HR: 1340h
AN: SA33B-1328 [Abstracts]
TI: Ionospheric Scintillation Effects on GPS
AU: Steenburgh, R A
EM: robert.steenburgh@noaa.gov
AF: 2d Weather Squadron, OL-P
Space Environment Center, W/NP9
325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80305, Boulder, CO 80305, United States
AU: * Smithtro, C
EM: Christopher.Smithtro@afit.edu
AF: Air Force Institute of Technology
Department of Engineering Physics, 2950 Hobson Way
Bldg 640, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433, United States
AU: Groves, K
EM: Keith.Groves@hanscom.af.mil
AF: Air Force Research Laboratory/VSBXI, 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-3010,
United States
AB:
Abstract. Ionospheric scintillation of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals threatens navigation and military
operations by degrading performance or making GPS unavailable. Scintillation is particularly active, although not
limited to, a belt encircling the earth within 20 degrees of the geomagnetic equator. As GPS applications and
users increases, so does the potential for detrimental impacts from scintillation. We examined amplitude
scintillation data spanning seven years from Ascension Island, U.K.; Ancon, Peru; and Antofagasta, Chile in the
Atlantic/Americas longitudinal sector at as well as data from Parepare, Indonesia; Marak Parak, Malaysia;
Pontianak, Indonesia; Guam; and Diego Garcia, U.K.; in the Pacific longitudinal sector. From these data, we
calculate percent probability of occurrence of scintillation at various intensities described by the S4 index.
Additionally, we determine Dilution of Precision at one minute resolution. We examine diurnal, seasonal and
solar cycle characteristics and make spatial comparisons. In general, activity was greatest during the equinoxes
and solar maximum, although scintillation at Antofagasta, Chile was higher during 1998 rather than at solar
maximum.
DE: 2439 Ionospheric irregularities
DE: 6934 Ionospheric propagation (0689, 2487, 3285, 4275, 4455)
DE: 6979 Space and satellite communication
DE: 7944 Ionospheric effects on radio waves
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting