GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities

Abstract Total electron content (TEC), as a crucial ionospheric parameter, has impacts on electromagnetic wave propagation as well as satellite navigation and positioning, and is of great significance in space weather forecasting. Previous prediction efforts using neural network techniques have basi...

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Main Authors: T. Y. Yang, J. Y. Lu, Y. Y. Yang, Y. H. Hao, M. Wang, J. Y. Li, G. C. Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93628-8
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author T. Y. Yang
J. Y. Lu
Y. Y. Yang
Y. H. Hao
M. Wang
J. Y. Li
G. C. Wei
author_facet T. Y. Yang
J. Y. Lu
Y. Y. Yang
Y. H. Hao
M. Wang
J. Y. Li
G. C. Wei
author_sort T. Y. Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Total electron content (TEC), as a crucial ionospheric parameter, has impacts on electromagnetic wave propagation as well as satellite navigation and positioning, and is of great significance in space weather forecasting. Previous prediction efforts using neural network techniques have basically focused on years with relatively low solar activity. In this study, a model combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) network has been constructed to forecast the TEC during high solar activities from a single Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver at Sanya in Hainan, China. The performance of the CNN–GRU model is compared with the most used empirical models, IRI and NeQuick, and two artificial intelligence models, GRU and SVM. Benefiting from CNN’s superior data feature capture capability of convolutional operation, the CNN–GRU model surpasses the original GRU model not only in 1-h-ahead predictions with an RMSE of 4.28 TECU but also in 24-h forecasts, boasting a notably lower average RMSE of 6.94 TECU, undoubtedly also outperforming the remaining models, SVM, NeQuick2, and IRI2020. Furthermore, the CNN–GRU model exhibits stable and excellent performance across different months and hour of the day, even during geomagnetic storms.
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spelling doaj-art-3faa33d3eb874ff0ac28365f4c97b0362025-08-20T02:41:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-93628-8GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activitiesT. Y. Yang0J. Y. Lu1Y. Y. Yang2Y. H. Hao3M. Wang4J. Y. Li5G. C. Wei6State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)Abstract Total electron content (TEC), as a crucial ionospheric parameter, has impacts on electromagnetic wave propagation as well as satellite navigation and positioning, and is of great significance in space weather forecasting. Previous prediction efforts using neural network techniques have basically focused on years with relatively low solar activity. In this study, a model combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) network has been constructed to forecast the TEC during high solar activities from a single Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver at Sanya in Hainan, China. The performance of the CNN–GRU model is compared with the most used empirical models, IRI and NeQuick, and two artificial intelligence models, GRU and SVM. Benefiting from CNN’s superior data feature capture capability of convolutional operation, the CNN–GRU model surpasses the original GRU model not only in 1-h-ahead predictions with an RMSE of 4.28 TECU but also in 24-h forecasts, boasting a notably lower average RMSE of 6.94 TECU, undoubtedly also outperforming the remaining models, SVM, NeQuick2, and IRI2020. Furthermore, the CNN–GRU model exhibits stable and excellent performance across different months and hour of the day, even during geomagnetic storms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93628-8GNSS–VTECIonosphereGRUCNNHybrid modelIRI-2020
spellingShingle T. Y. Yang
J. Y. Lu
Y. Y. Yang
Y. H. Hao
M. Wang
J. Y. Li
G. C. Wei
GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities
Scientific Reports
GNSS–VTEC
Ionosphere
GRU
CNN
Hybrid model
IRI-2020
title GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities
title_full GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities
title_fullStr GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities
title_full_unstemmed GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities
title_short GNSS–VTEC prediction based on CNN–GRU neural network model during high solar activities
title_sort gnss vtec prediction based on cnn gru neural network model during high solar activities
topic GNSS–VTEC
Ionosphere
GRU
CNN
Hybrid model
IRI-2020
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93628-8
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