TEC and ROTI Measurements from a New GPS Receiver at BOWEN University, Nigeria

TEC and ROTI Measurements from a New GPS Receiver at BOWEN University, Nigeria

Scintillation and total electron content (TEC) are the two major examples of the top-side ionospheric parameters that are recorded differently by most Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. The new GPS sensor created by the Atmospheric and Space Technology Research Associates (ASTRA), Cornell Un...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 636
Main Authors: Bolaji, Olawale S., Kaka, Rafiat O., Scales, Wayne A., Fashae, Joshua B., Peng, Yuxiang, Rabiu, A. Babatunde, Fadiji, Joshua O., Ojelade, Aanuoluwapo
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-04-2023
Subjects:
Aerospace environments
Antennas
Crystal oscillators
Digital signal processors
Environmental monitoring
Equatorial regions
Equipment and supplies
Global Positioning System
Global positioning systems
GPS
Investigations
Ionosphere
Ionospheric electron density
Measurement
Microcontrollers
Microprocessors
Positioning systems
Power
Receivers
Receivers & amplifiers
ROTI
Satellite communications
Scintillation
Sensors
Software
TEC
Total Electron Content
Tracking
Universal Serial Bus
Weather
Nigeria
United States > US
Virginia
Africa
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Summary:Scintillation and total electron content (TEC) are the two major examples of the top-side ionospheric parameters that are recorded differently by most Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. The new GPS sensor created by the Atmospheric and Space Technology Research Associates (ASTRA), Cornell University, and the University of Texas, Austin have capability to record scintillation and TEC fluctuations simultaneously. Hence, the Connected Autonomous Space Environment Sensor (CASES) from ASTRA is a software-defined GPS receiver with the dual frequency of L1 C/A and L2C codes for space-weather monitoring and can be remotely programmed via an internet source. The receiver employs numerous novel techniques that make it suitable for space-weather studies compared to other nearby GPS receivers, such as different methods for eliminating local clock effects, an advanced triggering mechanism for determining scintillation onset, data buffering to permit observation of the prelude to scintillation, and data-bit prediction and wipe-off for robust tracking. Moreover, the CASES hardware is made up of a custom-built dual frequency, a digital signal processor board, and a “single board computer” with an ARM microcontroller. We have used the CASES GPS receiver newly installed at Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria, to investigate the TEC and the rate of the TEC index (ROTI) around the equatorial region. Measurements of the TEC and ROTI showed similar variation trends in monthly, seasonal, and annual periods when compared to TEC and ROTI measurements from a nearby station, BJCO at Cotonou, Benin Republic. The newly installed GPS receiver looks promising for scientific use as it is the only one operational in Nigeria at the moment.
ISSN:2073-4433
2073-4433
DOI:10.3390/atmos14040636