[ ACE Spacecraft ][ Arecibo ][ Digisondes ][ EISCAT Svalbard ][ EISCAT Tromso ]
[ Jicamarca ][ JPL GPS-TEC ][ Millstone Hill ][ POLAR Spacecraft ][ Sondrestrom ]
[ SuperDARN ][ TING Model ][ WIND Spacecraft ]

The constellation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and hundreds of globally distributed ground GPS receivers provide a network system for remote sensing of near-Earth space weather conditions. The unique features of this system are (1) instantaneous global coverage, (2) continuous operation, (3) high temporal resolution, and (4) near real-time data acquisition. With received GPS signals, ionospheric measurements, including total electron content (TEC) and irregularities, which cause ionospheric scintillation in VHF through L-band, can be achieved simultaneously on global and regional scales. Making use of GPS data, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has been developing techniques to map global and regional ionospheric TEC and irregularities. When generated in real or near real-time, these ionospheric maps can be used to nowcast ionospheric weather conditions, particularly ionospheric storms and irregularities.

The many satellites and hundreds of ground stations (shown at right) in the GPS not only help ships and planes get their bearings, they also allow for instantaneous global coverage of ionospheric conditions.  Changes in the ionosphere can interfere with navigation systems that depend on the GPS. Go to the JPL-GPS SPARC campaign page.

CREW