Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations

The occurrence of ionospheric irregularities poses a significant challenge to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) by disrupting signal propagation and causing loss of lock (LOL) events. This study investigates the integrated power spectral density (PSD) of electron density fluctuations at var...

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Main Authors: Ghadjari Hossein, Knudsen David, Balasis Georgios, Skone Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2025/01/swsc240085/swsc240085.html
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author Ghadjari Hossein
Knudsen David
Balasis Georgios
Skone Susan
author_facet Ghadjari Hossein
Knudsen David
Balasis Georgios
Skone Susan
author_sort Ghadjari Hossein
collection DOAJ
description The occurrence of ionospheric irregularities poses a significant challenge to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) by disrupting signal propagation and causing loss of lock (LOL) events. This study investigates the integrated power spectral density (PSD) of electron density fluctuations at various scales using nearly ten years of Swarm satellite data. The analysis focuses on the post-sunset equatorial ionosphere, a region prone to ionospheric irregularities. GPS receivers on Swarm A and C, orbiting at altitudes between 430 and 460 km, suffer more frequent loss of navigational capability (LNC) than Swarm B (at 530 km). The observed power-law distribution of integrated power at small spatial scales (<30 km) points to scale-free behavior, which is a hallmark of complex systems and may be associated with self-organized criticality (SOC). The study also employs multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) to demonstrate the multifractal and intermittent nature of the fluctuations. The findings highlight the importance of intermittency and strong bursts in understanding the LNC and LOL events in the ionosphere. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of ionospheric irregularities and offers potential for improved forecasting and mitigation of their impact on GNSS.
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spelling doaj-art-cd3b74ac56594f2ea3df62bb12795a1a2025-08-20T03:16:04ZengEDP SciencesJournal of Space Weather and Space Climate2115-72512025-01-01153010.1051/swsc/2025026swsc240085Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuationsGhadjari Hossein0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2684-9606Knudsen David1Balasis Georgios2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-0557Skone Susan3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of CalgaryDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of CalgaryInstitute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of AthensDepartment of Geomatics Engineering, University of CalgaryThe occurrence of ionospheric irregularities poses a significant challenge to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) by disrupting signal propagation and causing loss of lock (LOL) events. This study investigates the integrated power spectral density (PSD) of electron density fluctuations at various scales using nearly ten years of Swarm satellite data. The analysis focuses on the post-sunset equatorial ionosphere, a region prone to ionospheric irregularities. GPS receivers on Swarm A and C, orbiting at altitudes between 430 and 460 km, suffer more frequent loss of navigational capability (LNC) than Swarm B (at 530 km). The observed power-law distribution of integrated power at small spatial scales (<30 km) points to scale-free behavior, which is a hallmark of complex systems and may be associated with self-organized criticality (SOC). The study also employs multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) to demonstrate the multifractal and intermittent nature of the fluctuations. The findings highlight the importance of intermittency and strong bursts in understanding the LNC and LOL events in the ionosphere. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of ionospheric irregularities and offers potential for improved forecasting and mitigation of their impact on GNSS.https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2025/01/swsc240085/swsc240085.htmlself-organized criticalityintermittencyionospheric irregularity
spellingShingle Ghadjari Hossein
Knudsen David
Balasis Georgios
Skone Susan
Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
self-organized criticality
intermittency
ionospheric irregularity
title Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
title_full Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
title_fullStr Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
title_full_unstemmed Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
title_short Intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
title_sort intermittency in the integrated power of ionospheric density fluctuations
topic self-organized criticality
intermittency
ionospheric irregularity
url https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2025/01/swsc240085/swsc240085.html
work_keys_str_mv AT ghadjarihossein intermittencyintheintegratedpowerofionosphericdensityfluctuations
AT knudsendavid intermittencyintheintegratedpowerofionosphericdensityfluctuations
AT balasisgeorgios intermittencyintheintegratedpowerofionosphericdensityfluctuations
AT skonesusan intermittencyintheintegratedpowerofionosphericdensityfluctuations