Integrity investigation of global ionospheric TEC maps for high-precision positioning

Abstract Aside from the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) information, root-mean-square (RMS) maps are also provided as standard deviations of corresponding TEC errors in global (GIMs). As RMS commonly used accuracy indicator GIMs to optimize stochastic model precise point positioning algorithms, it is crucial importance investigate reliability involved different Ionospheric Associated Analysis Centers (IAACs) International GNSS Service (IGS), i.e., integrity GIMs. We indirectly analyzed by comparing actual error differential STEC (dSTEC) with dSTEC derived maps. With this method, seven rapid IGS (UQRG, CORG, JPRG, WHRG, EHRG, EMRG, and IGRG) six final (UPCG, CODG, JPLG, WHUG, ESAG IGSG) was examined under maximum minimum solar activity conditions well geomagnetic storm period. The results reveal that significantly for IAACs. Among these GIMs, values UQRG large, which can be protection level, while EHRG lower than realistic RMS. CODE, JPL WHU provide quite reasonable bounding performance influenced location stations, influence not obvious.