GPS Multi-Frequency Carrier Phase Characterization During Strong Equatorial Ionospheric Scintillation

Dongyang Xu, Yu (Jade) Morton, Dennis Akos, Todd Walter

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	It is well known that deep amplitude fading and large carrier phase fluctuation characterize strong ionospheric scintillation over equatorial regions, which pose a major challenge for the GNSS signal carrier tracking loop. In this paper, real GPS multi-frequency scintillation data collected at two equatorial locations, Ascension Island and Brazil, are processed to investigate fast phase variations concurrent with deep amplitude fading on GPS L1 and L5 signals. A semi-open loop tracking method utilizing known stationary receiver coordinates is applied to improve the carrier phase estimation during deep fades. The results reveal numerous half and full cycle carrier phase changes occurring within 100 ms concurrently with deep fades on both frequencies. From studies of over 1000 fades which occurred during 220 minutes of strong scintillation, phase change duration distributions and associated deep fading characteristics are obtained. The results will aid the development of robust GNSS signal carrier tracking algorithms during scintillation and studies of ionosphere irregularities development.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 28th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2015) September 14 - 18, 2015 Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida
Pages:	3787 - 3796
Cite this article:	Xu, Dongyang, Morton, Yu (Jade), Akos, Dennis, Walter, Todd, "GPS Multi-Frequency Carrier Phase Characterization During Strong Equatorial Ionospheric Scintillation," Proceedings of the 28th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2015), Tampa, Florida, September 2015, pp. 3787-3796.
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