COSMIC低轨卫星GPS接收机差分码偏差估计

GPS接收机差分码偏差（Differential Code Bias,DCB）是利用COSMIC低轨卫星观测值反演电离层总电子含量TEC的一项重要误差源.本文将COSMIC卫星轨道高度以上的电离层作为一个单层,采用球谐函数来参数化电离层TEC值,并利用最小二乘法同时估算电离层球谐系数和DCB参数.运用这种方法对2012年12月份的所有COSMIC卫星GPS接收机DCB进行了解算,并与COSMIC数据分析与档案中心CDAAC提供的产品进行了比较.实验结果表明：在2012年12月期间,估计的接收机DCB与CDAAC结果符合的较好,二者DCB变化趋势相近,DCB差值的RMS值在2 TECU以内,且最大绝对差值小于3 TECU;此外,本文计算的接收机DCB估计误差主要分布在0.2~0.4 TECU之间,具有较高的内符合精度.     

电离层GPS掩星观测改正TEC反演方法

电离层掩星观测中,当低轨卫星（LEO）轨道高度较低时,轨道以上的电离层电子总含量（TEC）对掩星反演的影响不能忽略.目前,一般采用指数函数等外推方法来处理该问题,对反演结果可能引起较大误差.为提高电离层掩星反演精度,本文研究利用LEO处于非掩星一侧GPS观测数据的改正TEC新反演方法.用三维射线追踪程序计算出电离层掩星观测模拟数据,分别应用改正TEC方法和外推方法进行反演,将反演结果与所用模式值进行比较.结果表明：对于轨道高度约800km的GPS/MET掩星模拟数据,外推方法和改正TEC方法反演结果都与模式值基本一致;对于轨道高度约400km的CHAMP掩星模拟数据,外推方法误差较大,改正TEC方法反演结果与模式值相符得较好.将改正TEC方法应用于GPS/MET实测数据的反演,取得了合理的结果.这些说明,改正TEC算法是一种有效的电离层掩星反演方法,尤其是对于轨道较低的LEO的电离层掩星观测反演特别有用.     

电离层GPS掩星反演技术研究

GPS无线电掩星技术是崭新的、高效的地球大气层和电离层探测技术,但仍在发展和完善之中.本文详细推导了Abel积分和绝对TEC电离层反演方法,研究了如何解决Abel积分产生的上下限异常问题;用COSMIC发布的GPS原始数据进行了反演计算,将结果与地面电离层测高仪数据进行了比较,最后讨论了周跳对反演结果的影响问题.结果表明：（1）在较高轨道高度（约800 km）,Abel积分与绝对TEC方法的反演结果基本一致,都与电离层测高仪反演结果符合良好;在较低轨道高度（约500 km）,绝对TEC反演精度优于Abel积分反演精度;（2）绝对TEC反演的最大电子密度N_m较Abel积分法获得的结果更接近于电离层测高获得的峰值电子密度N_mF₂,绝对TEC反演法更加严密和有效;（3）周跳对绝对TEC反演结果的影响较Abel积分反演结果的影响更为敏感,但无论哪种方法,周跳对反演精度都造成严重损失.综合而言,绝对TEC反演法是更优的方法.     

基于等离子体GCPM模型对电离层薄壳模型高度的仿真研究

在基于GPS数据提取电离层总电子含量(TEC)的过程中,电离层薄壳高度的选择对解算电离层垂直TEC的精度有很大的影响.但由于不可能获得一个真实的从电离层D层到GPS卫星高度的电子密度剖面,关于电离层薄壳高度的选择一直是基于GPS数据解算电离层TEC方法中关注的一个问题.本文利用等离子体GCPM模型,对太阳活动高年(2002)和太阳活动低年(2008)情况下电离层有效薄壳高度的选择进行了仿真计算.结果表明,最佳的薄壳高度在2002年为560 km,而在2008年为695 km.通过对全球八个具有代表性地点的仿真计算,揭示了有效薄壳高度更复杂的变化特点.在白天,最佳薄壳的高度变化不大(500 km至750 km);但在夜晚,最佳薄壳高度变化范围很大,甚至可以超过2000 km.此外,本文还对不同卫星仰角的情况下斜向TEC转换为垂直TEC的误差进行了分析,结果表明:随着卫星仰角的增加,薄壳模型带来的转换误差基本上是单调减少的.因而,在实际应用中,尽可能地采用大仰角的卫星数据有助于提高解算的电离层垂直TEC的精度.最后,对全球不同地点的电离层TEC的仿真研究表明,在电子密度水平梯度较大的地区,应用电离层薄壳模型时会导致电子密度较高处的TEC被高估,而电子密度较低处的TEC被低估,在分析基于GPS数据提取的电离层TEC空间变化时要认识到这一点.     

