A comprehensive assessment of ionospheric gradients observed in Ecuador during 2013 and 2014 for ground based augmentation systems. Issue 8 (15th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sánchez-Naranjo, S.; Rincón, W.; Ramos-Pollán, R.; González, F.A.; Soley, S.
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 59:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 1992
• Page End: 2006
• Publication Date: 2017-04-15
• Subjects: GBAS -- Ionospheric threat model -- Ecuador -- Equatorial anomaly; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2017.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Abstract: Ground Based Augmentation Systems GBAS provide differential corrections to approaching and landing aircrafts in the vicinities of an airport. The ionosphere can introduce an error not accountable by those differential corrections, and a threat model for the Conterminous United States region CONUS was developed in order to consider the highest gradients measured. This study presents the first extensive analysis of ionospheric gradients for Ecuador, from data fully covering 2013 and 2014 collected by their national Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS monitoring network (REGME). In this work it is applied an automated methodology adapted for low latitudes for processing data from dual frequency receivers networks, by considering data from all available days in the date range of the study regardless the geomagnetic indices values. The events found above the CONUS threat model occurred during days of nominal geomagnetic indices, confirming: (1) the higher bounds required for an ionospheric threat model for Ecuador, and (2) that geomagnetic indices are not enough to indicate relevant ionospheric anomalies in low latitude regions, reinforcing the necessity of a continuous monitoring of ionosphere. As additional contribution, the events database is published online, making it available to other researchers.