Impact of the Halloween 2003 ionospheric storm on kinematic GPS positioning in Europe

Using dual-frequency data from 36 GPS stations from the EUREF Permanent Network (EPN), the influence of the October 30, 2003 Halloween geomagnetic storm on kinematic GPS positioning is investigated. The Halloween storm induced ionospheric disturbances above the northern part of Europe and Scandinavia. It is shown that kinematic position repeatabilities for this period are mainly affected for stations in northern Europe with outliers reaching 12 cm in the horizontal, and 26 cm in the vertical. These magnitudes are shown to be possibly due to the second-order ionospheric delays on GPS signals, not accounted for in the kinematic GPS positioning analysis performed. In parallel, we generate hourly TEC (Total Electron Content) maps on a 1° × 1° grid using the dense EPN network. These TEC maps do not use any interpolation but provide a high resolution in the time and space and therefore allow to better evidence small structures in the ionosphere than the classical 2-hourly 2.5° × 5° grid Global Ionospheric TEC Maps (GIM). Using the hourly 1° × 1° TEC maps, we reconstruct and refine exactly the zones of intense ionosphere activity during the storm, and we show the correlation between the ionospheric activity and assess the quality of GPS-based kinematic positioning performed in the European region.     

Linux Shell在电离层TEC格网数据提取和分析中的应用

电离层延迟误差是卫星导航和定位中不可忽略的重要误差,全球电离层总电子含量(TEC)格网数据因其将全球按规则的经纬度格网化,并给出了相应格网点的电离层TEC值,从而为用户使用提供了极大的便利．本文基于Linux Shell脚本编写简单、快速和容易维护等优点,利用Shell脚本对电离层TEC格网数据进行提取和分析处理,主要包括全球和自定义区域电离层TEC数据提取、均值计算、格网经纬度互差计算、最值提取等应用,可为基于全球电离层格网(GIM)数据对全球或区域电离层TEC周年变化、季节变化、周日变化规律以及时空变化特性等相关规律的分析研究提供一定的参考.      

Application of the TaiWan Ionospheric Model to single-frequency ionospheric delay corrections for GPS positioning

The performance of a three-dimensional ionospheric electron density model derived from FormoSat3/COSMIC GPS Radio Occultation measurements, called the TaiWan Ionosphere Model (TWIM), in removing the ionospheric delays in single-frequency pseudorange observations is presented. Positioning results using TWIM have been compared with positioning results using other ionospheric models, such as the Klobuchar (KLOB) and the global ionospheric model (GIM). C/A code pseudoranges have been observed at three International GPS Service reference stations that are representative of mid-latitude (BOR1 and IRKJ) and low-latitude (TWTF) regions of the ionosphere. The observations took place during 27 geomagnetically quiet days from April 2010 to October 2011. We perform separate solutions using the TWIM, KLOB, GIM ionospheric models and carry out a solution applying no ionospheric correction at all. We compute the daily mean horizontal errors (DMEAN) and the daily RMS (DRMS) for these solutions with respect to the published reference station coordinates. It has demonstrated that TEC maps generate using the TWIM exhibit a detailed structure of the ionosphere, particularly at low-latitude region, whereas the Klobuchar and the GIM only provide the basic diurnal and geographic features of the ionosphere. Also, it is shown that even for lower satellite elevations, the TWIM provides better positioning than the Klobuchar and GIM models. Specifically, using TWIM, the difference of the uncorrected solution (no ionospheric correction), and the other solutions, relative to the uncorrected solution, is 45 % for the mean horizontal error (DMEAN) and 42 % for the horizontal root-mean-square error (DRMS). Using Klobuchar and GIM, the percent for DMEAN only reaches to about 12 % and 3 %, while the values for the DRMS are only 12 and 4 %, respectively. In the vertical direction, all models have a percentage of about 99 and 70 % for the mean vertical error (VMEAN) and vertical root-mean-square error (VRMS), respectively. These percentages show the greater impact of TWIM on the ionospheric correction compared to the other models. In at least 40 % of the observed days and across all stations, TWIM has the smallest DMEAN, VMEAN, DRMS, and VRMS daily values. These values reach 100 % at station TWTF. This shows the overall performance of TWIM is better than the Klobuchar and GIM.     

