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Effects of ionospheric disturbances on GPS observation in low latitude area

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Abstract

In this paper, ionospheric disturbance data from a local GPS network in Hong Kong (low latitude region) are studied in the solar maximum period (2001–2003). The spatial and temporal distributions of the disturbances in Hong Kong are investigated. It is found that strong ionospheric disturbances occur frequently during the solar maximum period, particularly around March and September, and concentrate at the region around geographic latitude 22°N (geomagnetic latitude 12°N). The effects of the disturbances on GPS geodetic receivers, such as loss of lock and measurement noise level, are also analyzed for the 3-year period. It shows that the measurement noise level and the number of losses of lock in GPS data increase dramatically during ionospheric disturbance periods. The behaviors of different types of GPS receivers during the disturbances are also compared.

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Acknowledgments

This study is under the support by the Hong Kong RGC projects: PolyU 5075/01E and PolyU 5062/02E. It is also partially supported by the Chinese National Nature Science Foundation (No. 40474067).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Wu Chen, Shan Gao, Congwei Hu, Yongqi Chen & Xiaoli Ding

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  1. Wu Chen
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  2. Shan Gao
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  3. Congwei Hu
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  4. Yongqi Chen
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  5. Xiaoli Ding
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Correspondence to Wu Chen.

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Chen, W., Gao, S., Hu, C. et al. Effects of ionospheric disturbances on GPS observation in low latitude area. GPS Solut 12, 33–41 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-007-0062-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-007-0062-z

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