Abel电离层掩星反演方法及误差分析

GNSS-LEO电离层无线电掩星技术是近年来发展的电离层探测新技术.为消除LEO轨道以上的电离层影响,改正TEC反演方法采用非掩星侧的观测数据进行电离层掩星反演.本文首次提出了一种新方法--基于历元差分的电离层反演方法;并将改正TEC与历元差分两种反演方法应用于模拟掩星观测数据反演,随后基于反演结果及误差分析得到一些有益的结论:历元差分反演精度较改正TEC反演精度均有所提高;不管是哪种方法,高轨(约800 km)反演结果要优于低轨(约500 km)的反演结果;随着剖面高度的降低,反演精度随之下降;反演误差主要集中在8至18时(当地时),主要分布在磁纬-30°至30°之间.     

电离层GPS掩星观测反演技术

在电离层局部地区球对称假设下,推导了利用双频和单频无线电掩星观测数据,反演电离层电子密度剖面的两种方法. 双频反演的误差来自于载波相位的观测误差,单频反演误差则主要由伪距的观测精度决定. 由于载波相位测量精度比伪距测量精度高两个量级,因此双频反演的精度一般比单频反演的高些. 不过,两载波信号L1和L2之间的传播路径差异会给双频方法带来误差. 利用三维射线追踪的程序模拟的无线电掩星数据来评估这些方法,结果表明,反演出的电离层剖面与给定的模式电离层非常吻合,验证了两种方法的可靠性和准确性. 将这两种反演方法应用于处理实测的GPS/MET掩星观测数据,均能获取合理的电离层剖面信息. 且单频方法得到的反演剖面与双频方法相当一致, 这为利用LEO星载单频GPS接收机进行电离层掩星观测提供了理论基础.     

基于北斗、GLONASS和GPS系统的中低纬电离层特性联合探测

基于GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite Systems)的发展,我们利用具有北斗、GLONASS和GPS三系统信号接收功能的接收机观测的数据,结合电离层总电子含量(Total Electron Content, TEC)的反演算法,提取出GNSS三系统观测的电离层TEC;同时,将GNSS三系统获取的TEC应用到电离层TEC地图、行进式扰动、不规则体结构和电离层的太阳耀斑响应等方面的研究中,这也是首次使用三种GNSS系统数据对电离层进行联合探测研究.研究结果表明,增加了北斗系统的GNSS三系统在研究中国地区电离层TEC地图、周日变化、逐日变化,行进式扰动以及电离层的实时监测等方面较单系统的GPS具有明显的优势.     

基于GPS探测汶川地震电离层TEC的异常

利用球谐模型和中国地壳运动观测网络及IGS（International GNSS Service）基准站的GPS观测数据,分别计算了中国区域及全球电离层电子总含量（Total Electron Content,TEC）,采用了不同的统计分析方法,对汶川震中上空及邻近区域的TEC进行检查.结果发现：震前后一个星期,孕震区上空连续出现电离层异常扰动,其异常形态具有共轭结构,且呈现向磁赤道漂移趋势.     

利用GPS观测数据和IRI模型对比分析太阳活动低年广州地区电离层TEC变化

电离层TEC是描述电离层特性的一个重要参量,利用GPS观测数据（包括广州站接收的GPS-TEC数据和国际GNSS提供的IGS-TEC数据）与IRI-2007模型计算的TEC预测值对太阳活动低年2008年的广州地区TEC周日和季节变化以及年变化特征等进行了多方面的对比分析。结果表明：TEC观测值白天较高且变化迅速,夜间较低且变化缓慢,同时表现出明显的季节依赖性和半年变化特性,全年在春秋分季节出现两次峰值,IRI-TEC预测值能较好地反映GPS观测值,但局部上也存在着一些偏差,并对其中的物理机制和产生差异的原因给出了合理的分析和解释。     

基于Swarm卫星GPS/TEC观测的顶部电离层三维电子密度分布的层析法研究

利用两颗伴飞的Swarm A/C卫星搭载的双频GPS接收机获取的TEC数据,在两个卫星轨道平面同时对顶部电离层电子密度进行层析成像,实现对顶部电离层电子密度的三维观测.为了能够重现扰动期间电离层电子密度的空间变化特征,在正则化求解过程中,我们引入了水平矩阵H和垂直矩阵V刻画电子密度的空间变化特征,引入整体约束矩阵C以调节不同空间对电子密度相对变化的权重.数值验证结果表明我们的算法对常见的观测误差具有较强的包容性,反演计算出的电子密度平均偏差优于10%.在不同地磁活动条件下,与第三方观测数据的对比,验证了本文反演算法的可靠性.实测数据反演结果表明我们的算法不仅能够较好地重现顶部电离层子午向百公里级别的不规则结构,还能有效分辨纬向相隔~150 km的两个卫星轨道平面的电子密度差异.     

Dependence of the ionospheric response on the solar flare parameters based on the theoretical modeling and GPS data

The measurements of an increase in the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere during solar flares, obtained based on the GPS data, indicated that up to 30% of TEC increments corresponded to the ionospheric regions above 300 km altitude in some cases, and TEC increased mainly below altitudes of 300 km in other cases. The theoretical model of the ionosphere and plasmasphere was used to study the obtained effects. The altitude-time variations in the charged particle density in the ionospheric region from 100 to 1000 km were used depending on the solar flare spectrum. An analysis of the modeling results indicated that an intensification of the flare UV emission in the 55–65 and 85–95 nm spectral ranges results in a pronounced increase in the electron density in the topside ionosphere (above 300 km). The experimental dependences of the ionospheric TEC response amplitude on the localization and peak power of flares on the Sun in the X-ray range, obtained based on the GPS data, are also presented in the work.     

利用GPS监测电离层不均匀结构探讨

利用上海地区GPS综合应用网提供的高时空分辨率的双频GPS观测资料,研究了该区域内一电离层不均匀体的产生、消亡过程.首先,采用Kalman滤波的方法改善双频伪距之差的观测精度,并利用参数估计的方法计算该时段内相应的硬件延迟.再根据电离层单层模型,利用GPS双频观测量、测站位置和GPS精密星历,求出GPS信号穿刺点的坐标和垂直方向电离层的电子含量;然后内插并获取其等值线图.等值线图随时间的变化表明,受等离子体湍流的影响,2003年9月8日北京时间9时40分左右在38°N、118°E左右产生了一电离层不均匀体,其尺度大约在50km左右,生存时间大约为5min.受地球重力场和高空风场的影响,该不均匀体向东北方向扩散.然后,利用大气扩散模型,按扩散方程计算分析了该不均匀体可能发生的电离层层区.理论计算表明,该不均匀体发生在电离层扩展F区,高度在350km左右.     

Anomalous modification of the ionospheric total electron content prior to the 26 September 2005 Peru earthquake

This paper investigates the features of pre-earthquake ionospheric anomalies in the total electron content (TEC) data obtained on the basis of regular GPS observations from the International GNSS Service (IGS) network. For the analysis of the ionospheric effects of the 26 September 2005 Peru earthquake, Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) of TEC were used. The possible influence of the earthquake preparation processes on the main low-latitude ionosphere peculiarity—the equatorial anomaly—is discussed. Analysis of the TEC maps has shown that modification of the equatorial anomaly occurred a few days before the earthquake. In previous days, during the evening and night hours (local time—LT), a specific transformation of the TEC distribution had taken place. This modification took the shape of a double-crest structure with a trough near the epicenter, though usually in this time the restored normal latitudinal distribution with a maximum near the magnetic equator is observed. Additional measurements (CHAMP satellite) have also confirmed the presence of this structure. To compare the vertical TEC measurements obtained with GPS satellite signals (GPS TEC), the International Reference Ionosphere, IRI-2001, was used for calculating the IRI TEC.     

A Method for the Ionospheric Delay Estimation and Interpolation in a Local GPS Network

To estimate ionospheric delays from the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements, satellite and receiver equipment biases have to be modeled. This paper presents a procedure based on the least squares (LS) approach, which implicitly takes into account these equipment biases in the estimation of the ionospheric effect. The second part of this work deals with the interpolation of the ionospheric correction from a permanent GPS network to a single frequency GPS user. The results obtained show that for 10-cm position accuracy the ionospheric delay can be successfully interpolated when the GPS user is within 40 km of the GPS permanent network.     

Automated daily process for global ionospheric total electron content maps and satellite ocean altimeter ionospheric calibration based on Global Positioning System data

The accuracy of single-frequency ocean altimeters benefits from calibration of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere below the satellite. Data from a global network of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers provides timely, continuous, and globally well-distributed measurements of ionospheric electron content. For several months we have been running a daily automatic Global Ionospheric Map process which inputs global GPS data and climatological ionosphere data into a Kalman filter, and produces global ionospheric TEC maps and ocean altimeter calibration data within 24 h of the end-of-day. Other groups have successfully applied this output to altimeter data from the GFO satellite and in orbit determination for the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. Daily comparison of the global TEC maps with independent TEC data from the TOPEX altimeter is performed as a check on the calibration whenever the TOPEX data are available. Comparisons of the global TEC maps against TOPEX data will be discussed. Accuracy is best at mid-to-high absolute latitudes (∣latitude∣>30°) due to the better geographic distribution of GPS receivers and the relative simplicity of the ionosphere. Our highly data-driven technique is relatively less accurate at low latitudes and especially during ionospheric storm periods, due to the relative scarcity of GPS receivers and the structure and volatility of the ionosphere. However, it is still significantly more accurate than climatological models.     

GPS-based ionospheric corrections for single frequency radar altimetry

The global ionospheric total electron content maps (GIMs) provide integrated electron densities between the ground and the GPS satellite altitude (20,200 km). Satellite altimeter ionospheric delay corrections require integrated electron densities between the ground and altimeter satellite altitude. In the case of the Geosat Follow-On (GFO) spacecraft, flying at 800 km, we estimated that using GIM TEC data alone, up to a 2 cm path delay can be introduced into the GFO measurements for high solar activity period by not taking into account the electron content above this altitude. Furthermore, the GIMs can have errors of 20–30 TECU in low latitudes for high solar activity in areas where there is little GPS data (such as over the oceans). In this paper, we describe the results of ingesting GIM TEC data into the International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-95) to mitigate these two effects.     

Reconstructing Regional Ionospheric Electron Density: A Combined Spherical Slepian Function and Empirical Orthogonal Function Approach

The computerized ionospheric tomography is a method for imaging the Earth’s ionosphere using a sounding technique and computing the slant total electron content (STEC) values from data of the global positioning system (GPS). The most common approach for ionospheric tomography is the voxel-based model, in which (1) the ionosphere is divided into voxels, (2) the STEC is then measured along (many) satellite signal paths, and finally (3) an inversion procedure is applied to reconstruct the electron density distribution of the ionosphere. In this study, a computationally efficient approach is introduced, which improves the inversion procedure of step 3. Our proposed method combines the empirical orthogonal function and the spherical Slepian base functions to describe the vertical and horizontal distribution of electron density, respectively. Thus, it can be applied on regional and global case studies. Numerical application is demonstrated using the ground-based GPS data over South America. Our results are validated against ionospheric tomography obtained from the constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere, and climate (COSMIC) observations and the global ionosphere map estimated by international centers, as well as by comparison with STEC derived from independent GPS stations. Using the proposed approach, we find that while using 30 GPS measurements in South America, one can achieve comparable accuracy with those from COSMIC data within the reported accuracy (1 × 10¹¹ el/cm³) of the product. Comparisons with real observations of two GPS stations indicate an absolute difference is less than 2 TECU (where 1 total electron content unit, TECU, is 10¹⁶ electrons/m²).