Analysis of the effect of solar flares on the operation of satellite systems

Solar activity affects the operation of satellite systems, including GPS. At the same time, the most significant aspect for the operation of satellite systems is the ionosphere, characterized by electron concentration, ionic composition, and temperature. The purpose of the research is to consider the dependence between the solar activity, ionospheric disturbances and the quality of satellite communication; characteristics of the ionosphere, the critical frequency of the F2 layer during solar activity. To obtain the results of the study, we have used the following methods: analysis of methods for detecting solar flares, ionograms of reflections of high-frequency pulse signals generated by ionosondes, data processing by programming methods. Data for the analysis of solar activity were obtained on the website of the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy and Heliophysical Instrumentation of the SRI RAS and the ISTP the RAS Siberian branch. Ionograms presented on the website of the E. K. Fedorov Institute of Applied Geophysics were used to determine the critical frequency of the ionosphere layers. Through Python programming, using matplotlib, pandas and numpy libraries, graphs of critical frequency changes during the day were constructed. Original programs for data processing are presented in the paper. We have obtained graphs of changes in the critical frequency of the F2 layer, analyzed the states of atmospheric ionization, depending on solar activity. The analysis of the change in the critical frequency of the F2 layer over the period coinciding with the greatest solar activity is likewise presented in the paper. Ionograms have confirmed the formation of a sporadic layer in the same period. The results of the analysis show that the quality of GPS operation in conditions of magnetic storms decreases, an increase in navigation signal failures can be observed in the main phase of a magnetic storm with maximum disturbance of the geomagnetic field.

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