Global navigation satellite system based scintillation characterization in the low latitudes

Abstract

Due to the formation of irregularities in the electron density distribution, amplitude and phase of the satellite links fluctuates. Magnetic equator passes through the southern tip of Indian peninsula and as a result high ionospheric activity is observed in the Indian region. Quality of the satellite links passing through these irregularities degrades and it presents a very challenging situation for high dynamic platforms such as aircraft or trains. In this paper, the authors tried to identify1. specific regions of the sky where scintillation is maximum, while observing from Calcutta. In addition with that, the authors2. proposed the possibility of better Quality of Service (QoS) in the presence of GNSS satellites compared to GPS satellites.