The increase of solar activity in the ionosphere on February 2011 and their impact on GNSS performance

Increased solar activity will cause the ionospheric disturbances which may lead to the degradation of the GPS signal. To see the impact of the ionospheric disturbances on GPS measurements, we conducted a study of the ionosphere using data generated from the GPS receiver from Novatel GSV 4004B. At the same location we put another GPS receiver from Leica type 520 to monitor the positioning error. Both measurements were performed simultaneously in an office building at LAPAN Bandung. We took the observation during the past four weeks in February 2011. By analyzing the phase and amplitude fluctuations, TEC, and cycle slip, we connected them all to the positioning error. Position error is calculated using the software RTKLib. We found a piece of the cycle slip during the month of February 2011 at number 1, with a maximum cycle slip on February 18, 2011. Then we present a table of positioning errors at the February 2011, the cycle slip and loss of lock. Comparing this particular data to any other day in the vertical and horizontal. We found a correlation between the events in the period of observation of solar activity, the ionosphere and its effects such as the degradation phase, TEC fluctuations, scintillation events with the position error.