We conclude by examining ionospheric effects on GPS at midlatitudes.     

Characterization of ionospheric amplitude scintillations using wavelet entropy detrended GNSS data

The extensive monitoring networks of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ionospheric scintillation have been established to continuously log observation data. Further, the amplitude scintillation index and the phase scintillation index, which are derived from scintillation observations, are anticipated to accommodate the accuracy requirement of both the user level and the monitoring station level. However, raw scintillation observations essentially measure superposed waveform impairments of GNSS signals propagating through ionosphere and troposphere. It implies that fluctuations of raw scintillation observations are caused by multiple factors from the entire radio propagation environment. Hence, it is crucial to characterize ionospheric scintillations from GNSS observation data. And the characterization is implemented through extracting fluctuations of raw observations merely induced by ionospheric scintillations. Designed to address this problem by means of Fourier filtering detrending, the present work investigates the influence of varying detrending cutoff frequencies on wavelet statistical energy and wavelet entropy distributions of scintillation data. It consequently derives criteria on the optimum detrending cutoff frequency for three types of raw amplitude scintillation data, which are classified by their wavelet energy distributions. Results of the present work verify that detrending with specific optimum cutoff frequencies rather than the fixed and universally applicable one renders the validity and credibility of characterizing ionospheric scintillations as the part of GNSS observation fluctuations purely induced by ionosphere electron density irregularities whose scale sizes are comparable with or smaller than the Fresnel scale.     

Analysis and improvement of ionospheric thin shell model used in SBAS for China region

The most frequently used mapping function for converting slant total electron content (STEC) to vertical total electron content (VTEC) uses a simplified ionospheric single layer model in satellite based augmentation system (SBAS). Aiming at ionospheric single layer model altitude variation, we analyzed the statistical characteristic of mapping function in systemic approach particular for the region of China, and then experimental mapping function was proposed. The experimental mapping function is used in SBAS ionospheric correction and the precision of vertical correction is compared with standard mapping function. The results show that conversion factor errors depend on latitude, time and elevation, experimental mapping function is helpful to the vertical TEC estimation and may improve the precision of SBAS ionospheric refraction correction especially for the low latitude region of China.     

Intercosmos-19 observations of an additional topside ionization layer: the F3 layer

Spatial properties of an additional ionization layer in the topside ionosphere were investigated using Intercosmos-19 satellite ionograms. The data under analysis were choosen for equinoctial conditions of the high solar activity period (1979–1981). The F3 layer was detected in a narrow longitude sectors (about 60°) between the equatorial anomaly crests. Its intensity has a maximum just above the equator and decreases poleward within ±10° dip. A nighttime F3 layer was observed as well as the daytime events.