The U.S. regional maps of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) are produced in real-time (RT) by mapping GPS observables collected from 25 ground stations. These maps are being broadcast via a geostationary satellite by WAAS (FAA Wide Area Augmentation System). The WAAS receiver being used to receive the WAAS broadcast signals was provided by the SATLOC company. The RT TEC mapping can provide accurate ionospheric calibrations to navigation systems.
These maps are also used to monitor ionospheric weather, and to nowcast ionospheric storms that often occur responding to activities in solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere as well as thermosphere.
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