A preliminary evaluation of the performance of multiple ionospheric models in low- and mid-latitude regions of China in 2010–2011

Ionospheric delay is a dominant error source in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Single-frequency GNSS applications require ionospheric correction of signal delay caused by the charged particles in the earth’s ionosphere. The Chinese Beidou system is developing its own ionospheric model for single-frequency users. The number of single-frequency GNSS users and applications is expected to grow fast in the next years in China. Thus, developing an appropriate ionospheric model is crucially important for the Chinese Beidou system and worldwide single-frequency Beidou users. We study the performance of five globally accessible ionospheric models Global Ionospheric Map (GIM), International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), Parameterized Ionospheric Model (PIM), Klobuchar and NeQuick in low- and mid-latitude regions of China under mid-solar activity condition. Generally, all ionospheric models can reproduce the trend of diurnal ionosphere variations. It is found that all the models have better performances in mid-latitude than in low-latitude regions. When all the models are compared to the observed total electron content (TEC) data derived from GIM model, the IRI model (2012 version) has the best agreement with GIM model and the NeQuick has the poorest agreement. The RMS errors of the IRI model using the GIM TEC as reference truth are about 3.0–10.0 TECU in low-latitude regions and 3.0–8.0 TECU in mid-latitude regions, as observed during a period of 1 year with medium level of solar activity. When all the ionospheric models are ingested into single-frequency precise point positioning (PPP) to correct the ionospheric delays in GPS observations, the PIM model performs the best in both low and mid-latitudes in China. In mid-latitude, the daily single-frequency PPP accuracy using PIM model is ~10 cm in horizontal and ~20 cm in up direction. At low-latitude regions, the PPP error using PIM model is 10–20 cm in north, 30–40 cm in east and ~60 cm in up component. The single-frequency PPP solutions indicate that NeQuick model has the lowest accuracy among all the models in both low- and mid-latitude regions of China. This study suggests that the PIM model may be considered for single-frequency GNSS users in China to achieve a good positioning accuracy in both low- and mid-latitude regions.     

利用数据同化技术实现区域电离层TEC重构

电离层参量的提取是开展电离层研究的基础,而数据同化技术则是获取电离层参量的一种重要手段。以NeQuick模型的输出作为背景场,Kalman滤波作为同化算法,利用数据同化技术实现区域电离层TEC重构,结果表明,数据同化方法重构的倾斜总电子含量（TEC）和垂直TEC与实测值较为一致。相比NeQuick模型及全球电离层地图（GIM）数据,数据同化方法重构得到的TEC的平均误差和标准差均有明显的降低,实测数据验证了数据同化技术在区域TEC重构中的精度和可靠性。     

不同全球电离层格网产品在中国区域的应用精度评估与分析

基于全球卫星导航系统(GNSS)跟踪站和Jason测高卫星获得的电离层总电子含量(TEC),系统评估了国内外5家国际GNSS服务(IGS)电离层分析中心以及全球连续监测评估系统(iGMAS)综合中心的预报、快速和最终全球电离层格网产品(GIM)在中国区域的精度和标准单点定位应用性能. 结果表明:不同类型GIM产品在中国区域的精度由高到低分别是最终、快速和预报GIM产品;在太阳活动水平较低时,不同GIM产品精度大致相当;在太阳活动水平较高时,西班牙加泰罗尼亚理工大学(UPC)和iGMAS的快速和最终GIM产品精度优于其他机构同类型产品.      

2018年8月磁暴期间北斗GEO卫星电离层TEC时空变化分析

基于北斗GEO卫星独有的静地特性,本文利用其观测数据提取电离层TEC进行磁暴期间电离层TEC时空变化研究。同时利用全球电离层格网图GIM值进行试验对比,结果表明：北斗GEO卫星提取的TEC与GIM模型值变化趋势一致,并且前者可更有效地监测电离层的细微扰动变化。在此次磁暴发生期间,亚太地区电离层TEC变化及扰动响应特征在纬度方向差异明显。其中南北半球较高纬度区域,电离层TEC在磁暴主相阶段主要表现为正响应扰动,而赤道及北半球较低纬度区域,电离层TEC在磁暴主相及恢复相阶段均产生了强度更大、持续时间更长的正响应扰动。结合现有研究,认为造成此次电离层异常扰动的激励因素主要为东向快速穿透电场的增强及热层中性成分的变化。试验结果也证明了GEO卫星可以精准有效地监测在磁暴发生时电离层TEC的变化规律及不同空间位置处TEC产生的扰动响应特征。     

