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Poster
Abstract:
The LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite-based TEC (Total Electron Content) and ROTI (Rate Of change of TEC Index) are highly relevant for users in navigation and communications in view of strong plasma gradients causing GPS signal degradation and can lead to the losses of the signal. ESA’s Swarm constellation mission, consisting of three identical satellites, was launched on 22 November 2013. Among other instruments, each Swarm satellite carries a dual frequency GPS (Global Positioning System) Receiver (GPSR), which can be used to derive TEC and ROTI data. Swarm ROTI is defined as a standard deviation of Rate Of change of TEC (ROT) and it describes the small-scale variability of the line of sight electron content resulting from the ionosphere and plasmasphere. We present the climatology of TEC and ROTI using 5 years of Swarm constellation mission observations and investigate the seasonal and local time dependence at high and low latitudes. Also, the newly derived TEC and ROTI products for the ESA’s GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) mission, which flew from 2009 to 2013 at approximately 270 km altitude, are presented. We compare GOCE results to the Swarm observations for the same local times and seasons, taking into account similar solar conditions. Contrary to the Swarm satellite data, GOCE TEC observations contain a considerable part of the F region electron density. The comparison between both data sets enables the estimation of the electron content variation in the upper atmosphere.
