Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ionospheric super-bubble effects on the GPS positioning relative to the orientation of signal path and geomagnetic field direction

  • Original Article
  • Published:
GPS Solutions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using GPS data of the Japanese network GEONET, we analyze occurrence of GPS-phase slips and positioning errors during the geomagnetic storm of February 12, 2000. Although the storm was not intensive, registering a minimum Dst excursion of −133 nT and a maximum Kp = 6.7 value, it attracted the attention of researchers because of the appearance of a super-bubble at mid-latitudes. We identified numerous GPS-phase slips in the area of the super-bubble. By the time of the bubble’s appearance, a total of 33% of GPS receivers experienced positioning errors of more than 500 m. Around 13:00 UT, the positioning quality was worse than 100 m almost all of Japan. We also found that the occurrence of phase slips of the satellite signals depends on the angle γ between the receiver-satellite line of sight and geomagnetic field lines. The maximum value of GPS-phase slips corresponds to γ = 0° and 90°. For the satellites positioned close to the magnetic zenith region, the density of phase slips reached 32%. In addition to carrier-phase slips, the super-bubble caused sharp increases in positioning errors of several hundred meters at receiver locations below 38°N latitude. As a result, precise positioning was not possible for about 2 h.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afraimovich EL, Lesyuta OS, Ushakov II, Voeykov SV (2002) Geomagnetic storms and the occurrence of phase slips in the reception of GPS signals. Ann Geophys 45(1):55–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Afraimovich EL, Astafieva EI, Demyanov VV, Gamayunov IF (2009) Mid-latitude amplitude scintillation of GPS signals and GPS performance slips. Adv Space Res 43:964–972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson PC, Straus PR (2005) Magnetic field orientation control of GPS occultation observations of equatorial scintillation. Geophys Res Lett 32:L21107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke WJ, Donatelli DE, Sagalyn RC, Kelley MC (1979) Low density regions observed at high altitudes and their connection with equatorial spread F. Planet Space Sci 27:593–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang C-S, Foster JC, Sahai Y (2007) Significant depletions of the ionospheric plasma density at middle latitudes: a possible signature of equatorial spread F bubbles near the plasmapause. J Geophys Res 112:A05315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hysell DL (2000) An overview and synthesis of plasma irregularities in equatorial spread F. J Atmos Solar Terr Phys 62:1037–1056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledvina BM, Makela JJ (2005) First observations of SBAS/WAAS scintillations: using collocated scintillation measurements and all-sky images to study equatorial plasma bubbles. Geophys Res Lett 32:L14101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma G, Maruyama T (2006) A super bubble detected by dense GPS network at east Asian longitudes. Geophys Res Lett 33:L21103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obara T, Oya H (1994) EXOS-B (Jikiken) observations of the field aligned plasma density depletion at high altitude region. In: Kuo F-S (ed) Low-latitude ionospheric physics COSPAR Colloquia Sen V. 7. Elsevier, New York, p 275

    Google Scholar 

  • Skone SH (2001) The impact of magnetic storms on GPS receiver performance. Geodesy 75(9–10):457–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh KC, Liu CH (1982) Radio wave scintillations in the ionosphere. Proc IEEE 70(4):324–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof. M. V. Tinin for his interest in this work and valuable discussions and to Dr. I. V. Zhivetiev for his help in the preliminary data preparation. We acknowledge the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan for providing the GEONET data. The work is supported by the RFBR grant 10-05-00113, the Russian Federation President Grant MК-2194.2011.5 and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (project 14.740.11.0078).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Irkutsk State Railway University, 15, Chernyshevskiy Street, 664074, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

    V. V. Demyanov

  2. Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics SB RAS, 126a, Lermontov Street, 664033, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

    Yu. V. Yasyukevich, A. B. Ishin & E. I. Astafyeva

  3. Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, 4, Avenue de Neptune, 94107, Saint Maur des Fossés, France

    E. I. Astafyeva

Authors
  1. V. V. Demyanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu. V. Yasyukevich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. B. Ishin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. I. Astafyeva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu. V. Yasyukevich.

Additional information

The article is dedicated to the memory of Prof. E. L. Afraimovich who founded the Irkutsk scientific school for GPS sounding and who effectively worked in this field for years.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Demyanov, V.V., Yasyukevich, Y.V., Ishin, A.B. et al. Ionospheric super-bubble effects on the GPS positioning relative to the orientation of signal path and geomagnetic field direction. GPS Solut 16, 181–189 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-011-0217-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-011-0217-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation