Investigation into the causes of degrading radio signals during Geomagnetic Storms

Abstract

The release of solar winds from the sun has drastic effects on the Earth’s geomagnetic field and the Ionosphere. GPS navigation uses radio signals that travel from a satellite to a ground receiver, passing through the Ionosphere, and are susceptible to outside interference. During a magnetic storm, the charged plasma in the Ionosphere bends the path of the GPS radio waves, similar to how a lens bends light. The absence of pace weather allows the GPS systems to give information on individuals’ positions. During a space weather event, the Ionosphere is disturbed by the solar wind, making it harder for the GPS systems to properly give accurate posts due to the disrupted signals from the satellite to the ground receivers. The paper will investigate the effects of geomagnetic storms’ impact on GPS connections.