Evaluation of Tracking Performance in the Presence of Ionospheric Scintillation on GPS signal in Japan

Shun-ichiro Kondo Takuji Ebinuma Nobuaki Kubo and Akio Yasuda

Abstract:	Ionospheric scintillation induces a rapid change in the amplitude and phase of radio wave signals. This is due to irregularities of electron density in the F-region of the ionosphere. It reduces the accuracy of both pseudorange and carrier phase measurements in GPS/Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) receivers and can cause loss of lock on the satellite signal. Scintillation is not strong at mid-latitude regions, but severe effects occur mainly in a band approximately 20-degree latitude on either side of the magnetic equator and sometimes in the polar and auroral regions. Most scintillation occurs for a few hours after sunset during the peak years of the solar cycle. In Japan, several ionospheric scintillations were observed by Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI). This work intended to investigate the scintillation characteristics in Japan and statistically evaluate constant bandwidth phase locked loop (PLL) and a Fast Adaptive Bandwidth (FAB) PLL performance under the ionospheric scintillation condition. The results show that the characteristics are consistent with the models proposed in early studies and the FAB PLL has the robustness against the scintillation effects compared with the constant PLL.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2007) September 25 - 28, 2007 Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX
Pages:	2832 - 2839
Cite this article:	Kubo, Shun-ichiro Kondo Takuji Ebinuma Nobuaki, Yasuda, Akio, "Evaluation of Tracking Performance in the Presence of Ionospheric Scintillation on GPS signal in Japan," Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2007), Fort Worth, TX, September 2007, pp. 2832-2839.
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