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Correlation between ROTI and Ionospheric Scintillation Indices using Hong Kong low-latitude GPS data

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Abstract

The correlation between the rate of TEC index (ROTI) and scintillation indices S 4 and σ Φ for low-latitude region is analyzed in this study, using data collected from a Global Positioning System (GPS) scintillation monitoring receiver installed at the south of Hong Kong for the periods June–August of 2012 and May 2013 and July–December of 2013. The analysis indicates that the correlation coefficient between ROTI and S 4/σ Φ is about 0.6 if data from all GPS satellites are used together. If each individual satellite is considered, the correlation coefficients are above 0.6 on average and sometimes above 0.8. The analysis also shows that the ratio of ROTI and S 4 varies between 1 and 4. The ratio ROTI/σ Φ, varies between 2 and 9. In addition, it is also found that there is a good consistency between the temporal variations of ROTI with scintillation activity under different ionospheric conditions. ROTI has a high correlation relationship with scintillation indices on geomagnetically disturbed days or in solar active months. Moreover, the data observed at low elevation angles have weak correlation between ROTI and scintillation indices. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ROTI derived from GPS observations recorded by common non-scintillation GPS receivers to characterize ionospheric scintillations.

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Acknowledgments

The supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41274039) are gratefully acknowledged. This work is supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) projects (PolyU 5325/12E, F-PP0F and PolyU 5203/13E, B-Q37X). Zhizhao Liu acknowledges support from the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (Wuhan University, GNSS Research Center), China. The Lands Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is thanked for providing the GPS/GNSS data from the Hong Kong Satellite Positioning Reference Station Network (SatRef). We also would like to thank Prof. Jade Y. Morton at the Colorado State University, USA and Prof. Frank Van Graas at the Ohio University, USA, for their useful discussions. The anonymous reviewers are thanked for their valuable constructive suggestions that have significantly helped improve the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Zhe Yang & Zhizhao Liu

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  1. Zhe Yang
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  2. Zhizhao Liu
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Correspondence to Zhizhao Liu.

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Yang, Z., Liu, Z. Correlation between ROTI and Ionospheric Scintillation Indices using Hong Kong low-latitude GPS data. GPS Solut 20, 815–824 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-015-0492-y

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