Analysis of GNSS Radio Occultation Scintillation Events Observed by Low Earth Orbiting PlanetiQ and Spire Global Satellites During the May 2024 Geomagnetic Storm

Hyeyeon Chang, Jade Morton, Jonathan Brandmeyer

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	This study investigates ionospheric scintillation events observed by PlanetiQ and Spire Global GNSS radio occultation (GNSSRO) satellites during the May 2024 geomagnetic storm. While ground-based ionospheric monitoring receivers are commonly used to monitor ionospheric scintillation, their spatial coverage is limited to well-instrumented regions, leaving large gaps in remote, oceanic, and polar areas. In contrast, GNSS-RO enables global, vertically resolved ionospheric observations, including these poorly monitored regions. PlanetiQ and Spire Global, two commercial RO satellite constellations, offer high-rate GNSS signal sampling suitable for capturing ionospheric scintillation. This study uses amplitude and phase scintillation indices derived from these constellations during the May 2024 storm. The RO-based scintillation indices are analyzed in terms of their geographic and temporal variations, as well as their altitude dependence. Results are further validated using collocated measurements from ground-based ionospheric scintillation monitoring receivers. The findings highlight the ability of GNSS-RO to bridge observational gaps left by ground-based systems, especially in remote regions. In addition to enhanced horizontal coverage, RO-based scintillation observations reveal the vertical structure of the scintillation, which shows a strong correlation with the vertical distribution of the electron density. The improved spatial and vertical coverages enabled by RO observations significantly contributes to our understanding of ionospheric disturbances and supports the advancement of space weather monitoring and prediction capabilities.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 38th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2025) September 8 - 12, 2025 Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Baltimore, Maryland
Pages:	3227 - 3237
Cite this article:	Chang, Hyeyeon, Morton, Jade, Brandmeyer, Jonathan, "Analysis of GNSS Radio Occultation Scintillation Events Observed by Low Earth Orbiting PlanetiQ and Spire Global Satellites During the May 2024 Geomagnetic Storm," Proceedings of the 38th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2025), Baltimore, Maryland, September 2025, pp. 3227-3237. https://doi.org/10.33012/2025.20345
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