基于北斗GEO的电离层延迟修正方法比较与分析

电离层延迟是影响导航定位精度的最主要因素。北斗卫星导航系统采用Klobuchar模型修正单频接收机用户的电离层延迟误差,对于双频接收机,可以利用不同频率信号的伪距观测数据解算得到电离层延迟值。为比较两种方法在天津地区的电离层延迟修正效果,利用NovAtel GPStation6接收机(GNSS电离层闪烁和TEC监测接收机)采集到的卫星实测数据进行计算。以国际全球导航卫星系统服务组织(IGS)发布的全球电离层格网数据为参考,对两种方法的修正效果进行比较分析。结果表明,在天津地区,利用双频观测值解算电离层延迟比Klobuchar模型计算结果更加精确,且平均每天的修正值达到IGS发布数据的82.11％,比Klobuchar模型计算值高948％      

Performance evaluation of different ionospheric models in single-frequency code-based differential GPS positioning

Differential ionospheric slant delays are obtained from a quiet-time, three-dimensional ionospheric electron density model, called the TaiWan Ionosphere Model (TWIM), to be used in code-based differential GPS positioning. The code observations are acquired from nine continuously operating GPS stations around Taiwan whose baseline ranged from 19 to 340 km. Daily 24-hour epoch-per-epoch positioning obtained for 70 most geomagnetic quiet days (2008–2010) for each of the 72 baselines. The performance of TWIM has been compared with the standard operational Klobuchar model (KLB) used by typical single-frequency receivers and the IGS global ionospheric model (GIM). Generally, TWIM performed well in reducing the differential ionospheric delay especially for long baselines and different levels of low solar activity. It has a much better performance compared to the operational KLB model. TWIM also performed similarly with GIM, though GIM has the best performance overall. GIM has the best ionospheric gradient estimates among the three models whose differential ionospheric delay-to-horizontal error ratio is more than 0.25. This is followed closely by TWIM with about 0.20. KLB only has a ratio of <0.10. The similarity of the performance of TWIM and GIM demonstrates the feasibility of TWIM in correcting for differential ionospheric delays in the C/A code pseudorange that is caused by electron density gradients in the ionosphere. It can provide decimeter-to-centimeter level accuracy in differential GPS positioning for single-frequency receivers during geomagnetic quiet conditions across all seasons and different levels of low solar activities.     

北斗电离层模型改正精度分析

电离层误差是影响单频用户机定位精度的主要误差源。卫星导航系统播发电离层模型改正参数供用户使用,模型改正精度会对定位结果产生直接影响。北斗卫星导航系统根据连续监测站实测数据,计算并发播地理坐标系下8参数Klobuchar电离层模型参数,且每2 h更新一次。为了科学评估北斗电离层模型改正效果,文中基于北斗最新观测数据,首先,以CODE提供的GIM模型作为比对基准,详细分析了不同纬度地区、不同时间段内的电离层模型改正精度;其次,分别按照以下定位模式进行计算:1)北斗单频不加电离层改正,2)北斗单频+北斗K8模型,3)北斗单频+GPS K8模型,并分析了电离层改正残差对定位结果影响大小。结果表明,北斗电离层模型改正精度在北半球优于南半球,中纬度地区改正效果最好,其改正残差RMS均值在0.6 m左右,往低纬和高纬度地区呈递减趋势;北京地区北斗单频+北斗K8模型定位精度优于GPS K8模型。     

北斗三号全球导航卫星系统全球广播电离层延迟修正模型(BDGIM)应用性能评估

2020年6月23日,我国北斗三号全球导航卫星系统正式完成星座全球组网。北斗三号全球导航卫星系统采用新一代全球广播电离层延迟修正模型(BDGIM),为用户提供电离层延迟改正服务。本文利用高精度全球电离层格网(GIM)以及实测BDS/GPS数据提供的电离层TEC作为参考,从延迟改正精度及北斗单频伪距单点定位应用、模型系数性能等方面,对北斗三号系统组网前后(2020年5月1日至2020年7月20日)BDGIM模型的改正精度等应用性能进行了分析与研究,并将其与美国GPS播发的Klobuchar模型和北斗二号卫星导航系统播发的BDS Klobuchar模型进行对比。研究表明,BDGIM模型在对北斗三号系统组网完成前后电离层延迟修正精度没有发生显著变化。上述时段内,以国际GNSS服务(IGS)发布的最终GIM产品为参考,BDGIM模型在中国区域、亚太地区和全球范围内的电离层修正百分比分别达到84.45%、74.74%和64.57%;以选取的全球83个GNSS检测站BDS、GPS双频数据实测电离层TEC为参考,BDGIM在中国区域、亚太地区和全球范围内的电离层修正百分比分别为73.12%、70.18%及68.06%;当BDGIM模型应用于北斗单频伪距单点定位时,在中国区域、亚太地区和全球范围内分别实现了2.22、2.66和2.96 m的三维定位精度。     

