Assessment of corrected time-step method for nominal ionospheric gradient calculation: A comparative analysis with spatial approaches

The effect of ionospheric delay on the ground-based augmentation system under normal conditions can be mitigated by determining the value of the nominal ionospheric gradient(σvig).The nominal ionospheric gradient is generally obtained from Continuously Operating Reference Stations data by using the spatial single-difference method(mixed-pair,station-pair,or satellite-pair)or the temporal single-difference method(time-step).The time-step method uses only a single receiver,but it still contains ionospheric temporal variations.We introduce a corrected time-step method using a fixed-ionospheric pierce point from the geostationary equatorial orbit satellite and test it through simulations based on the global ionospheric model.We also investigate the effect of satellite paths on the corrected time-step method in the region of the equator,which tends to be in a more north–south direction and to have less coverage for the east–west ionospheric gradient.This study also addresses the limitations of temporal variation correction coverage and recommends using only the correction from self-observations.All processes are developed under simulations because observational data are still difficult to obtain.Our findings demonstrate that the corrected time-step method yieldsσvig values consistent with other approaches.

Evaluation of regional ionospheric grid model over China from dense GPS observations

The current global or regional ionospheric models have been established for monitoring the ionospheric variations. However, the spatial and temporal resolutions are not enough to describe total electron content（TEC） variations in small scales for China. In this paper, a regional ionospheric grid model（RIGM） with high spatial-temporal resolution（0.5 0.5 and 10-min interval） in China and surrounding areas is established based on spherical harmonics expansion from dense GPS measurements provided by Crustal Movement Observation Network of China（CMONOC） and the International GNSS Service（IGS）. The correlation coefficient between the estimated TEC from GPS and the ionosonde measurements is 0.97, and the root mean square（RMS） with respect to Center for Orbit Determination in Europe（CODE） Global Ionosphere Maps（GIMs） is 4.87 TECU. In addition, the impact of different spherical harmonics orders and degrees on TEC estimations are evaluated and the degree/order 6 is better. Moreover, effective ionospheric shell heights from300 km to 700 km are further assessed and the result indicates that 550 km is the most suitable for regional ionospheric modeling in China at solar maximum.

Quasi-4-dimension ionospheric modeling and its application in PPP

Ionospheric delay modeling is not only important for Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)based space weather study and monitoring,but also an efficient tool to speed up the convergence time of Precise Point Positioning(PPP).In this study,a novel model,denoted as Quasi-4-Dimension Ionospheric Modeling(Q4DIM)is proposed for wide-area high precision ionospheric delay correction.In Q4DIM,the Line Of Sight(LOS)ionospheric delays from a GNSS station network are divided into different clusters according to not only the location of latitude and longitude,but also satellite elevation and azimuth.Both Global Ionosphere Map(GIM)and Slant Ionospheric Delay(SID)models that are traditionally used for wide-area and regional ionospheric delay modeling,respectively,can be regarded as the special cases of Q4DIM by defining proper grids in latitude,longitude,elevation,and azimuth.Thus,Q4DIM presents a resilient model that is capable for both wide-area coverage and high precision.Four different sets of clusters are defined to illustrate the properties of Q4DIM based on 200 EUREF Permanent Network(EPN)stations.The results indicate that Q4DIM is compatible with the GIM products.Moreover,it is proved that by inducting the elevation and azimuth angle dependent residuals,the precision of the 2-dimensional GIM-like model,i.e.,Q4DIM 2-Dimensional(Q4DIM-2D),is improved from around 1.5 Total Electron Content Units(TECU)to better than 0.5 TECU.In addition,treating Q4DIM as a 4-dimensional matrix in latitude,longitude,elevation,and azimuth,whose sparsity is less than 5%,can result in its feasibility in a bandwidth-sensitive applications,e.g.,satellite-based Precising Point Positioning Real-Time Kinematic(PPP-RTK)service.Finally,the advantages of Q4DIM in PPP over the 2-dimensional models are demonstrated with the one month's data from 30 EPN stations in both high solar activity year 2014 and low solar activity year 2020.

