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Mapping the Ionosphere
The ionosphere is contained in the uppermost layers of the earth´s atmosphere,
where most of the earth-bound ultraviolet light and atomic particles emitted by
the sun are absorbed. This region of free electrons and ionized atoms fluctuates
with solar activity and under severe conditions has interrupted communications
and electrical power over wide areas. The ionosphere also has a severe impact on
the signals from the GPS satellites, which NGS
as well as millions of other users
employ for positioning and navigation.
NGS is developing models and working with other agencies to use the GPS data
from the CORS network to make high spatial and temporal resolution maps of the
ionosphere on a continental scale. These ionosphere maps will significantly
improve the reliability with which NGS is able to determine GPS carrier phase
ambiguities. Knowledge of these ambiguities is an essential component for
accurate and rapid GPS positioning. The results from these ionosphere models
are being incorporated into NGS´s GPS processing software and the improved positioning
is being made available to the public through such services as OPUS.
Because interest in the ionosphere extends beyond our own research, NGS is
providing these ionosphere models through the web for use by scientists
investigating the interaction of the earth´s atmosphere with the solar
radiation as well as other GPS researchers studying methods to further
improve our positioning capabilities. This project is part of an ongoing series of research and development
projects in NOAA that focus on the ionosphere. If you are interested in
real-time ionosphere models, please visit the USTEC project at
NOAA's Space Environment Center.
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