Climatological study of ionospheric irregularities over the European mid-latitude sector with GPS

High-frequency variability of the ionosphere, or irregularities, constitutes the main threat for real-time precise positioning techniques based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) measurements. Indeed, during periods of enhanced ionospheric variability, GNSS users in the field—who cannot verify the integrity of their measurements—will experience positioning errors that can reach several decimeters, while the nominal accuracy of the technique is cm-level. In the frame of this paper, a climatological analysis of irregularities over the European mid-latitude region is presented. Based on a 10 years GPS dataset over Belgium, the work analyzes the occurrence rate (as a function of the solar cycle, season and local time) as well as the amplitude of ionospheric irregularities observed at a single GPS station. The study covers irregularities either due to space weather events (solar origin) or of terrestrial origin. If space weather irregularities are responsible for the largest effects in terms of ionospheric error, their occurrence rate highly depends on solar activity. Indeed, the occurrence rate of ionospheric irregularities is about 9 % during solar maximum, whereas it drops to about 0 % during medium or low solar activity periods. Medium-scale ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) occurring during daytime in autumn/winter are the most recurrent pattern of the time series, with yearly proportions slightly varying with the solar cycle and an amplitude of about 10 % of the TEC background. Another recurrent irregularity type, though less frequent than MSTIDs, is the noise-like variability in TEC observed during summer nighttime, under quiet geomagnetic conditions. These summer nighttime irregularities exhibit amplitudes ranging between 8 and 15 % of the TEC background.     

2015年尼泊尔地震的震前电离层异常探测

提出了一种基于奇异谱分析的电离层异常探测的方法。通过对尼泊尔地震震中周围GIM格网点TEC时间序列的探测,发现在2015年4月23日震中东部区域出现电离层正异常。进一步利用二维电离层地图分析异常空间分布,发现出现电离层正异常的区域为25°N-37.5°N,90°E-110°E,时间为2015年4月23日UT9:00-15:00。利用中国陆态网数据计算异常区域卫星穿刺点轨迹STEC变化情况,发现2015年4月23日穿刺点轨迹进入异常区域后STEC值比前后几天明显增大,而离开异常区域后又恢复正常。采用CIT(computerized ionosphere tomography)方法详细地呈现了电离层异常的三维形态,发现4月23日UT9:00-15:00在震中东部区域出现电离层正异常,峰值位于约30°N,115°E,高度范围为100~500 km,且异常峰值随高度变化与电离层本身垂直密度分布规律相一致。     

改进的GM-AR组合模型在电离层TEC预报中的应用

电离层总电子含量(TEC)是影响GPS导航定位精度的重要因素之一。因此对于电离层总电子含量的研究及准确预测可以大大提高GPS的定位精度。由于灰色预测模型在理论上可以进行中长期预测,但实际应用中随着时间的推移,其预测精度会随之下降,为解决这一问题,对GM(1,1)模型进行改进,并将改进后的GM(1,1)模型与时间序列模型组合。利用改进的GM-AR模型进行TEC预报,预报的精度比两种方法单独预测的精度有较大提高,并应用实例证明该方法的可行性。     

Monitoring storm-enhanced density using IGS reference station data

Storm-enhanced density (SED) is a geomagnetic storm phenomenon, characterized by a plume of enhanced total electron content (TEC) that initially moves poleward and sunward extending out from a larger region of enhanced TEC in the mid-latitudes. SED is associated with extreme mid-latitude space weather effects. Sharp gradients in the TEC are found along the borders of SED plumes and at the boundaries of the larger TEC region (the base of the plume). These large TEC gradients can cause significant errors in DGPS and WADGPS positioning and can result in serious consequences for applications such as railway control, highway traffic management, emergency response, commercial aviation and marine navigation, all of which require high precision, real-time positioning. Data from the global IGS network of GPS receivers have enabled the spatial and temporal visualization of these SED plumes, allowing ionospheric researchers to study this phenomenon and investigate the potential for developing prediction techniques and real-time warning systems. GPS TEC maps provided by analysis of the data from the IGS network have now been widely disseminated throughout the atmospheric research community and have become one of the standard means of studying the effects of geomagnetic storms on the ionosphere. These maps have enabled researchers to identify that the SED phenomenon occurs globally, is associated with large TEC gradients (at times greater than 100 TEC units per degree latitude), and is a magnetically conjugate phenomenon. This paper reports on the recent advances in our understanding of the SED phenomenon enabled by GPS observations.     

