Study of the dependence of TEC variation intensity on radiosounding geometry by GNSS

Voeykov S.V.1, Osipchuk V.N.2
  1. Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics SB RAS, Russia
  2. Irkutsk State University, Russia

   The paper presents the investigation of 2-10 minute variations in total
   electron content (TEC), obtained by the Global Navigation Satellite
   Systems (GNSS), on the angles to satellites. Dependence of TEC absolute
   value on the angles to satellites is well known and is due to the
   difference in ionosphere thickness intersected by radio beams at various
   angles. However, TEC variations are not so clear. Meanwhile, knowledge of
   this relationship could help to search and to study TEC responses to
   different disturbances. During our study, we investigated TEC variation
   intensity in the period range of 2-10 minutes, depending on elevation and
   azimuth to GPS satellites for IRKT Irkutsk station for 2006. The period
   range was chosen as the most frequently used to search for responses to
   such disturbances as earthquakes, spacecraft launches, etc.