Investigation, mitigation and monitoring of high latitude ionspheric scintillation effects for GNSS

全球导航卫星系统(GNSS)信号在高纬度地区经历了相位和幅度闪烁。这种影响可能会导致全球导航卫星系统接收器信号跟踪环路出现误差，在某些情况下还会造成信号锁定。全球定位系统等全球导航卫星系统被用于许多应用--包括陆地运输、海洋导航、民用航空、应急响应、建筑、采矿、农业和测量应用。可用性、准确性和可靠性是大多数这些应用程序的主要重要特征。在加拿大，全球导航卫星系统的运作可能因高纬度极光和极地地区的严重电离层闪烁效应而恶化。这种影响的大小和频率是太阳周期的函数；预计2013年将出现太阳活动最大值。 这项研究的主要目标是调查高纬度电离层闪烁效应，并为当前和未来的全球导航卫星系统星座和信号发展缓解能力。这将通过几项研究来实现： 1)确定极光和极区电离层闪烁的特征。 2)通过仿真确定高纬度电离层闪烁对GNSS性能的预期影响。 3)开发可靠的接收器技术和缓解策略。 4)多频多星座电离层闪烁监测仪的研制。 这项研究的结果将通过与申请者的现有合作，转让给加拿大的合作伙伴，使加拿大切实受益。

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals experience phase and amplitude scintillations in high latitude regions. Such effects can cause errors in GNSS receiver signal tracking loops and, in some cases, loss of signal lock. GNSS, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), are employed in many applications - including land transportation, marine navigation, civil aviation, emergency response, construction, mining, agriculture and survey applications. Availability, accuracy and reliability are characteristics of major importance for most of these applications. In Canada, GNSS operations can be degraded by severe ionospheric scintillation effects in the high-latitude auroral and polar regions. The magnitude and frequency of such effects are a function of solar cycle; a solar maximum is expected to occur 2013. The major objective of this research is to investigate high-latitude ionospheric scintillation effects and develop mitigation capabilities for current and future GNSS constellations and signals. This will be accomplished through several studies: 1) Determine the characteristics of ionospheric scintillations in the auroral and polar regions. 2) Determine the expected impact of high-latitude ionospheric scintillations on GNSS performance through simulation. 3) Develop robust receiver technologies and mitigation strategies. 4) Development of a multi-frequency multi-constellation ionospheric scintillation monitor. Results of this research will be transferred to Canadian partners for practical benefit to Canada though existing collaborations with the applicant.