Abstract
AbstractThe processing of measurement data from satellite constellations such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including the well-known Global Positioning System (GPS), have been successfully applied to virtually all areas of geophysical sciences. In this work, a method is described where Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are employed to build hourly ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) maps for 2011 over the southern Iberian Peninsula. The maps used GPS-derived geometryfree linear combinations attained from station data from the Algarve, Alentejo (Portugal), Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia (Spain) regions. Following the construction of the ionospheric maps, it was possible to relate these results to natural phenomena. The observed phenomena included diurnal and seasonal variations: daytime TEC maxima, nighttime TEC peaks, summer TEC value decreases, and spring and fall TEC maxima. After validation of these periodic phenomena, detection of non-periodic changes, such as solar flares and tectonic interactions with the ionosphere were attempted. The results showed a TEC increase following a selected solar flare event and a potential TEC build-up prior to the 2011 Lorca earthquake. Further studies could open up the possibility of building early warning systems. The presented methods, based on available software packages, are also of value in monitoring the effect of the ionosphere on radio signals, satellite and mobile communication, power grids, and for accurate GNSS navigation.
Highlights
The ionosphere is the subject of extensive scienti c research mainly due to the fact that it a ects the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) signals
Jin et al (2011) argue that Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites are capable of providing even more accurate detection of ionospheric parameters than traditional ionospheric detection methods such as ionosondes, scatter radars, topside sounders, onboard satellites, and in situ rockets, and at a cheaper user cost. They developed a piece of software called Regional Ionospheric Mapping and Tomography (RIMT), which can monitor 2D Total Electron Content (TEC) and map 3D ionospheric electron density distribution using GPS measurements
The Receiver INdependent EXchange (RINEX) data les had to be collected separately from the Red Andaluza de Posicionamiento maintained by the Spanish Junta de Andalucia, Red de Estaciones de Referencia GPS de Murcia maintained by the Spanish Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia, and Red de Estaciones de Referencia Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) de Valencia maintained by the Spanish Generalitat Valenciana
Summary
The ionosphere is the subject of extensive scienti c research mainly due to the fact that it a ects the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) signals. The ionosphere can be mapped regionally or globally, depending on the study area and the available ground GNSS stations Prior literature such as in Camargo et al (2000), Georgiadou (1994), Leick (1995), Orús et al (2003), Ping et al (2002 and 2003), and Taylor et al (2006) provides a comprehensive theoretical background for GPSderived ionospheric TEC modeling. Jin et al (2011) argue that GPS satellites are capable of providing even more accurate detection of ionospheric parameters than traditional ionospheric detection methods such as ionosondes, scatter radars, topside sounders, onboard satellites, and in situ rockets, and at a cheaper user cost They developed a piece of software called Regional Ionospheric Mapping and Tomography (RIMT), which can monitor 2D TEC and map 3D ionospheric electron density distribution using GPS measurements. Having up to 1Hz GNSS data availability, high temporal resolution mapping can be carried out. Orús et al (2003) and Ping et al (2003), used data from regional and global GPS networks which were utilized to build Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) and Regional Ionospheric Maps (RIMs) over Europe and Japan
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