Abstract
Abstract We investigated failures in the GPS performance produced by extremely dense solar radio burst fluxes associated with the intense (X3.4 in GOES classification) solar flare and Halo CME recorded by SOHO/LASCO on December 13, 2006. According to substantial experimental evidence, high-precision GPS positioning on the entire sunlit side of the Earth was partially disrupted for more than 12–15 min; the high level of GPS slips resulted from the wideband solar radio noise emission. Our results are in agreement with the data obtained recently for the extreme solar radio burst on December 6, 2006, and provide a sound basis for revising the role of space weather factors in the functioning of state-of-the-art satellite systems and for taking a more thorough account of these factors in their development and operation.
Highlights
Strong solar activity observed on December 6 and 13, 2006; i.e., during the solar cycle 23 minimum, was absolutely unexpected
It is necessary to note that the threshold ε, at which GPS receiver failures occur at high zenith angle, does not exceed 20,000 sfu (as indicated by a horizontal line in panel (a))
We found that high-precision GPS positioning on the entire sunlit side of the Earth was partially disrupted during the extreme solar-radio burst on December 13, 2006, for more than 12–15 min; a high level of GPS slips resulted from wideband solar radio noise emission
Summary
Strong solar activity observed on December 6 and 13, 2006; i.e., during the solar cycle 23 minimum, was absolutely unexpected. Its study and analyses of the consequences for the space environment are not complete yet This kind of solar activity is of great interest to astronomers and radio astronomers, but to other scientists and engineers, as well. The powerful solar radio burst (SRB) on December 6, 2006, led to failures in the functioning of wideband satellite radio systems including the GPS. Worldwide failures of the GPS due to extreme solar activity in December 2006 are still a matter of debate. This problem is of doubtless scientific and practical interest as regards to the estimation of the space weather effect on the functioning of one of the most powerful and reliable satellite systems considered practically impregnable. Using data from the global network of dual-frequency GPS receivers, Afraimovich et al (2007) found significant evidence that the high-precision GPS positioning on the entire sunlit side of the Earth was paralyzed for more than 10 minutes on December 6, 2006
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
