Impact of intense L-band solar radio burst on GNSS performance and positioning accuracy

Abstract The response of ground-based observation network to the solar radio burst(SRB) on 13 December 2006 is analyzed in details by jointly using the GNSS observation data from the IGS, the L-band solar radio flux data and amplitude scintillation index data. The focus is on the variation of the carrier-to-noise ratio in several typical areas in China during SRB. Furthermore, the impact of this event on CNSS performance and positioning accuracy is evaluated. The results showd that during this SRB: 1) GNSS signals were seriously interfered, and almost all of the IGS observation stations located on sunlit hemisphere were affected. The influence showed a significant dependence on solar incident angle. 2) This event resulted that the number of locked satellites was less than four in multiple IGS stations. Additionally, continuous loss of lock, intermittent loss of lock and complete disruption of the GNSS services occurred frequently. 3) For IGS stations in China, the positioning error was increasing so significantly that the pseudorange single-point positioning error was up to 40-60 m, the PPP error was about 2 m, and short-term positioning service outage occurred for some stations. 4) For areas near the sub-solar point, the positioning accuracy was seriously degraded. The PPP error was increasing to more than 10 m, and the positioning service outage lasted about 10 min. The results of this article can be used as a reference to evaluate space weather threat to Beidou 3 for engineers.