Services for GNSS users provided by the Expert Service Center Ionospheric Weather within ESA Space Situational Awareness Programme

Abstract

The ionosphere impacts transionospheric radio signals by delay, refraction and diffraction. This includes navigation signals transmitted by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The highly variable ionosphere affects the accuracy, availability, continuity and integrity of GNSS signals. Since GNSS services are relevant in diverse safety of life and precise positioning applications, detection, monitoring and prediction of ionospheric effects are important for mitigating related threats to human life and economy. Within the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Programme the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to help end-users in a wide range of affected sectors to mitigate the effects of space weather on their systems, reducing costs and improving reliability. Currently, a comprehensive system to monitor, predict and disseminate space weather information and alerts is being developed. Within this activity, a dedicated space weather network is organized around internationally distributed Expert Service Centres (ESCs). Being part of this network, the ESC Ionospheric Weather comprises the expertise concerning space weather effects in the upper atmosphere, including the ionosphere. This expertise is specifically applicable in the domains of transionospheric radio links and space surveillance and tracking. The requirements and design of the services to be provided in the SSA space weather network have been compiled based on intensive communication with end-users during the SSA Preparatory Phase. Now, initial services are available and we will show an overview on the currently operating ESC Ionospheric Weather. This includes the provided services and products, the targeted end-user groups and the contributing expert groups. We will start to show the current product delivery and describe the further developments as part of the currently active SSA Period 2. In order to improve the network support capabilities and the tailoring of its services we are keen to gather feedback and requirements from end-users within the navigation and positioning sector. All the products and tools within the SSA space weather network are accessible through the SSA Space Weather Portal at http://swe.ssa.esa.int/ .