Potential impact of GNSS positioning errors on satellite navigation-based air traffic management during severe geomagnetic storms

GNSS & Satellite Geodesy

Authors

First and Last Name Academic degree E-mail Affiliation
Vladyslav Kerker No vlad.kerker [at] gmail.com Lviv Polytechnic National University
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Maria Linde No m.linde5749 [at] wsosp.edu.pl Institute of Navigation, Military University of Aviation, Deblin, Poland
Deblin, Poland
Stepan Savchuk Sc.D. s.savchuk [at] law.mil.pl Lviv Polytechnic National University
Lviv, Ukraine

I and my co-authors (if any) authorize the use of the Paper in accordance with the Creative Commons CC BY license

First published on this website: 24.08.2024 - 16:44
Abstract 

The ionosphere's variability, driven by solar and space weather activities, can significantly degrade satellite navigation accuracy, posing risks to aviation safety. This study investigates the impact of geomagnetic storms on SPP positioning, focusing on satellite positioning accuracy during strong geomagnetic events recorded from 2023 to 2024. Data from three GNSS stations located across different latitudes were collected and analyzed using the PPPx software package, utilizing various methods for ionospheric delay correction, including broadcast ionospheric corrections, global ionospheric maps, and ionosphere-free combinations. Results indicate that geomagnetic storms, particularly during the strongest events in May 2024 and April 2023, led to significant degradation in positioning accuracy, especially in the vertical component. The study highlights the varying impact of geomagnetic activity on positioning performance, with positioning errors peaking during intense geomagnetic storms, and underscores the importance of GNSS monitoring and ionospheric modeling for mitigating the risks posed by space weather.

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