| The ionospheric plasma can significantly influence the propagation of radio
waves and the ionospheric disturbances are capable of causing range errors,
rapid phase and amplitude fluctuations (radio scintillations) of satellite
signals that may lead to degradation of the system performance, its accuracy
and reliability. The cause of such disturbances should be sought in the
processes originating in the Sun. Numerous studies on these phenomena have
been already carried out at a broad international level, in order to
measure/estimate these space weather induced effects, to forecast them, and to
understand and mitigate their impact on present-day technological systems.
SWIPPA (Space Weather Impact on Precise Positioning Applications) is a
pilot project jointly supported by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
and the European Space Agency (ESA). The project aims at establishing,
operating, and evaluating a specific space-weather monitoring service that
can possibly lead to improving current positioning applications based on
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). This space weather
service provides GNSS users
with essential expert information delivered in the form of several products
- maps of TEC values, TEC spatial and temporal gradients, alerts for
ongoing/oncoming ionosphere disturbances, etc. |