Subauroral TEC Enhancement, GNSS Scintillation, and Positioning Error
During STEVE
Abstract
We report the first simultaneous observations of total electron content
(TEC), radio signal scintillation, and precise point positioning (PPP)
variation associated with Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement
(STEVE) emissions during a 26 March 2008 storm-time substorm. Despite
that the mid-latitude trough total electron content (TEC) decreases
during the substorm overall, interestingly, we found an unexpected TEC
enhancement (by ~2 TECU) during STEVE. Enhancement of
vertical TEC and phase scintillation was highly localized to STEVE
within a thin latitudinal band of 1°. As STEVE descended equatorward,
TEC enhancement was found at and slightly poleward of the optical
emission. PPP exhibited enhanced variation across a 3° latitudinal range
around STEVE and indicated increased GNSS positioning error. We suggest
that TEC enhancement during STEVE creates local TEC structures in the
ionosphere that degrade Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
signals and PPP performance. The TEC enhancement may be created by
particle precipitation, Pedersen drift across STEVE, neutral wind, or
plasma instability.