基于球谐函数区域电离层模型建立

利用GPS双频观测数据建立高精度、准实时的区域电离层总电子含量(TEC)模型是电离层研究的一个重要手段。文中探讨IGS观测站数据结合4阶球谐函数建立区域电离层格网模型的方法,并对硬件延迟(DCB)和TEC建模结果的可靠性进行分析,结果表明,DCB解算精度在0.4ns以内,TEC内外精度优于1.4TECU(1TECU=1016电子数/m2)和1.5TECU,满足导航定位中电离层改正的需要。     

电离层TEC的预测模型

电离层总电子含量（TEC）的精确预报对提高GNSS导航精度,保障无线电空间远程通讯具有重要作用。分析了IGS发布的电离层格网点总电子含量（TEC）的时间序列特点,基于时间序列分析理论,以AR模型对格网点TEC随机时间序列平稳化后建模和预报。实例分析表明,研究的预报技术和方法是可行的。     

The ionospheric impact of the October 2003 storm event on Wide Area Augmentation System

The United States Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for civil aircraft navigation is focused primarily on the Conterminous United States (CONUS). Other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) include the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and the Japanese Multi-transport Satellite-based Augmentation System (MSAS). Navigation using WAAS requires accurate calibration of ionospheric delays. To provide delay corrections for single frequency global positioning system (GPS) users, the wide-area differential GPS systems depend upon accurate determination of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) along radio links. Dual-frequency transmissions from GPS satellites have been used for many years to measure and map ionospheric TEC on regional and global scales. The October 2003 solar-terrestrial events are significant not only for their dramatic scale, but also for their unique phasing of solar irradiance and geomagnetic events. During 28 October, the solar X-ray and EUV irradiances were exceptionally high while the geomagnetic activity was relatively normal. Conversely, 29–31 October was geomagnetically active while solar irradiances were relatively low. These events had the most severe impact in recent history on the CONUS region and therefore had a significant effect on the WAAS performance. To help better understand the event and its impact on WAAS, we examine in detail the WAAS reference site (WRS) data consisting of triple redundant dual-frequency GPS receivers at 25 different locations within the US. To provide ground-truth, we take advantage of the three co-located GPS receivers at each WAAS reference site. To generate ground-truth and calibrate GPS receiver and transmitter inter-frequency biases, we process the GPS data using the Global Ionospheric Mapping (GIM) software developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This software allows us to compute calibrated high resolution observations of TEC. We found ionospheric range delays up to 35 m for the day-time CONUS during quiet conditions and up to 100 m during storm time conditions. For a quiet day, we obtained WAAS planar fit slant residuals less than 2 m (0.4 m root mean square (RMS)) and less than 25 m (3.4 m RMS) for the storm day. We also investigated ionospheric gradients, averaged over distances of a few hundred kilometers. The gradients were no larger than 0.5 m over 100 km for a quiet day. For the storm day, we found gradients at the 4 m level over 100 km. Similar level gradients are typically observed in the low-latitude region for quiet or storm conditions.     

GNSS电离层监测研究进展与展望

电离层作为近地空间环境的重要组成部分,对电波通信、卫星导航定位等都有重要影响。监测电离层形态结构有助于对电离层时空演化特征的理解及其建模和预测。随着全球导航卫星系统(global navigation satellite system,GNSS)的快速发展,GNSS电离层监测已成为重要的研究和应用方向。系统介绍了GNSS多维电离层监测及其应用的研究现状和进展,主要包括空基/地基GNSS联合反演电离层特征参数、层析技术反演电离层三维结构、电离层延迟建模、电离层异常扰动监测及机理认知等内容。     

Tridimensional reconstruction of the Co-Seismic Ionospheric Disturbance around the time of 2015 Nepal earthquake

The Co-Seismic Ionospheric Disturbance of the 2015 Nepal earthquake is analyzed in this paper. GNSS data are used to obtain the Satellite-Station TEC sequences. After removing the de-trended TEC variation, a clear ionospheric disturbance was observed 10 min after the earthquake, while the geomagnetic conditions, solar activity, and weather condition remained calm according to the Kp, Dst, F10.7 indices and meteorological records during the period of interest. Computerized ionosphere tomography (CIT) is then used to present the tridimensional ionosphere variation with a 10-min time resolution. The CIT results indicate that (1) the disturbance of the ionospheric electron density above the epicenter during the 2015 Nepal earthquake is confined at a relatively low altitude (approximately 150–300 km); (2) the ionospheric disturbances on the west side and east sides of the epicenter are precisely opposite. A newly established electric field penetration model of the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling is used to investigate the potential physical mechanism.