A Simulation Study of Ionization Depletion in the Auroral Ionospheric F-Region Caused by Strong Convection Electric Field

THe effects of strong convection electric field on the electron density in the auroral ionosphericF-region have been simulated numerically by means of a physical model. It is found that an enhancement of electric field directed west-northward in post-noon or west-southward in pre-noon results in an ionization depletion with its maximum at altitudes 40–50 km higher than that of theF 2 peak. When the enhanced electric field lasts for 45 min and has a maximum about 32 mV/m, the resulted ionization depletions reach their maximum at the time just ～10 min behind the time when the convection electric field and ion temperature enhancements reach their maximum. This is consistent well with EISCAT observations. The magnitudes of the percentage ionization depletions and their recovery time are dependent not only on the intensity of the electric field, but also on the diurnal variation phase of the background electron density.

Recent Progresses on Ionospheric Climatology Investigations

The ionosphere varies over multiple time scales,which are classified into two categories: the climatology and weather variations.In this national report,we give a brief summary of recent progresses in ionospheric climatology with focus on(1) the seasonal variations,(2) solar cycle effects, and(3) empirical modeling of the ionosphere.The seasonal variations of the ionosphere have been explored in many works to give a more detailed picture with regional and global features at various altitudes by analyzing the observation data from various sources and models.Moreover,a series of studies reported the response of the ionosphere to solar cycle variations,which revealed some novel and detailed features of solar activity dependence of ionospheric parameters at different altitudes. These investigations have improved our understanding on the states of the ionosphere and underlying fundamental processes,provided clues to future studies on ionospheric weather,and guided ionospheric modeling,forecasting and related applications.

Ionospheric disturbances following the March 2015 geomagnetic storm from GPS observations in China

When strong solar activities and geomagnetic storms happen, satellite communications and navigation system will be strongly disturbed. It is of great significance to monitor ionospheric disturbances,because empirical models cannot capture ionospheric anomalous disturbances well. Nowadays, dualfrequency GPS(Global Positioning System) observations can be used to estimate the ionospheric total electron content, correct the ionospheric delay and analyze the response of the ionosphere to geomagnetic storms. In this paper, the ionospheric response to the geomagnetic storm occurred in March 2015 is investigated using GPS observations provided by Crustal Movement of Observation Network of China. The result shows that this storm increases the electron density in the ionosphere quickly and disrupts the structure of the northern equatorial anomaly region at the beginning. In the main process stage, compared with that in the quite periods, the VTEC(Vertical Total Electron Content)around the longitude of 120°E decreases by 50% and the amount of depletion is larger in the high latitude region than that in the low latitude region. We also find the height of the peak electron density in F2 layer increases during the geomagnetic storm from the electron density profiles derived from GPS occultation mission.

Numerical Simulation of Ionization Enhancement in the Topside Ionosphere of Cusp Foot-Point Region Caused by Low Energy Particle Precipitation

The Graz Ionospheric Flux Tube Simulations （GIFTS） has been improved. The improved GIFTS model was used to numerically investigate the energy particle precipitation on the distribution of electron density in the ionospheric cusp foot-point region under conditions of large plasma convection during magnetic storm. After including the effects of low energy incident particles, the ionospheric electron densities increase remarkably above altitude of -250 km, showing a peak at about 350 km. The percent enhancements of electron densities increase gradually with altitude, exceed- ing 60% near the upper boundary of the calculation. The calculated ionospheric F2-peak was remarkably enhanced and lifted up by the incident low energy electrons.

