Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm

Waqar Younas; Yukitoshi Nishimura; Weixuan Liao; Josh L. Semeter; Sebastijan Mrak; Y. Jade Morton; Keith M. Groves; Tetsuo Motoba; Tim Everett

doi:10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm

Waqar Younas
, Yukitoshi Nishimura
, Weixuan Liao
, Josh L. Semeter
, Sebastijan Mrak
, Y. Jade Morton
, Keith M. Groves
, Tetsuo Motoba
, Tim Everett

Boston University
University Corporation of Atmospheric Research
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
University of Colorado Boulder
Boston College
RTK Consultants LLC

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The May 10-11, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm offered a unique opportunity to investigate the multi‐latitude impacts of storm‐time ionospheric disturbances on Global Positioning System (GPS) performance. We combined ground‐based GPS receiver data, positioning solutions, and Antarctic all‐sky camera observations to analyze vertical total electron content (vTEC), phase fluctuations, scintillation, and positioning errors across high‐ and mid‐latitude regions. This comprehensive approach enabled a spatio‐temporal characterization of ionospheric irregularities and their influence on GPS accuracy.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	311
Number of pages	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9781946815217
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818
State	Published - 2026
Externally published	Yes
Event	2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Boulder, United States Duration: Jan 6 2026 → Jan 9 2026

Publication series

Name	2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026
Country/Territory	United States
City	Boulder
Period	01/6/26 → 01/9/26

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10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818

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Younas, W., Nishimura, Y., Liao, W., Semeter, J. L., Mrak, S., Jade Morton, Y., Groves, K. M., Motoba, T., & Everett, T. (2026). Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm. In 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings (pp. 311). (2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818

Younas, Waqar ; Nishimura, Yukitoshi ; Liao, Weixuan et al. / Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning : Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm. 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. pp. 311 (2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings).

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title = "Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm",

abstract = "The May 10-11, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm offered a unique opportunity to investigate the multi‐latitude impacts of storm‐time ionospheric disturbances on Global Positioning System (GPS) performance. We combined ground‐based GPS receiver data, positioning solutions, and Antarctic all‐sky camera observations to analyze vertical total electron content (vTEC), phase fluctuations, scintillation, and positioning errors across high‐ and mid‐latitude regions. This comprehensive approach enabled a spatio‐temporal characterization of ionospheric irregularities and their influence on GPS accuracy.",

author = "Waqar Younas and Yukitoshi Nishimura and Weixuan Liao and Semeter, \{Josh L.\} and Sebastijan Mrak and \{Jade Morton\}, Y. and Groves, \{Keith M.\} and Tetsuo Motoba and Tim Everett",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} USNC-URSI NRSM 2026.All rights reserved.; 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 ; Conference date: 06-01-2026 Through 09-01-2026",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818",

language = "English",

series = "2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

pages = "311",

booktitle = "2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings",

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Younas, W, Nishimura, Y, Liao, W, Semeter, JL, Mrak, S, Jade Morton, Y, Groves, KM, Motoba, T & Everett, T 2026, Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm. in 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings. 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 311, 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026, Boulder, United States, 01/6/26. https://doi.org/10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm. / Younas, Waqar; Nishimura, Yukitoshi; Liao, Weixuan et al.
2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. p. 311 (2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Younas, Waqar

AU - Nishimura, Yukitoshi

AU - Liao, Weixuan

AU - Semeter, Josh L.

AU - Mrak, Sebastijan

AU - Jade Morton, Y.

AU - Groves, Keith M.

AU - Motoba, Tetsuo

AU - Everett, Tim

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - The May 10-11, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm offered a unique opportunity to investigate the multi‐latitude impacts of storm‐time ionospheric disturbances on Global Positioning System (GPS) performance. We combined ground‐based GPS receiver data, positioning solutions, and Antarctic all‐sky camera observations to analyze vertical total electron content (vTEC), phase fluctuations, scintillation, and positioning errors across high‐ and mid‐latitude regions. This comprehensive approach enabled a spatio‐temporal characterization of ionospheric irregularities and their influence on GPS accuracy.

AB - The May 10-11, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm offered a unique opportunity to investigate the multi‐latitude impacts of storm‐time ionospheric disturbances on Global Positioning System (GPS) performance. We combined ground‐based GPS receiver data, positioning solutions, and Antarctic all‐sky camera observations to analyze vertical total electron content (vTEC), phase fluctuations, scintillation, and positioning errors across high‐ and mid‐latitude regions. This comprehensive approach enabled a spatio‐temporal characterization of ionospheric irregularities and their influence on GPS accuracy.

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BT - 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

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Younas W, Nishimura Y, Liao W, Semeter JL, Mrak S, Jade Morton Y et al. Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm. In 2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2026. p. 311. (2026 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting, USNC-URSI NRSM 2026 - Proceedings). doi: 10.23919/NRSM68586.2026.11550818

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Ionospheric Irregularities and Their Impact on GPS Positioning: Insights From the May 2024 Solar Storm

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