Phys.org May 30, 2023
The Hunga Tonga Volcano eruption launched waves which generated traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) in the ionosphere, which are known to adversely impact radio applications such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). One such GNSS application is Precise Point Positioning (PPP), which can achieve cm-level accuracy using a single receiver, following a typical convergence time of 30 min to 1 hr. An international team of researchers (Australia, USA – Boston College, Vietnam) used a network of ionosondes located throughout the Australian region in combination with GNSS receivers to explore the impacts of the volcano eruption on the ionosphere and what subsequent impacts they had on PPP. They showed that PPP accuracy was dependent on when the algorithm was initiated. GNSS stations in northeastern Australia experienced increases in convergence time of more than 5 hr. Further analysis revealed increased convergence times to be caused by a super equatorial plasma bubble (EPB). The Hunga Tonga Volcano eruption serves as an excellent example of how ionospheric variability can impact real-world applications and the challenges associated with modeling the ionosphere to support GNSS…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Vertical total electron content measured by (a) Norfolk Is… Credit: Space Weather, 24 May 2023