Investigation of 2013 Sudden Stratospheric Warming Events on Gps Positioning Accuracy over Africa

Student: Oyindamola Mary Onadiji (Project, 2025)
Department of Physics Electronics
Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State

Abstract

The January 2013 Stratospheric Sudden Warming (SSW) event caused significant
disruptions in the Earth's atmosphere, affecting ionospheric conditions and potentially
impacting GPS positioning accuracy. This study examines how this event influenced
GPS accuracy across Africa, a region particularly sensitive to ionospheric changes due
to the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA). By analyzing GNSS data from various African
stations, along with ionospheric total electron content (TEC) measurements and
atmospheric reanalysis data, we assess changes in positioning errors before, during,
and after the event. The results reveal a strong connection between SSW-induced
ionospheric disturbances and variations in GPS accuracy, emphasizing the need for
improved monitoring of space weather effects. Understanding these impacts is
essential for enhancing GNSS-based applications in Africa, particularly in fields such as
navigation, communication, and geospatial mapping. This study highlights the
importance of continuous space weather observation to minimize disruptions in
satellite-based positioning systems.

Keywords
investigation effect sudden stratospheric warming events positioning accuracy africa
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