A three-dimensional time-dependent algorithm for ionospheric imaging using GPS

Main Article Content

C. N. Mitchell
P. S. J. Spencer

Abstract

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receivers provide a world-wide network of phase and group delay
measurements. The combination of two-frequency measurements can be used to derive the integral of the electron
concentration along each satellite-to-receiver path, a parameter known as the Total Electron Content (TEC). At this
stage these slant TEC data are diffi cult to interpret as they originate from a combination of a temporally changing
ionosphere and spatially changing observation geometry. In this paper TEC data are inverted to evaluate the underlying
distribution and time evolution of electron concentration. Accordingly, a new three-dimensional, time-dependent
algorithm is presented here for imaging ionospheric electron concentration using GPS signals. The inversion results
in a three-dimensional movie rather than a static image of the electron-concentration distribution. The technique is
demonstrated using simulated ground-based GPS data from actual measurement geometry over Europe.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Mitchell CN, Spencer PSJ. A three-dimensional time-dependent algorithm for ionospheric imaging using GPS. Ann. Geophys. [Internet]. 2003Dec.25 [cited 2023Dec.3];46(4):687-96. Available from: https://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/4373
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