Ionosphere Scintillation-Induced Phase Transitions in Triple-Frequency GPS Measurements

Brian Breitsch, Yu T. Morton, Dongyang Xu, Rong Yang

Peer Reviewed

Abstract: Ionosphere scintillation is a critical source of error that threatens the integrity and continuity of GNSS receiver measurements. In this paper, we examine the GNSS signal carrier phase behavior during deep fades caused by strong equatorial ionosphere scintillation (the so-called “canonical fading”). We begin with a discussion to clarify the relationship between conventional and diffraction-induced cycle slips, which include noise-induced cycle slips due to signal fading as well as phase transitions. We then investigate the occurrence of signal fading and phase behavior in triple-frequency GPS data gathered during a 2013 March 10 scintillation event near Ascension Island. We discuss standard detrending techniques as well as the application of geometry-ionosphere-free combination of GNSS phase measurements when analyzing the carrier phase behavior. We compare the behavior of the three carrier phases during deep fades in order to assess (when possible) which signals contain diffraction-induced cycle slips. We use the geometry-ionospherefree combination of phase measurements to supplement this analysis. Ultimately, we present useful examples that serve as a guide for future development of mitigation techniques for diffraction-induced cycle slips.
Published in: Proceedings of the 2020 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation
January 21 - 24, 2020
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
San Diego, California
Pages: 912 - 919
Cite this article: Breitsch, Brian, Morton, Yu T., Xu, Dongyang, Yang, Rong, "Ionosphere Scintillation-Induced Phase Transitions in Triple-Frequency GPS Measurements," Proceedings of the 2020 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, California, January 2020, pp. 912-919. https://doi.org/10.33012/2020.17186
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