Investigations of the Nature and Behavior of Plasma-Density Disturbances That May Impact GPS and Other Transionospheric Systems
Abstract
As solar maximum approaches, the 'space-weather' vulnerability of systems that depend upon transionospheric radio propagation will increase. Likely effects include variable range errors in the Global Positioning System (GPS) due to variations in ionospheric 'total electron content' (TEC), spatial gradients in such errors, and the scintillation' of signals employed in a variety of navigation, communication, and other systems. This report summarizes research performed in the first year of a contract aimed at: (a) investigating the behavior of naturally occurring variations in TEC and the plasma-density irregularities that produce scintillation as solar activity increases, and (b) observing such phenomena and others that may be produced artificially by means of high-frequency (HF) heating of the ionosphere in the HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). The first-year efforts included collection and processing of TEC data from USAF's Ionospheric Measuring System (IMS); campaign operation of a portable ionospheric monitor for measurement of TEC and scintillation at Ascension Island; preliminary assessment of plasmaspheric contribution to TEC; and coordinating development of a variety of diagnostic instruments for HAARP.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 21, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA402166
Entities
People
- A. J. Mazzella Jr.
- E. A. Holland
- E. J. Fremouw
Organizations
- Northwest Research Associates