Apparatus and Method for Ionospheric Mapping.

Abstract

This invention is a unique single-site method of determining the local total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere and its space-time variation using a global positioning system (GPS) ionospheric receiver. The TEC of the ionosphere is specified in terms of a space-time map of the local TEC in the vicinity of the receiver. Differential group and phase path data between two L-band frequencies (L1 and L2) for a plurality of the GPS satellites in view of the receiver station are analyzed by a least squares technique to extract both the ten parameters of a full second order space-time polynomial expansion for the vertical TEC (VTEC) and the differential delay biases associated with the space vehicles (SVs). The method is applicable to day and nighttime data.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 03, 1994
Accession Number
ADD016358

Entities

People

  • Sheldon B. Gardner

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Electrons
  • Frequency
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Inventions
  • Ionosphere
  • L Band
  • Navigation Satellites
  • Navigational Aids
  • Navigational Equipment
  • Polynomials
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Components
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space