Effects of Strong Geomagnetic Storms on the Ionosphere and Degradation of Precise Point Positioning Accuracy during the 25th Solar Cycle Rising Phase: A Case Study

Abstract

Approaching the peak year of the 25th solar activity cycle, the frequency of strong geomagnetic storms is gradually increasing, which seriously affects the navigation and positioning performance of GNSS. Based on the globally distributed GNSS station data and FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 occultation data, this paper explores for the first time the effects of the G4-class geomagnetic storm that occurred on 23–24 April 2023 on the global ionosphere, especially the ionospheric equatorial anomalies and F-layer perturbations. It reveals the precise point positioning (PPP) accuracy degradation during a geomagnetic storm. The results show that the ionospheric rate of total electron content index (ROTI) and near high latitude GNSS phase scintillations index have varying levels of perturbation during geomagnetic storms, with the maximum ROTI and phase scintillations index exceeding 0.5 TECU/min and 0.8, respectively. The equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) shows an enhanced state (positive ionospheric storms) during geomagnetic storms, and the cause of this phenomenon is most likely the equatorward neutral wind. The variation of the S4 index of the FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 satellite reveals the uplift of the F-layer during geomagnetic storms. During geomagnetic storms, the PPP accuracy degrades most seriously at high latitudes, the maximum MAE exceeds 2.3 m, and the RMS in the three-dimensional (3D) direction exceeds 2.0 m. These investigations can provide case support for space weather and GNSS studies of the impact of geomagnetic storms during peak solar activity years.