Global characteristics of the second-order ionospheric delay error using inversion of electron density profiles from COSMIC occultation data

It is a well known fact that ionospheric delay error is a predominant factor which influences the positioning accuarcy of GNSS. Although the main part of the first-order ionospheric delay error can be removed by the frequency-dependent behaviors of the ionosphere, the second-order ionospheric delay error must be eliminated to achieve millimetre-scale positioning accuracy. Due to COSMIC occultation providing electron density profiles on the global scale, the paper presents the first-order and the second-order ionospheric delay error analysis on the global scale using the inversion of electron density profiles from COSMIC occultation data during 2009–2011. Firstly, because of the special geographical location of three ISR (incoherent scatter radar), the first-order and the second-order ionospheric delay errors are calculated and discussed; the paper also shows and analyzes the diurnal, seasonal, semi-annual variation of ionospheric delay error with respect to signal direction. Results show that for the L1 signal path, the first-order ionospheric delay error is the largest near the equator, which is circa 7 m; the maximum second-order ionospheric delay error are circa 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm and 0.6 cm respectively for L1 signals coming from the zenith, the north and the south at 10 degree elevation angles. The second-order ionospheric delay error on the L1 signal path from zenith are the symmetry between 15° and ∼15° with respect to magnetic equator, and are nearly zero at the magnetic equator. For the first time, the second-order ionospheric delay error on the global scale is presented, so this research will greatly contribute to analysing the higher-order ionospheric delay error characteristics on the global scale.