Large magnetic storm-induced nighttime ionospheric flows at midlatitudes and their impacts on GPS-based navigation systems

doi:doi:10.1029/2008JA013076

Abstract

Cited By (1)

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, A00A06, 14 PP., 2008
doi:10.1029/2008JA013076

Large magnetic storm-induced nighttime ionospheric flows at midlatitudes and their impacts on GPS-based navigation systems

Su. Basu

Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

S. Basu

Institute for Scientific Research, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

J. J. Makela

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA

E. MacKenzie

Institute for Scientific Research, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

P. Doherty

Institute for Scientific Research, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

J. W. Wright

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA

F. Rich

Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, USA

M. J. Keskinen

Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C., USA

R. E. Sheehan

Institute for Scientific Research, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

A. J. Coster

MIT Haystack Observatory, Westford, Massachusetts, USA

Analysis of GPS phase fluctuations in conjunction with regional total electron content (TEC) maps, in situ measurements of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) and auroral convection from several Defense Meteorological Satellite Program spacecraft, and dynasonde measurements at the Bear Lake Observatory obtained during the intense magnetic storm of 7–8 November 2004 have indicated the serious impact of large ionospheric velocities on GPS-based navigation systems within the midlatitude region in the North American sector. The major difference between this superstorm and the others observed during the earlier October-November 2003 events is the absence of appreciable storm-enhanced density gradients, with the midlatitude region being enveloped by either the auroral oval or the ionospheric trough within which the SAPS were confined during the local dusk to nighttime hours. This shows that it is possible to disable GPS-based navigation systems for many hours even in the absence of appreciable TEC gradients, provided an intense flow channel is present in the ionosphere during nighttime hours. The competing effects of irregularity amplitude ΔN/N, the background F region density, and the magnitude of SAPS or auroral convection are discussed in establishing the extent of the region of impact on such systems.

Received 5 February 2008; accepted 23 June 2008; published 4 September 2008.

Citation: Basu, Su., S. Basu, J. J. Makela, E. MacKenzie, P. Doherty, J. W. Wright, F. Rich, M. J. Keskinen, R. E. Sheehan, and A. J. Coster (2008), Large magnetic storm-induced nighttime ionospheric flows at midlatitudes and their impacts on GPS-based navigation systems, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A00A06, doi:10.1029/2008JA013076, [printed 114(A3), 2009].

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