DETERMINING foF2 IONOSPGERIC PARAMETERS USING GPS: CONCEPT AND VALIDATION

• Main Author: Frensi Dahal (NIM : 15113083), Billvian
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/21431
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

F2 layer is a layer that exist in ionosphere, and become a layer which become a representative of ionosphere dynamical behavior. This because F2 layer have high density of ions. For researching the F2 layer we first need to learn more about foF2. The foF2 is critical frequency of F2 layer which is define as the maximum frequency of electromagnetic signal that could be reflected by the F2 layer. Using ionosonde we could determine the parameter of foF2, but this method proved inefficient. This is because not every area on the earth covered by ionosonde station. So we need something more, the new method which can satisfied the problem. In 2017 new method was proposed by Wijaya et al. (2017). This method provide us to derive the foF2 parameter using stand-alone receiver GPS (Global Positioning Systems). But this method still need validation. Using the data from GPS station around the world and the nearest ionosonde station in 2009 and 2012, Wijaya’s Method is tested. The validation result shown that the correlation between Wijaya’s Method and ionosonde are poor (0.17-0.86) , but Wijaya’s Method shown RMSE value which close to the error threshold (1 MHz) in 2009 but poor in 2012. This phenomena might be happen because of Solar Strom that occur in 2012. Overall the Wijaya’s Method could be useful for further research in ionosphere layer especially F2 layer practically. Finally, using the foF2 data we could learn more about seasonal variation of foF2 in 2009 and 2012.