Investigation of High-Latitude GNSS Radio Occulation Sporadic-E and Auroral-E Measurements

Author

Kyle D. Roberts

Date of Award

3-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Daniel J. Emmons, PhD

Abstract

Abnormal sporadic-E (E_s) occurrences were found in the high latitude regions during a recent climatology study by (Hodos, 2022), that calculated sporadic-E occurrence rates derived from a data set of GPS radio occultation (GPS-RO) and ionosondes. In this study, sporadic-E GNSS-RO techniques are shown to falsely attribute sporadic-E events to auroral-E (E_a) events. A comparative study is conducted on GPS-RO measurement techniques to find false occurrence rates for various RO techniques using a single ionosonde site in Gakona, Alaska. Phase-based RO techniques were found to be more likely to falsely attribute sporadic-E as auroral-E, while amplitude based techniques were less likely.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENP-MS-24-M-052

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this work on AFIT Scholar.

Distribution Statement A, Approved for Public Release. PA case number on file.

Recommended Citation

Roberts, Kyle D., "Investigation of High-Latitude GNSS Radio Occulation Sporadic-E and Auroral-E Measurements" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 7694.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/7694