SIS accuracy and service performance of the BDS-3 basic system

On December 27,2018,the basic system of the third-generation BeiDou navigation satellite system(BDS-3)completed the deployment of its constellation of 18 MEO networking satellites as well as the construction of the operation control system(OCS)and began to provide basic navigation services to users worldwide.Compared with BDS-2,BDS-3 aims to offer users better navigation signals and higher precision with a series of new technologies.For example,the spaceborne atomic clock of BDS-3 is upgraded for higher performance,the Ka-band inter-satellite link is adopted for inter-satellite ranging and communication,and new B1C and B2a signals are broadcast in addition to B1I and B3I signals(compatible with BDS-2).In addition,a 9-parameter model based on a spherical harmonic function is employed for ionospheric delay corrections.Using the observation data from 18 satellites of the basic system,this paper conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the pseudorange measurement characteristics,signal-in-space(SIS)accuracy of navigation messages and global service capability of BDS-3.The results indicate that the pseudorange measurement multipath effect and observation noise of BDS-3 satellites are better than those of BDS-2;additionally,with the support of inter-satellite links,the user range error(URE)of the BDS-3 satellite broadcast ephemeris is better than 10 cm,the precision of the broadcast clock parameter is better than 1.5 ns,and the SIS accuracy is better than 0.6 m overall.Different from the traditional Klobuchar model,the BeiDou global broadcast ionospheric delay correction model(BDGIM)can provide ionospheric delay corrections better than 70%for worldwide single-frequency users.The service capability evaluation of the basic system consists mainly of the accuracy improvement of the B1I and B3I signals according to BDS-2 as well as the global positioning accuracy of the new signals.These results prove that the BDS-3 basic system has achieved the design goal;that is,both the horizontal and the vertical global positioning accuracies are better than 10 m(95%).In the future,6 MEO satellites as well as 3 GEO satellites and 3 IGSO satellites for regional enhancement purposes will be deployed for full operation;consequently,BDS-3 will definitely provide a higher SIS accuracy and better service capability.

Principle and performance of BDSBAS and PPP-B2b of BDS-3

Within the framework of diferential augmentation,this paper introduces the basic technical framework and performance of the BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System(BDS-3)Satellite-Based Augmentation System(BDSBAS),including orbit products,satellite clock ofset products,ionosphere and its integrity performance.The basic principle of BDS-3 Precise Point Positioning(PPP-B2b)is expounded,the similarities and diferences between the PPP service provided by BDS-3 and International Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)Service(IGS)are discussed,and the limitations of PPP-B2b are analyzed.Since both the BDSBAS and PPP-B2b utilize a ground monitoring station network to determine the satellite orbits and clock ofset corrections,and broadcast diferential corrections through the three Geostationary Orbit(GEO)satellites of BDS-3,the feasibility of the co-construction of BDSBAS and PPP-B2b is analyzed,strategies for the infrastructure sharing and correction broadcasting are presented,and the infuences of BDSBAS correction broadcasting strategy adjustment are evaluated.In addition,it assesses the possibility of broadcasting diferential corrections through the Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit(IGSO)satellites of BDS-3,and the feasibility of augmenting satellite navigation with Low Earth Orbit(LEO)satellites.

LEO Enhanced Global Navigation Satellite System(LeGNSS):progress,opportunities,and challenges

With the completion of Chinese BeiDou Navigation Satellite System(BDS),the world has begun to enjoy the Positioning,Navigation,and Timing(PNT)services of four Global Navigation Satellite Systems(GNSS).In order to improve the GNSS performance and expand its applications,Low Earth Orbit(LEO)Enhanced Global Navigation Satellite System(LeGNSS)is being vigorously advocated.Combined with high-,medium-,and low-earth orbit satellites,it can improve GNSS performance in terms of orbit determination,Precise Point Positioning(PPP)convergence time,etc.This paper comprehensively reviews the current status of LeGNSS,focusing on analyzing its advantages and challenges for precise orbit and clock determination,PPP convergence,earth rotation parameter estimation,and global ionosphere modeling.Thanks to the fast geometric change brought by LEO satellites,LeGNSS is expected to fundamentally solve the problem of the long convergence time of PPP without any augmentation.The convergence time can be shortened within 1 minute if appropriate LEO constellations are deployed.However,there are still some issues to overcome,such as the optimization of LEO constellation as well as the real time LEO precise orbit and clock determination.