Monitoring of GNSS Scintillation Indices during the MOSAiC Expedition: Preliminary Results from Eight Months in the Arctic

Abstract

Polar regions are of particular interest to study the interaction of space weather (solar radiation and particle precipitation) with the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere. We focus here on space-weather induced irregularities of electron density in the upper atmosphere and their impact on radio signals. Such irregularities can disturb radio communication (particularly in air traffic) and radio navigation with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) in the polar regions. The global network of GNSS stations to monitor the space weather impact is sparse at high latitudes. The permanent stations, located below 80°N, cannot reach a complete monitoring coverage in the Arctic.

The MOSAiC expedition provided an excellent opportunity to collect GNSS data beyond 80°N over a long period of more than 8 months. We focus, here, on a GNSS setup that was installed aboard R/V Polarstern to study the signal’s amplitude and phase scintillation. The respective indices S4 and σφ allow to quantify the impact of space-weather induced irregularities. The MOSAiC record comprises links of three systems: GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. Preliminary GPS results show that anomalies in σφ of about 0.2 rad can be related to particle precipitation. The results indicate that a drifting GNSS setup can contribute to space weather monitoring if the ship's dynamic is carefully taken into account.