Investigation of Ionospheric Scintillation and Total Electron Content during Maximum and Minimum Solar Cycle

Abstract

The global positioning system (GPS) signal that is transmitted from satellite to receiver will be disturbed and degraded in the atmosphere layers due to many factors affecting the signal quality, especially in the ionosphere layer which is an ionised layer in upper atmosphere. Ionospheric scintillation and Total Electron Content (TEC) depletions are the most famous factors that can cause serious effects on GPS signal. This research investigates and analyses the measurement of the ionospheric amplitude scintillation and TEC depletions at quiet and disturbed day. The other parameters involved on this study are the carrier-to-noise (C/No) ratio, and rate of change of TEC (ROT). Data from GISTM receiver at UKM station for minimum solar cycle event were analysed on 5 April 2010 (quiet day) and 7 January 2010 (disturbed day); whereas, data from GISTM for maximum solar cycle event were analysed on 7 October 2015 (quiet day) and 2 June 2015 (disturbed day). The solar cycle event affected on the GPS signal especially when this event increased, so the analysis of ionospheric scintillation during maximum solar cycle event was compared with minimum solar cycle event to investigate the differences between these solar cycle events. The ionospheric scintillation and TEC variations are affected by solar cycle. Results showed that the ionospheric scintillation and TEC variations increased during maximum solar cycle event.