• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.701-706
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• 2011

Radio waves including GPS signals, various TV communications, and radio broadcasting can be disturbed by a strong solar storm, which may occur due to solar flares and produce an ionospheric delay anomaly in the ionosphere according to the change of total electron content. Electron density irregularities can cause deep signal fading, frequently known as ionospheric scintillation, which can result in the positioning error using GPS signal. This paper proposes a detection algorithm for the ionosphere delay anomaly during a solar storm by using multi-reference stations. Different TEC grid which has irregular electron density was applied above one reference station. Then the ionospheric delay in zenith direction applied different TEC will show comparatively large ionospheric zenith delay due to the electron irregularity. The ionospheric slant delay applied an elevation angle at reference station was analyzed to detect the ionospheric delay anomaly that can result in positioning error. A simulation test was implemented and a proposed detection algorithm using data logged by four reference stations was applied to detect the ionospheric delay anomaly compared to a criterion.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.550-557
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• 2017

Ionospheric delay, which affect the accuracy of GNSS positioning, is generated by electrons in Ionosphere. Solar activity level, region and time could make change of this delay level. Dual frequency receiver could effectively eliminate the delay using difference of refractive index between L1 to L2 frequency. But, Single frequency receiver have to use limited correction such as ionospheric model in standalone GNSS or PRC(pseudorange correction) in Differential GNSS. Generally, these corrections is effective in normal condition. but, they might be useless, when TEC(total electron content) extremely increase in local area. In this paper, monitoring algorithm is proposed for local ionospheric anomaly using multiple reference stations. For verification, the algorithm was performed with specific measurement data in Ionospheric storm day (20. Nov. 2003). this algorithm would detect local ionospheric anomaly and improve reliability of ionospheric corrections for standalone receiver.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.117-126
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• 2022

The Ionospheric Anomaly Monitoring by Magnetometer And Plasma-probe (IAMMAP) is one of the scientific instruments for the Compact Advanced Satellite 500-3 (CAS 500-3) which is planned to be launched by Korean Space Launch Vehicle in 2024. The main scientific objective of IAMMAP is to understand the complicated correlation between the equatorial electro-jet (EEJ) and the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) which play important roles in the dynamics of the ionospheric plasma in the dayside equator region. IAMMAP consists of an impedance probe (IP) for precise plasma measurement and magnetometers for EEJ current estimation. The designated sun-synchronous orbit along the quasi-meridional plane makes the instrument suitable for studying the EIA and EEJ. The newly-devised IP is expected to obtain the electron density of the ionosphere with unprecedented precision by measuring the upper-hybrid frequency (f_UHR) of the ionospheric plasma, which is not affected by the satellite geometry, the spacecraft potential, or contamination unlike conventional Langmuir probes. A set of temperature-tolerant precision fluxgate magnetometers, called Adaptive In-phase MAGnetometer, is employed also for studying the complicated current system in the ionosphere and magnetosphere, which is particularly related with the EEJ caused by the potential difference along the zonal direction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.191-193
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• 2006

The ionospheric strom evolution process was monitored during the 18 August 2003 magnetic strom over China, through inversion of the ionospheric electron density from GPS observations. The temporal and spatial variations of the ionosphere were analysed as a time series of ionospheric electron density profiles. Results show that the main ionospheric effects of the storm over China under consideration are: the positive storm phase effect usually happens in the low latitudinal ionospheric; the negative storm phase effect occurs in the middle latitude, and the equatorial anomaly structure can be found as well.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2016

The East African ionosphere (3°S-18°N, 32°E-50°E) was mapped using Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements from ground-based GPS receivers situated at Asmara, Mekelle, Bahir Dar, Robe, Arbaminch, and Nairobi. Assuming a thin shell ionosphere at 350 km altitude, we project the Ionospheric Pierce Point (IPP) of a slant TEC measurement with an elevation angle of >10° to its corresponding location on the map. We then infer the estimated values at any point of interest from the vertical TEC values at the projected locations by means of interpolation. The total number of projected IPPs is in the range of 24-66 at any one time. Since the distribution of the projected IPPs is irregularly spaced, we have used an inverse distance weighted interpolation method to obtain a spatial grid resolution of 1°×1° latitude and longitude, respectively. The TEC maps were generated for the year 2008, with a 2 hr temporal resolution. We note that TEC varies diurnally, with a peak in the late afternoon (at 1700 LT), due to the equatorial ionospheric anomaly. We have observed higher TEC values at low latitudes in both hemispheres compared to the magnetic equatorial region, capturing the ionospheric distribution of the equatorial anomaly. We have also confirmed the equatorial seasonal variation in the ionosphere, characterized by minimum TEC values during the solstices and maximum values during the equinoxes. We evaluate the reliability of the map, demonstrating a mean error (difference between the measured and interpolated values) range of 0.04-0.2 TECU (Total Electron Content Unit). As more measured TEC values become available in this region, the TEC map will be more reliable, thereby allowing us to study in detail the equatorial ionosphere of the African sector, where ionospheric measurements are currently very few.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

Recent studies have suggested that detectable ionospheric disturbances precede earthquakes. In the present study, variations in the vertical total electron content (TEC) for eight earthquakes with magnitudes of M ≥ 5.5 in the western United States were investigated during the solar maximum of 2013-2015 using United States total electron content (US-TEC) data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Analyses of 12 earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 ≤ M < 5.5 in the same region were also performed. The TEC variations were examined for 40 days, including the times when the earthquakes occurred. The results indicated a correlation between earthquakes with magnitudes of M ≥ 5.0 and ionospheric TEC anomalies. TEC anomalies occurred before 60% of the earthquakes. Additionally, they were more frequently observed for large earthquakes (75%, M ≥ 5.5) than for small earthquakes (50%, 5.5 > M ≥ 5.0). Anomalous increases in the TEC occurred 2-18 days before the earthquakes as an ionospheric precursor, whereas solar and geomagnetic activities were low or moderate.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2016

The equatorial region of the Earth's ionosphere exhibits large temporal variations in electron density that have significant implications on satellite signal transmissions. In this paper, the first observation results of the variations in the trough of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly at the permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) site in Chuuk (Geographic: $7.5^{\circ}N$, $151.9^{\circ}E$; Geomagnetic: $0.4^{\circ}N$) are presented. It was found that the daytime Global Positioning System (GPS) total electron content (TEC) values vary according to the 27 day period of solar rotation, and that these trends show sharp contrast with those of summer. The amplitudes of the semi-annual anomaly were 12.4 TECU (33 %) on $19^{th}$ of March and 8.8 TECU (23 %) on $25^{th}$ of October respectively, with a yearly averaged value of 38.0 TECU. The equinoctial asymmetry at the March equinox was higher than that at the October equinox rather than the November equinox. Daily mean TEC values were higher in December than in June, which could be interpreted as annual or winter anomalies. The nighttime GPS TEC enhancements during 20:00-24:00 LT also exhibited the semi-annual variation. The pre-midnight TEC enhancement could be explained with the slow loss process of electron density that is largely produced during the daytime of equinox. However, the significant peaks around 22:00-23:00 LT at the spring equinox require other mechanisms other than the slow loss process of the electron density.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.30 no.6_2
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• pp.607-613
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• 2012

Ionospheric anomaly is one of the major error sources which deteriorate the GNSS performance. In the equatorial region, effects of the ionospheric plasma bubbles are of great interest because they are pretty common phenomena, especially in the period of the high solar activity. In order to evaluate the GNSS performance under circumstance of the bubbles, an ionospheric scintillation monitor has been developed and installed in Bangkok, Thailand. Furthermore, a model simulating the ionospheric delay and scintillation due to the bubbles has been developed. Based on these developments, the effects of the simulated plasma bubbles are analyzed and their agreement with the real observation is demonstrated. An availability degradation of the GPS ground based augmentation system (GBAS) caused by the bubbles is exampled in details. Finally, an integrated GPS/INS approach based on the Doppler frequency is proposed to remedy the deterioration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.689-699
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• 2013

During extreme ionospheric storms, anomalous ionospheric delays and gradients could cause potential integrity threats to users of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) augmentation systems. GNSS augmentation ground facilities must monitor these ionospheric anomalies defined by a threat model and alarm the users of safely-of-life applications within time-to-alerts. Because the ionospheric anomaly threat model is developed using data collected from GNSS reference stations, the use of poor-quality data can degrade the performance of the threat model. As the total number of stations increases, the number of station with poor GNSS data quality also increases. This paper analyzes the quality of data collected from Korean GPS reference stations using comprehensive GNSS data quality check algorithms. The results show that the range of good and poor qualities varies noticeably for each quality parameter. Especially erroneous ionospheric delay and gradients estimates are produced due to poor quality data. The results obtained in this study should be a basis for determining GPS data quality criteria in the development of ionospheric threat models.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.87-98
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• 2022

The Far-UltraViolet (FUV) imager onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft provides two-dimensional limb images of oxygen airglow in the nightside low-latitude ionosphere that are used to determine the oxygen ion density. As yet, no FUV limb imager has been used for climatological analyses of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs). To examine the potential of ICON/FUV for this purpose, we statistically investigate small-scale (~180 km) fluctuations of oxygen ion density in its limb images. The seasonal-longitudinal variations of the fluctuation level reasonably conform to the EPB statistics in existing literature. To further validate the ICON/FUV data quality, we also inspect climatology of the ambient (unfiltered) nightside oxygen ion density. The ambient density exhibits (1) the well-known zonal wavenumber-4 signatures in the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) and (2) off-equatorial enhancement above the Caribbean, both of which agree with previous studies. Merits of ICON/FUV observations over other conventional data sets are discussed in this paper. Furthermore, we suggest possible directions of future work, e.g., synergy between ICON/FUV and the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission.